Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation

Laynhapuy was established in the 1970’s to represent Yolŋu interests and residents of Homelands which constitute the corporation. The main goals and objectives of the organisation are to assist our Homeland communities and our people to: 

• Determine our own future 
• Run and control our own affairs 
• Develop self-sufficient or otherwise sustainable Homelands – standing on our yirralka. 

Laynhapuy provides health, housing and land and sea management services and support to around 30 remote Yolŋu homelands in North East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.  The organisations main base is in Yirrkala around 20km from the mining town of Nhulunbuy. The Laynhapuy Homelands are situated between a 1 and 4 hour drive from Yirrkala.

The vision for Laynhapuy is: “to determine our own future to manage our own affairs, to become self-sufficient so that the homeland mala (clans) can continue to live in peace and harmony”.

Yirralka Rangers and the Laynhapuy IPA

In 2003, Laynhapuy established the Yirralka Ranger land and sea management program in response to Traditional Owners desire to manage their Country and to deal with threats to cultural and environmental values.  This was supported with the dedication of the Laynhapuy Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) in 2006.

Today we employ over 40 rangers who live and work in 14 of the Laynhapuy Homelands. Our main operational base is located in Yirrkala.  In 2024 we finalised the Laynhapuy IPA Plan of Management 2024-2034 and are currently awaiting Australian Government dedication of our IPA boundary expansion.  This new boundary covers approximately 1,472,800 hectares, which includes 371,200 hectares of marine estate.  Our IPA is located on Aboriginal-freehold land and Yolŋu have exclusive rights to the inter-tidal zone.

The role

The IPA Coordinator based in Yirrkala will work alongside our Romgu Djäkami (carer of the law) Engagement Officer to coordinate the on-ground delivery of the Laynhapuy IPA Plan of Management.  The role supervises a team of four Facilitators who work alongside Yolŋu Head Rangers.  The role operates under the general direction of the Yirralka Co-Managers (Yolŋu and Balanda).

The IPA Coordinator will co-develop annual activity plans for the Laynhapuy IPA, in line with our new IPA Plan of Management and support their safe and effective implementation.  The role will review and coordinate the implementation of Program Plans for sea Country, weed control, feral animal control and fire management as well as regular reviews the ensure our activities are effectively meeting the interests of Yolŋu land and sea owners.

Key Duties include:

1. Coordinating the implementation of the IPA Plan of Management
2. Ensuring the safe and effective delivery of caring for Country activities in line with the IPA Plan of Management
3. Overseeing the implementation and improvement of Yirralka’s cultural and environmental information system
4. Ensuring the planning and implementation of our on-ground projects and partnerships are undertaken in an appropriate manner

Further detail on key duties, selection criteria and key deliverables are contained in the Role Description.