About Us
We work with WA Aboriginal art centres to celebrate the strength of our art and culture by promoting, empowering and connecting.
Our History
AACHWA was originally established as a project department within Country Arts WA (now Regional Arts WA) in 2009. Six years later (in 2015) AACHWA became a stand-alone not-for-profit Aboriginal corporation (registered under the CATSI Act 2006).
Since 2009 AACHWA has:
- delivered a variety of skills and professional development programs for its member art centre staff, boards and artists
- provided links to legal assistance, human resource advice and services for its art centre members in times of peak HR demand
- acted as a representative voice for art centres to the wider arts sector and to funding bodies at all levels of government
- acted as an effective conduit between art centres and funding bodies, the corporate sector, and government stakeholders.
AACHWA programs and services are currently helping WA art centres to:
- stabilise their operations and remain steady in volatile conditions
- improve certain skills of their core staff and/ or their artists
- reach wider markets for their work
- communicate with each other more effectively to encourage collaboration and cross-fertilisation of skills and knowledge.
Wimiya Woodley (left), CJ Lockyer and Joy Woodley (right) photographing Ngurra, Ngurrawanna Community, June 2024. Photograph by Sarah Landro. Image courtesy of Camera Story.
Mission and Values
Our Vision
Be a strong voice for vibrant, culturally strong and sustainable Western Australian art centres
Our Mission
We work with WA Aboriginal art centres to celebrate the strength of our art and culture by:
Promoting: we are a strong voice for art centres
Empowering: we encourage best practice, facilitate targeted training opportunities and encourage leadership within younger generations
Connecting: we build strong networks with members and partners
Our Values
In this work we are guided by our priority values of Cultural maintenance;
Respect; Trust; Independence; Fairness and Equity and Collaboration.
Our Team
Chad Creighton
Chief Executive Officer
Dianne Hayes
Executive Assistant
Daniel Rarp
Interim Operations Manager
Amanda Scoble
Finance Manager
Garth Hughes
Finance Officer
Alexander Egloff
Projects Manager
Dani Carter
Projects Manager
Amy Barrett-Lennard
Interim Events and Programs Manager
Sam Leung
Senior Communications Coordinator
Ella McDonald
Design and Marketing Coordinator
Amber Norrish
Projects Coordinator
Catherine Melentis
Projects Coordinator
Emily Coy
Projects Coordinator
Rachael Karotkin
Projects Coordinator
Simone Johnston
Projects Coordinator
Katelyn Whitehurst
Projects Officer
Liz Smith
Project Admin Officer
Mario Veloso
Creative Coordinator
Lyndal Malarkey
Product Developer
Melanie Faragher
Product Developer
Our Board
Lynette Yu-Mackay
Chairperson
Nagula Jarndu Designs, Broome
Mark Smith
Deputy Chairperson
Yamaji Arts, Geraldton
John McLean
Treasurer
Independent Specialist
Maureen Baker
Member Director
Warakurna Art Centre, Warakurna Community
Nerida Martin
Member Director
Tjarlirli Art, Tjukurla Community
Wendy Warrie
Member Director
Cheeditha Art Group, Roebourne
Agnes Pigram
Member Director
Ingarlgalandij Arts and Culture Hub, Ardyaloon Community
Kimberley Swift
Non-member Director
Independent Specialist
Christina Araujo
Non-member Director
Independent Specialist
