CONFIRMATION OF ABORIGINAL IDENTITY POLICY

Purpose

The Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation are able to confirm Aboriginal identity for individuals to assist them to access Housing, Health, Education and Employment etc. The IAC have a huge responsibility to ensure that the people IAC are confirming are indeed Aboriginal. It is important that this is done in a way that is clear and fair; and that protects Aboriginal Cultural and identity. This policy is to assist all relevant parties to understand each of their responsibilities when confirming an Individuals Identity.

Definition Aboriginal identity
The official criteria used by the Australian Government and most State Governments are set out in the following. An Aboriginal person must meet the following three part proof criteria:

1)	Must be of Aboriginal descent
2)	Must identify as an Aboriginal
3)	Must be accepted as an Aboriginal by the community in which they live.

It is important to remember that ONLY Aboriginal people can determine who is an Aboriginal person and who is not.

Eligible applicants must be from Illawarra by reference to one of the below locality requirements and over the age of 18 years.

1.	The applicant must be from Illawarra and still living here.
2.	The Applicant must be from the Illawarra or have lived the majority of their life in the Illawarra but living elsewhere.
3.	The applicant is not from Illawarra but have lived here the majority of their life in the Illawarra

1.0	Policy

1.1	The IAC will consider an individual’s application for Aboriginality upon completion and submission of IAC Confirmation of Aboriginality Form.

1.2	Applications are to be collected in person by the applicant at the Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation and applications are to be submitted in person at the Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation Head Office in Port Kembla.

1.3	The applicant must provide evidence of Aboriginal Heritage (Genealogy relating to your Aboriginal heritage)

1.4	The applicant must clearly demonstrate how they have identified in the Illawarra Aboriginal Community

1.5	All applicants must provide proof of identity (e.g. drivers licence, 18+ card, learners permit, birth certificate.

1.6	Confirmation of Aboriginality Certificates will be issued in the applicants legal name.

2.0	Procedure

2.1	IAC Board meets monthly, the 4th Monday of each month if the 4th Monday is a public holiday the Board will meet on the following Monday. Confirmation of Aboriginality Application Forms are to be received 2 weeks prior to IAC board meeting. The board does not meet in January.

2.2	The IAC Confirmation Sub-committee will review Confirmation of Aboriginality applications and makes recommendation to the IAC board meeting for approval.
2.1	

2.3	For applicants not known to the sub-committee or have not provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate how they meet the locality requirements, IAC will request the applicant to attend a meeting with the Confirmation Sub-committee and make recommendation to the IAC Board.

The following questions may be used as a guide for the sub-committee
•	Who is your mob? (e.g. family name, relatives)
•	Where is your mob from?
•	What has been your involvement with the Aboriginal Community? (e.g. participation in cultural events)
•	Can you nominate someone from the community to vouch for your culture identity?

2.4	If approved by the board, the applicant will be issued a Certificate of Aboriginality and those declined will be notified in writing.

2.5	To officially approve the application, the Board needs to ensure the following is supplied on the Confirmation of Aboriginal form:
•	Common seal applied
•	Date of meeting
•	Resolution number
•	Signature of three Board members

2.6	IAC will keep a register and copy of approved confirmations