Past Projects

ARDS has been extensively involved in community development since it's inception in 1973. Examples of these projects include instrumental roles in the setting up of Community Councils, ALPA (Arnhemland Progress Association stores), YBE (Yirrkala Business Enterprise), Murwangi Pastoral Company, CAPS (Council of Aboriginal Program Services), Homeland Resource Centres, Health Centres, Councils and various associations throughout the Arnhem Land region. Through such initiatives, ARDS has an extensive coprorate history and understands what works and what doesn't work in the Anhem Land region and the reasons behind this. ARDS has also had significant involvement many other issues such as lands rights issues for Aborigines, and many projects in the areas of Health Education, Language Research, Economic Literacy Education and community work for the Yolngu people of Arnhem Land.

We would like to invite contributions for this page from anyone who has had past association with ARDS since it's inception, to volunteer in sharing their further knowledge of ARDS past projects. Click the button below to contact us via email if you wish to volunteer for ARDS.

Below is just one example of one of the many projects ARDS has undertaken:

Euthanasia Message Stick

According to the teachings of Yolngu law, when death occurs by outside means such as the injection of a poisonous substance, it is seen as an action of sorcery which is illegal according to Yolngu Madayin law. Therefore Yolngu believed the Northern Territory Act was breaking fundamental constitutional responsibilities placed upon their Ngarra (traditional parliaments) since the beginning of time and therefore upon the Australian Parliament.