Native Title

Native Title Claim

Our Pathway to Recognition

Southern West Yiradyuri Clans Land, Water and Sky Country Aboriginal Corporation is supporting Southern West Yiradyuri/Wiradjuri People in progressing a Native Title claim. As a Corporation made up of members from the claim group (descendants), we are facilitating this important process to seek legal recognition of our collective and ongoing connection to Country under Australian law.

What is Native Title?

Native Title recognises that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have rights to land and waters under traditional law. Once registered, it activates legal rights and protections not otherwise available – ensuring recognition and a voice in decisions affecting Country.

Our Claim

Our claim covers a defined area of land in the Riverina region of New South Wales (refer to map below), and is based on the continuing connection of the Southern West Yiradyuri/Wiradjuri People to this Country.

The claim is being made on behalf of the descendants of the apical ancestors in the list below, who maintain a strong cultural, historical, and spiritual relationship with the land and waters in the claim area.

Table 1: Prospective Southwest Yiradyuri/Wiradjuri Apical Ancestors

Anthropologist Dr James Rose has conducted a preliminary connection report supporting the claim for the area in the map below, and legal representation getting us through to registration has been provided on a probono basis by Lithic Legal.

The Registration Test

After a claim is lodged with the Federal Court, it will be referred to the National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) to undergo what’s called the Registration Test.

This is a legal assessment of the claim to ensure it meets specific requirements under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) — including that:

• The claim is properly authorised by the claim group

• The claimants have a traditional connection to the land and waters

• The claim is made in the correct legal form and contains sufficient information

If the claim passes the Registration Test, it will be entered onto the Register of Native Title Claims.

Once registered, the claim group receives key benefits, including:

• Procedural rights: The right to be notified about and participate in certain decisions affecting the land (e.g. mining applications, land developments)

• Legal standing: Recognition that a valid claim exists, and legal rights to negotiate over future acts on the claimed area

• Federal Court protections: Protection against competing claims or actions that may affect the claim area

• Increased visibility and legitimacy: Government, industry, and other stakeholders must take the registered claim into account in their dealings

It is important to note that registration does not mean Native Title has been granted, that comes through either a consent determination or a court decision. However, registration is a critical milestone that activates rights and protections for the Southern West Yiradyuri People (claim group) while the claim is being resolved. Further, once registered the claim will enter a three month notification period which will allow other parties with interest in the area to become a respondent.

Current Status

Our claim has now passed the Registration Test. The information below explains what the Registration Test involves and the notification period:

• Consulting with descendants of the apical ancestors. We’re speaking with descendants of the named apical ancestors to ensure we are getting the word out. This will lead into the authorisation meeting. [complete – once registered and workign toward a determination, further work will be needed to complete a full Connection Report]

• Announcing the Authorisation Meeting. A public notice will be sent out with the meeting date. It will invite people who believe they have native title rights in the Southern West Yiradyuri claim area, based on descent. [complete]

• Holding the Authorisation Meeting. A legally required meeting will be held where eligible descendants can come together to decide whether to authorise a native title claim. rights and interests.[complete]

• Preparing and Lodging the Claim. Once the meeting is held and a decision is made, the final documents will be completed and the native title application will be officially filed with the Federal Court Registry. [complete – application filed on 30 September 2025]

  • The Claim has been published on the National Native Title Tribunal website:https://www.nntt.gov.au/searchRegApps/NativeTitleClaims/Pages/details.aspx?NTDA_Fileno=NC2025/004
• Registration of the Claim. [complete – claim registered 30 April 2026]
  • The claim has been entered on the Register of Native Title Claims held by the National Native Title Tribunal as NC2025/004.
  • Registration confirms our claim meets the requirements of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), including authorisation by the claim group, traditional connection to the claim area, and the procedural and form requirements of the Act.
  • With registration confirmed, the Applicant now holds important procedural rights under the Act, including the right to be notified of, and to negotiate on, certain future acts in the claim area.
• Three month notification period. [in-progress]

The Federal Court Registry gives a copy of the application to the Native Title Registrar (National Native Title Tribunal).

1. The Native Title Registrar provides copies of the application to the State of NSW and NTSCorp.
2. The Native Title Registrar provides copies to people or groups who may have a legal interest in the claim area (for example, property owners, the Commonwealth Minister, and local governments).
3. The Native Title Registrar publishes a public notice. This notice tells people who say they have an interest in the claim area that they have three months to fill out forms if they want to be part of the case as a respondent.
4. The Registrar’s delegate applies the “registration test” and then publishes written reasons for their decision. They must do this “as soon as practicable.” In practice, this usually takes 3–6 months.
5. After the three-month notice period is over, and once respondents are settled and the decision reasons are published, the matter will be listed for a case management hearing before a Judge. 

*page last updated on 6 May 2026

Authorisation Meeting

A Native Title Authorisation Meeting was held on Sunday, 13 July 2025, at the Darlington Point Sports Club in Darlington Point, NSW.

Several key resolutions were passed, including:

• To proceed with preparing and lodging a Native Title claim.

• The named claim group is: Southern West Yiradyuri, Wiradyuri, Wiradjuri.

• Seven descendants were nominated to act on behalf of the Claim Group (also referred to as the Full Group) to carry out the work required to progress the claim. Please note: it is a requirement under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) that major decisions – particularly those involving agreement-making or changes to the claim -must be made by the Full Group. The nominated representatives cannot make these decisions alone unless authorised to do so through the decision-making process resolved at the Authorisation Meeting and in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

This Authorisation Meeting marks the first step in a long journey. All descendants are encouraged to participate in the process and are welcome to attend future meetings, which will be publicly notified.

Please note: to attend a meeting, all participants must complete an Attendance Register:

• If attending in person, the register must be completed on the day, before entering the meeting.

• If attending online, the register must be completed and returned at least 48 hours before the meeting.

• The Attendance Register will be available for each meeting as they’re publicly notified. 

Registration

We encourage all individuals who know or believe they are descendants of the named apical ancestors to register their interest.

Registering your details will help ensure you:

• Receive official notifications and updates on the claim process

• Are invited to attend future meetings 

• Can participate in decisions affecting the claim group

To register and be kept in loop of future meetings, please complete the Registration Form at the bottom of this page

You may also be asked to provide information about your family connections to help confirm your eligibility, especially if you’re not well known to others. Providing a signed affidavit can help support this process.

If you prefer not to register on the form below, you can attend publicly notified meetings in person and complete the Attendance Register form on the day. 

How to Get Involved

We are committed to a respectful and transparent process that honours our collective obligations and responsibilities to Country and our future generations. If you’re unsure whether you are connected to one of the apical ancestors, or you’d like more information about the Native Title process, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.