Learning from an evaluation of the CLC’s Community Development Program

Since 2005 the CLC has supported Aboriginal people in Central Australia in developing an innovative community development model which has achieved lasting community benefits from income from land use agreements. 

This presentation will focus on the findings and broader implications of an independent evaluation of the CLC model for applying royalties, rents and affected area payments for sustainable community benefit. The 2014 evaluation built on four years of annual monitoring to review this $33 million program.

Key findings include that CLC supported projects has: produced a diverse range of social, cultural and economic outcomes valued by Aboriginal people; empowered Aboriginal people within a broader policy context of disempowerment; and, generated greater longer term collective benefits that individual payments. The model was also found to be cost effective.

The CLC’s experience over the last 10 years highlight the importance of Aboriginal control and informed decision-making on local issues and solutions. It points to the significant role Land Councils can play in supporting strong governance arrangements that assist groups to allocate resources to development initiatives and in building the capacity of Aboriginal groups in development planning and management. The importance of ongoing reflection, adaptation and context specific approaches is also highlighted.