Former workers at an Indigenous youth services organisation in Western Australia's Kimberley region say they were given less than a week's notice to leave their employer-provided accommodation after the Wyndham Youth Aboriginal Corporation (WYAC) closed suddenly in mid-September. Chief executive Neville D'Silva blamed federal agencies for reneging on promised funding, which he said led to a “trading halt”; he said there were no funds, so termination was mandatory.
The Wyndham Youth Aboriginal Corporation (WYAC) provided education programs and a safe night space for people in the Kimberley town, 3,100 kilometres north of Perth.
Ayesha Gomes, a provisional psychologist who worked for WYAC for more than a year, was sent a text by chief executive Neville D'Silva on October 28 asking her to vacate her accommodation by November 1. “Obviously that is extremely unreasonable,” she said. Ms Gomes is an Indian national whose pathway to Australia was through sponsorship from WYAC; she said her employment had been terminated and she had six months to find another sponsor to employ her or would have to leave the country.
A second former employee, whom the ABC has chosen not to name, said the organisation stopped services after experiencing financial issues. "We got stuck in the last few months; we didn't know what to do," they said. "We weren't getting any help or support from anyone. It's very hard."
Mr D'Silva said federal bodies such as the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) had reneged on "contractually owed" funding commitments, resulting in a lack of funds. In a statement, he said: "There are no funds, so termination is mandatory." He described the loss of jobs and housing as an "internal matter" and could not confirm if or when programs would resume.
The NIAA said it was unable to comment publicly on grant management discussions with individual organisations but said it was "continuing to engage with WYAC".
Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley president David Menzel said youth programs would be "sorely missed" in the town. "My fear is it's going to take significant time to reinstate those services; I really feel for those young people that were quite reliant on the services," he said.
A WA government spokesperson acknowledged the community's concerns, saying the withdrawal of support would be felt by many young people and families. The spokesperson said matters related to governance of Aboriginal corporations fell within the remit of the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC). ORIC declined to comment on whether an investigation was underway.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The abrupt closure leaves vulnerable Indigenous youth in a remote town without critical after-school and safe-space programs.
- Workers, including migrants on employer sponsorship, face housing loss and possible deportation if they cannot find a new sponsor within six months.
- The dispute raises questions about the reliability of federal funding agreements for Indigenous community organisations.
Background
WYAC operated youth education and a safe night service in Wyndham, in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It ceased operations abruptly in mid-September, which CEO Neville D'Silva attributed to the National Indigenous Australians Agency not honouring contracted funding. The organisation has not indicated if or when services will resume.
Key Perspectives
- Ayesha Gomes (former employee): called the short notice to vacate "extremely unreasonable" and expressed distress about finding a new visa sponsor within six months or having to leave Australia.
- Neville D'Silva (WYAC chief executive): blamed the National Indigenous Australians Agency for reneging on "contractually owed" funding, said termination was mandatory because there are no funds, and described the matter as internal.
- National Indigenous Australians Agency: said it could not comment publicly on individual grant discussions but confirmed it was continuing to engage with WYAC.
- David Menzel (president, Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley): said youth programs would be "sorely missed" and feared it would take a long time to restore services and that staff might be lost if they cannot find local housing.
- Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC): declined to confirm whether an investigation is underway, saying doing so would not help the community understand the funding situation.
What to Watch
- Whether WYAC secures new funding or restructures to resume programs.
- Any outcome from ORIC's engagement or investigation into WYAC's finances.
- The ability of displaced workers, especially those on visas, to find alternative accommodation and employment in the remote Kimberley region.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedWorkers were asked to leave employer-provided accommodation after WYAC stopped youth services.Just In: “This has led to its workforce being stood down and some being asked to leave their accommodation at short notice. Wyndham Youth Aboriginal Corporation stopped youth services in mid-September, with no indication of whether they will resume.”
- SupportedD'Silva said federal bodies reneged on funding commitments.Just In: “Mr D'Silva said federal bodies such as the National Indigenous Australians Agency had reneged on "contractually owed" funding commitments”
- SupportedWorkers lost jobs and some lost their homes or accommodation.Just In: “In relation to employees losing their jobs and some losing their homes, Mr D'Silva said it was an "internal matter".”
- SupportedFormer workers said they had less than a week's notice to leave employer-provided accommodation.Just In: “Former workers at an Indigenous youth services organisation that is experiencing financial issues in Western Australia's north say they were given less than a week's notice to leave their employer-provided accommodation.”
- SupportedWYAC closed suddenly in mid-September.Just In: “The ABC reported last month that WYAC closed suddenly in mid-September , with its chief executive blaming federal agencies for reneging on promised funding.”
- SupportedD'Silva said the funding issue led to a “trading halt”.Just In: “Mr D'Silva said federal bodies such as the National Indigenous Australians Agency had reneged on "contractually owed" funding commitments, leading to a "trading halt".”
- SupportedGomes said, “Obviously that is extremely unreasonable,” about being told to leave her accommodation.Just In: “"Obviously that is extremely unreasonable," she said.”
- SupportedGomes received a text on October 28 asking her to leave by November 1.Just In: “Ms Gomes was sent a text by WYAC chief executive Neville D'Silva on October 28 asking her to vacate the provided accommodation by November 1.”
- SupportedGomes said her employment was terminated and she had six months to find another sponsor or leave Australia.Just In: “"Now my employment is terminated, I get only six months to find another sponsor to employ me, otherwise I will have to leave the country … it is concerning and scary."”
- SupportedThe unnamed former employee said, “We got stuck in the last few months; we didn't know what to do,” and that they were getting no help or support.Just In: “"We got stuck in the last few months; we didn't know what to do," they said. "We weren't getting any help or support from anyone. It's very hard."”
- SupportedD'Silva said, “There are no funds, so termination is mandatory.”Just In: “"There are no funds, so termination is mandatory," he said.”
- SupportedThe NIAA said it could not comment publicly on grant-management discussions with individual organisations but was continuing to engage with WYAC.Just In: “the National Indigenous Australians Agency ( NIAA) said it was unable to comment publicly on grant management discussions with individual organisations, but said it was "continuing to engage with WYAC".”