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Who We Are & Why We Serve

History Of Watarrka Foundation

The Lilla Foundation changed its name to the Watarrka Foundation on 11 July 2016.

The Watarrka Foundation is a non-profit organisation founded and supported by Reg Ramsden and his company Remote Educational Tours, a company that specailises in education group charters to the outback. His company enables interstate city children to volunteer for community support projects during their Central Australia trips, and break down past prejudices by working together with locals and appreciating the differences and challenges of remote indigenous communities.

“It is through city kids meeting local aboriginal kids and working together on their lands that we can start
giving back, bridge the gap and give the Aboriginal kids of today a better future”.

Reg Ramsden

We aim to develop leadership values amongst the children, so as to create the leaders of tomorrow, who are inspired to care for their legacy and that can show others the way.

We undertake a number of initiatives to assist the children, their teachers and their parents within their own milieu, such as school nutrition schemes, outstation upliftment and creating education opportunities.

Our Mission

Focussed on young people, we deliver programs that support a sustainable environment, education, healthy lifestyles and independent livelihoods for Aboriginal communities in the Watarrka region.

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Our Objectives

To alleviate poverty, sickness, destitution and helplessness among the aboriginal community in the Watarrka region.

To carry out projects to alleviate poverty, sickness, destitution and helplessness among the aboriginal community in the Watarrka region.

To provide programs and projects to promote life skills,independence and resilience among the aboriginal community in the Watarrka region.

To provide examples for other organisations to adopt of programs and projects that make a positive difference to Aboriginal communities in need.

To secure funds from the public and other available funding sources to further the objects of the Watarrka Foundation.

Our Board Members

Richard "Reg" Ramsden

Director & Founder

After his attending school at St Andrew's College in Sydney, Reg has been living and working in the Northern Territory for over 20 years. He established Remote Educational Tours which provides visitors to the region the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture of Central Australia. There aim is to close the gap between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians through interactive cultural experiences and educational activities. Remote Educational Tours works with many prominent schools from all of Australia's large cities and organises educational tours into central Australia.

He has worked with the communities in the Watarrka region for many years and after consulting with the traditional land owners in the region he establish the Lilla Foundation in 2012, (changed to the Watarrka Foundation on 11 July 2016).

Reg's observation was that whilst Australia is known for it generous humanitarian projects overseas, that there is just as much work that was required to be done in our own “back yard”. Reg is committed to the recognition of our own aborignal people, their culture and to bridging the gap between Aboriginal and non-indigenous Australians.

Emmanuel Bell

Director

Manny Bell is a proud descendant from the Biri Gubba and Wakka Wakka peoples. He is currently employed as Legal Counsel with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Manny first became involved with the Watarrka Foundation through his involvement in the development and delivery of the Lilla Sports and Storytelling Festival in 2014. He has a unique insight into the programs established for Indigenous university students, being the first law student to do an internship with a law firm through the Indigenous internship company, CareerTrackers. Manny has a keen interest in empowering the self-determination of Aboriginal communities through education and creative thinking.

Watarrka Foundation Advisory Group

The Watarrka Foundation Board acknowledges that it does not possess the gender and ethnic diversity, range of expertise and skills sets to best carry out its vision, mission and objectives. Specialist expertise and skills are required or would be helpful in a range of areas including education, health, aboriginal issues, specific women issues social media, IT, fund raising and project management.

Campbell Hudson

Advisory Group Member

Campbell is a senior partner in the Sydney office of international law firm Dentons. Working with Reg Ramsden, Campbell was responsible for the establishment of the Watarrka Foundation and he served as a Director until early 2017. Campbell is also very active in applying his passion and expertise, providing pro bono work with a focus on aboriginal issues and the arts. Campbell was extensively involved in Dentons inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan, has worked closely with Career Trackers and is principal advisor to the National Arts School and Poetry in Action.

Christine Munro

Advisory Group Member

Christine Munro is the Watarrka Primary School Teaching Principal. Originally from New Zealand, Christine has worked in remote indigenous schools since 2011 and came to Watarrka in 2014. Passionate about indigenous education, Christine brings high-level education expertise in supporting aboriginal students to think independently and become self-dependent. While delivering strong learning outcomes Christine believes students’ success should also measured by their ability to thrive in both indigenous and non-indigenous society. Christine is drawn by the land and its people and loves her work.

Learn About Our Advisory Group Charter

We are committed to the creation of thriving, independent and self-reliant aboriginal communities living on their ancestral land. We aim to achieve this by working directly and collaboratively with like minded organisations.

The Communities We Support

WANMARRA

ULPINYALI

LILLA

WATARRKA PRIMARY SCHOOL

WATARRKA REGION

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Communities We Support

The Watarrka Foundation supports communities in and around the Watarrka National Park in the Northern Territory. By road the Watarrka region is approx 350km north of Uluru and approx 500km south of Alice Springs.

Kings Canyon is at the centre of the National Park and close by are the aboriginal outstations of Lilla, Wanmarra and Ulpanyali. Located right in the middle of Australia, this is a very remote area.

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Voices from the Watarrka Community

A True Partner in Strengthening Our Community

The Watarrka Foundation has brought real, lasting change to our region. From school support to community gatherings, their commitment is genuine. Our children now have access to opportunities we never imagined possible.

~ Alex J.