The Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) is an independent statutory office that aims to improve the corporate governance, sustainability, accountability and transparency of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations. ORIC is part of the FaHCSIA portfolio.
ORIC's vision is of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people securing strong and viable futures through good governance of their corporations. ORIC currently supports and regulates over 2,500 Indigenous corporations.
ORIC assists the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations to administer the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 which requires it to:
- advise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups on how to become corporations and help them register
- help Indigenous corporations improve their corporate governance and operate in an effective, sustainable and accountable manner
- help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations understand, create and adopt their own rule book according to their needs
- help Indigenous corporations run properly, according to their own rules and cultures, and to make sure they don't break the law
- provide support services, advice and corporate governance training to help corporations do the best job for their members and communities in a manner consistent with principles of good corporate governance, and
- ensure that public information about Indigenous corporations is available on the public register.
ORIC works by:
- Building sustainability - encouraging corporations to adopt good practices in management and governance to make the most of their resources and help them achieve their purpose
- Supporting Indigenous economic development - recognising that economic development is a foundation for closing the gap
- Promoting accountability - raising awareness that it is not only a legal requirement but also good corporate governance and business practice to be answerable to members, the community and funding agencies
- Managing conflict and disputes - helping corporations to resolve conflicts and develop effective conflict resolution processes to deal with future challenges
- Fitting with culture - making sure that incorporation models and processes fit within the specific culture of the community and locality, and that any dealings with corporations are relevant within that context
- Being responsive and accessible - tailoring information and services to the needs of clients and making sure they are easy to access and use
- Building capability and social assets - equipping corporations with the necessary knowledge and social assets to help build the sustainability of corporations
More information
For more information or advice contact the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations on:
Freecall: 1800 622 431 (except for mobiles)
Fax: (02) 6281 2739
Address: PO Box 2029, Woden ACT 2606
32 Corinna Street, Woden ACT 2606
Website of the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations