Learn more about Ngiyang Wayama and get in touch to help their work

Data network Ngiyang Wayama is redefining data for Central Coast First Nations people.

Ngiyang Wayama has organically grown from the Central Coast Community in response to an expressed need for access to data which is up to date information, is strengths-based, and with the ultimate end goal of First Nations data sovereignty.

Darkinjung Country (The Central Coast) of New South Wales is home to one of Australia’s largest, youngest, and fastest growing populations of Aboriginal people. The Darkinjung Aboriginal community is diverse and inclusive with Aboriginal peoples from across Australia calling this Country home.

Completely unfunded, this is a data network created by and for the people and which is being driven forward by passionate community members such as Corinne and Jacob.

Corinne Hodson and Jacob Smeaton discuss Ngiyang Wayama

Read the full Ngiyang Wayama story

Organisation name

Ngiyang Wayama – Central Coast Aboriginal Community Data Network

(Darkinjung Language words gifted to our network meaning “we all tell”

Current focus and work being done

Establishment of Network – community led initiative

Network governance established (both cultural and organisational)

Beginnings of partnerships developed – members include: community service sector, and strategic relationships with supporting partners

Community Upskill training piloted

Community Data Audit beginning

Development of Shared Measurement Framework

Future vision / work still to be done

Funding to transition to a self-sustain network (currently auspiced by Barang and reliant on volunteerism)

Phase 2 of Community led Regional Data Strategy defining a set of regional strength based measures

Shared Measurement implementation

Upskill training packaged and turned into community resource

Development of data agreements across the region to build a data pool to support decision making

Development of a Regional Data Sovereignty Statement

Grow the number Aboriginal data analysts across the region as a result of increased interest from the upskilling work

Develop data warehousing strategy

Website, and social media

How you can help or get involved

Access to a capability partner who can align to our vision, objectives and value of overall Aboriginal data sovereignty

Funding to employ a network manager to assist in the long term sustainability of the network

Corinne and Jacob both also work for Aboriginal Community controlled not-for-profit Barang Regional Alliance. Barang Regional Alliance is one of 8 regional alliances funded under Empowered Communities, the federal government initiative that invests in regional place-based decision making to reform Indigenous agendas, policies and programs.

A lack of data and access to data for Aboriginal economic participation has been identified as a key deficiency in the Closing the Gap framework. There is huge opportunity for philanthropists and partners to support the work being done, currently completely unfunded, by Ngiyang Wayama to help change this.

Let us know below if you think you can support their work.

Read Ngiyang Wayama story
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