National Native Title Tribunal

15/10/2026

The Director of Geospatial Services at the National Native Title Tribunal Paul Rowe has recently published an article with Spatial Source on the topic of native title through a spatial lens.

Within the article, Mr Rowe reflects on native title being inherently spatial, with matters all relating to specific areas of land and water. Spatial data and mapping play an important role in helping parties, organisations, governments and the broader community understand the location and extent of native title in relation to other geographic features and interests, including land tenure (pastoral leases, reserves and national parks), mining tenements, and local government boundaries.

He highlights the NNTT's key geospatial products and services available through our website. These services assist stakeholders in navigating complex land and sea interests and support informed decision-making.

To read the full article, please follow the link for more information:

The National Native Title Tribunal provides free access to custodial spatial datasets, online map services, and a range of map products.

01/10/2026

The National Native Title Tribunal congratulates former Tribunal Member Glen Kelly on his appointment as Chair of the newly established Native Title and Heritage Standards Working Group in Western Australia.

The Working Group will bring together Traditional Owners, industry representatives and technical experts to help progress key recommendations from the WA Government led review of expedited procedure practices in Western Australia. As independent facilitator of the consultation process, Glen is uniquely placed to lead this new body, tasked with developing practical and consistent approaches that strengthen cultural heritage protections, while providing greater clarity and certainty about native title future act processes for all stakeholders.

This appointment reflects the lasting contribution that Glen, together with his Member Advisor Stephanie Clark and colleagues across the NNTT, have made to advancing practical and effective native title and cultural heritage outcomes. We are delighted to see this work continue to have such a positive impact.

Find more information here: https://brnw.ch/21x64YS

Glen Kelly has been appointed to chair a new working group which will help drive the next stage of reforms to native title processes in Western Australia.

02/09/2026

New Public Notice.

Please visit the public notice webpage for further information: https://brnw.ch/21x5mI2

01/09/2026

Last week, the National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) took part in specialist mediation accreditation training co-designed with Shiv Martin from the Resolution Institute – excellence in dispute resolution in Australia and Aotearoa, with guest speaker Ippei O.

Held over three days in Melbourne, this was the second delivery of the nationally accredited program, focusing on culturally appropriate mediation skills for practitioners and stakeholders working with First Nations communities.

The workshop brought together participants from the NNTT and across the native title sector for tailored, culturally informed training, collaborative knowledge sharing, and practical skill development. Facilitated by Shiv and Ippei, the program strengthened participants' foundations in agreement-making and dispute resolution while supporting their progression towards full mediation accreditation.

Investing in programs like this is critical to building both professional capability and cultural capability. By deepening our understanding of culturally informed dispute resolution practices and strengthening our mediation expertise, we are better equipped to support First Nations people and communities through complex native title processes.

A big thank you to Shiv, Ippei and all participants for their commitment to continuous learning, capability development, and fostering respectful, effective engagement across the sector.

25/08/2026

New Public Notice.

Please visit the public notice webpage for further information: https://brnw.ch/21x5cR0

25/08/2026

New Public Notice.

Please visit the public notice webpage for further information: https://brnw.ch/21x5cQY

22/08/2026

On 23 August 1966, Gurindji elder Vincent Lingiari led 200 workers and their families off the Wave Hill cattle station in protest of unfair wages and poor working conditions.

What began as a strike soon became a powerful movement for land rights and recognition of the Gurindji people's enduring connection to Country. In 1975, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam performed a symbolic ceremony, pouring a handful of Gurindji soil into the hand of Vincent Lingiari and announced “Vincent Lingiari, I solemnly hand to you these deeds as proof, in Australian law, that these lands belong to the Gurindji people, and I put into your hands part of the earth as a sign that this land will be the possession of you and your children forever.'

The Wave Hill Walk-Off helped pave the way for the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 and remains a defining moment in Australia's First Nations land rights history and self-determination.

Photo Source: Mervyn Bishop
Prime Minister Gough Whitlam pours soil into the hand of traditional land owner Vincent Lingiari 1975
National Portrait Gallery of Australia
Purchased 2000

14/08/2026

The National Native Title Tribunal recognises the enduring legacy of the 1963 Yirrkala Bark Petitions.

The Yolngu people of Yirrkala presented two petitions written in English and Gumatj. Painted on traditional bark, they expressed the Yolngu people’s connection to Country and were the first documents incorporating traditional lore to be formally recognised by the Australian Parliament.

The petitions sought recognition of the Yolngu people’s rights to their traditional lands on the Gove Peninsula in Arnhem Land. Although these rights were not recognised at the time, the petitions became a turning point in the movement for First Nations land rights and self-determination.



Photo source: Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)

03/08/2026

Today we celebrate National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day and this year's theme, Living Our Truth.

A day to listen to and value the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, celebrate the knowledge shared across generations, and recognise the strength that comes from culture, family and community.

29/07/2026

New Public Notice.

Please visit the public notice webpage for further information: https://brnw.ch/21x4vsp