Jali LALC is based within the heart of the Bundjalung Country and was first established on Cabbage Tree Island, the local Aboriginal community in the Ballina LGA. Cabbage Tree Island was settled by the ancestors of local families as a chosen place to raise their families and to self-determine their lives. This continued until the oversight and management policies of Aboriginal peoples under the NSW Government. Cabbage Tree Island received its name due to the abundant Cabbage Tree palms that were originally on the Island. Due to clearing and using the palms for shelter and housing, the palms are not as abundant with a few remaining on the school grounds.
As the State’s peak representative body in Aboriginal Affairs, the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council aims to protect the interests and further the aspirations of its members and the broader Aboriginal community. NSWALC is the largest member based Aboriginal organisation in NSW.
The New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) is committed to ensuring a better future for Aboriginal people by working for the return of culturally significant and economically viable land, pursuing cultural, social and economic independence for its people and being politically proactive and voicing the position of Aboriginal people on issues that affect them.
The constitution, objects and functions of nswalc are set out in part 7 of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (1983).
These essentially give NSWALC the mandate to provide for the development of land rights for Aboriginal people in NSW, in conjunction with a network of Local Aboriginal Land Councils through:
Under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (1983), NSWALC is empowered to do the following:
