Frequently Asked Questions

The Gumala Trust (also known as ‘GIPL’) is the Trustee of the General Gumala Foundation – the body responsible for safeguarding the compensation funds from the Yandi Land Use Agreement. When the Elders established the Foundation in 1997, they wanted to make sure the money was protected, well‑managed, and used to support Banjima, Nyiyaparli and Yinhawangka peoples for generations to come.

As Trustee, the Gumala Trust carries the legal responsibility to manage these funds wisely and in line with the Trust Deed, always acting in the best interests of Beneficiaries.

The Gumala Trust looks after the Foundation’s money – both for today and for the future. Our responsibilities include:

• Managing and distributing funds according to the Trust Deed
• Ensuring all decisions align with the Foundation’s objects, such as education, health, culture and community development
• Overseeing the Future Fund, which is invested to support Beneficiaries long after mining at Yandicoogina ends

Everything we do is guided by the Elders’ original vision: strong governance, long-term thinking, and benefits that reach across generations. To learn more about our role, watch this short video.

The Gumala Trust is governed by a Board of six Directors who bring both cultural authority and professional expertise to the table. The Board is made up of:

• Three Traditional Owner Directors, representing the Banjima, Nyiyaparli and Yinhawangka language groups, ensuring each group has a direct voice in decision-making.
• Three Independent Directors, who have no material business or relationship ties to Beneficiaries and provide specialist skills in areas like finance, governance and law.

Directors are appointed by the Gumala Aboriginal Corporation (GAC) Board through an advertised and transparent process. Each Director serves a five-year term, reflecting the importance of stability and long-term stewardship. You can find our current Board Directors’ names and professional biographies at: Our Directors.

Directors are appointed through an open and transparent process run by the GAC Board. Positions are advertised, applicants are assessed on merit, and appointments are made for five-year terms. This process ensures the Board includes both strong professional expertise and cultural representation from the three language groups.

Beneficiaries are the Banjima, Nyiyaparli and Yinhawangka peoples – the Traditional Owners of Western Australia’s Pilbara region, who signed the Yandi Land Use Agreement in 1997. The Foundation exists to support their wellbeing, culture, education, communities and long‑term prosperity.

The Elders created a clear separation of roles to ensure strong governance:

• The Trustee (the Gumala Trust) looks after the money, makes funding decisions, and ensures everything aligns with the Trust Deed.
• The Manager (GAC) consults with Traditional Owners, develops proposals for distribution programs, and may provide support for program delivery.

This structure helps protect the Foundation from conflicts of interest and ensures decisions are made carefully and independently.

When the Elders created the Foundation in 1997, they wanted strong checks and balances to protect the money for generations to come. They created:

• A Trustee to look after the money, and
• A Manager to work directly with Traditional Owners and deliver programs.

This separation ensures no single group controls everything, and decisions are made carefully, independently and in the best interests of Beneficiaries.

Independence is one of the key safeguards built into the Trust Deed. The Trustee can listen to advice from GAC and from Traditional Owners, but it must make its own decisions – always in the best interests of Beneficiaries. This independence protects the Foundation from pressure, politics or short-term thinking, and helps ensure distributions are fair and equitable for everyone.

When the Elders created the General Gumala Foundation, they set up a structure to protect the funds and make sure they would last for future generations. Under the Trust Deed, the Gumala Trust is not allowed to make large direct cash payments to individuals. The Foundation must provide benefits mainly through programs, services, community projects and long-term investments.

If Beneficiaries want the Foundation to provide broader direct payments, the Trust Deed would need to be formally changed – a process that requires consultation, approvals and a Special Resolution vote at a General Meeting. Until then, the Gumala Trust must follow the rules set by the Elders and the Trust Deed.

The Trust Deed requires a full review of the Foundation at least every five years. The most recent review was completed in 2024, with more than 80% of Beneficiaries saying they supported the Gumala Trust’s work and saw the Future Fund as essential for future generations. You can read the results here: 2024 GGF Survey Results.

The Trust Deed sets out clear responsibilities for each body, even when disagreements arise. The Trustee must continue acting independently and in the best interests of Beneficiaries, while the Manager must continue consulting with Traditional Owners and developing proposals. Disputes do not stop the Trustee from carrying out its legal duties – but resolving them is always the priority so the Foundation can operate smoothly.

The Trust Deed is the rulebook for the entire Foundation. It sets out:

• What the money can be used for
• How decisions must be made
• The responsibilities of the Trustee and the Manager
• How income must income allocated each year
• How Beneficiaries can change the Trustee or amend the Trust Deed

It protects the Foundation from poor decision-making and ensures the Elders’ original vision continues to guide the future.

Yes. Traditional Owners have the power to amend the Trust Deed through a Special Resolution at a General Meeting. This ensures the Foundation can evolve over time and remain relevant to the needs of Beneficiaries.

There is no fixed schedule, but the Trust Deed can be reviewed whenever Beneficiaries or the Trustee believe changes may be needed. Because the Deed was written in 1997, it’s important to revisit it from time to time to ensure it remains relevant and continues to serve the needs of Beneficiaries.

Yes. After the minimum five-year term, Beneficiaries have the power to remove or replace the Trustee through a Special Resolution at a General Meeting. This is one of the strongest protections built into the Trust Deed, ensuring the Trustee remains accountable to the people it serves.

The objects are the purposes the Elders set for how the Foundation’s money should be used. They include:

• Relieving hardship or poverty
• Supporting education and training
• Improving health and wellbeing
• Strengthening communities
• Protecting culture

Every funding decision must align with these objects.

The Proviso Clause allows the Trustee to adjust the minimum spending requirements for the Income Utilisation Categories when it is not in the Foundation’s best interests to follow them strictly. For example, the Trust Deed normally requires minimum allocations such as 20% to Community Development or 10% to Health and Wellbeing. If circumstances change, the Trustee may apply the Proviso Clause – but only with written reasons explaining why the usual minimums are not appropriate.

The Future Fund currently holds $300 million, plus properties as assets.

This includes $59 million left from the original $65 million Rio Tinto underpayment. The other $6 million of that underpayment was released to GAC in December 2025 for Beneficiaries to access a $3,000 hardship payment.

The Foundation earns income from investments, property and commercial activities. However, a large portion of the Foundation’s income comes from Rio Tinto under the Yandi Land Use Agreement. Mining at Yandicoogina is expected to end within the next 10–15 years. When the mine closes, those payments will stop. This is why long‑term planning is essential.

Revenue from Rio Tinto has been lower than in previous years, but it has not stopped. So far, the Foundation has received around $16 million, which is less than the usual average of about $20 million per year.

This change is because payments are still made under the original Yandi Land Use Agreement, which uses a “disturbance” model. Under this model, Rio Tinto pays the Foundation when new land is disturbed for mining. As the mine continues operating without needing much new land, payments naturally decline.

Most modern agreements now use a “tonnage” model, where payments are based on how much iron ore is mined, not how much land is disturbed. This approach is more stable and predictable over time. GAC is responsible for negotiating this update.

The decline in disturbance-based payments shows why careful financial planning is important. The Yandi mine will not last forever, and the decisions made today will shape the support available for future generations.

The Foundation is receiving far less revenue than in previous years, and mining at Yandicoogina is expected to end within the next 10–15 years. If the Trust spends too much now, there may not be enough left to support future generations. The Trustee must balance today’s needs with tomorrow’s – just as the Elders intended.

Under the Trust Deed, after operational overheads are paid, the remaining income can be distributed:

• Up to 60% to Beneficiaries, and
• At least 40% into the Future Fund

This structure balances immediate support with long‑term security. But it only works if overheads are kept at a reasonable level. The more we spend on overheads, the less there is available for Beneficiaries.

In recent years, management costs have increased significantly. If spending continued at that rate, the Foundation’s funds would run out by 2040. We cannot allow that to happen. This is why we are acting now – to protect your funds so they do not run out in one generation. To learn more, watch this video.

The Foundation’s costs include:

• Beneficiary funding
• Administration and governance
• Compliance and audit requirements
• Manager essential funding (as required by the Trust Deed)
• Investment management for the Future Fund

These costs ensure the Foundation operates properly, transparently and in line with the law.

Beneficiaries have been clear about what they want: stronger oversight, lower administration costs, more direct support, and a long‑term plan that protects the Foundation for future generations. Many Beneficiaries have also said the current level of overheads is not sustainable and asked for a shift back toward the original purpose of the Trust – alleviating poverty.

The new budget reflects this feedback. It ensures funding provided to the Manager, Gumala Aboriginal Corporation, is appropriate, efficient and aligned with the Trust Deed. It also means more of the Foundation’s income can go where Beneficiaries want it to go – into direct supports today, and into the Future Fund for tomorrow.

The Trustee (the Gumala Trust) reviews every proposal from the Manager (GAC) carefully, checks it against the Trust Deed, and ensures it aligns with the Foundation’s objects. The Trustee also monitors the Manager’s performance, requires regular reporting, and commissions independent audits and reviews when needed. These safeguards protect the Foundation from misuse and ensure funds are used responsibly.

We understand Beneficiaries’ concerns about rising administration costs, and we share it. In 2025, the Gumala Trust asked KPMG, an independent firm that specialises in financial reviews, to take a close look at our costs and identify where improvements were needed. Their review is now complete, and we shared the key findings with Beneficiaries in our November 2025 newsletter.

We are now putting those recommendations into action. This includes setting a more sustainable budget across the organisation and taking a more proactive approach to strengthening revenue and profit from Gumala Enterprises. We are also making sure that funding provided to the Manager is appropriate, efficient and aligned with the Trust Deed.

Our focus is on long-term sustainability so the Foundation can continue supporting Beneficiaries well beyond the life of the mine. Transparency and accountability remain central to how we manage the Trust, and we will continue to keep Beneficiaries informed as this work progresses.

All Trustee‑related spending is reported through audited financial statements, presented at the Annual General Meeting and published for Beneficiaries. These statements show how funds are used to manage the Trust, including distributions, administration and compliance costs. Transparency and accountability are central to how we operate. You can review the latest statements here: Financial Statements 2024-25.

Every funding decision must align with the Foundation’s objects, which include:

• Education and training
• Health and wellbeing
• Community development
• Business development
• Culture

The Trustee reviews proposals carefully to ensure they are high-quality, financially responsible, and in the best interests of Beneficiaries.

The Future Fund is a long-term investment fund created to support Beneficiaries after mining at Yandicoogina ends, which is expected to happen within the next 10–15 years. Once mining stops, payments from Rio Tinto will stop too. At the same time, Foundation costs have increased significantly. The Future Fund ensures that support does not disappear within one generation. It is one of the most important responsibilities given to the Trustee under the Trust Deed. To learn more about how we can ensure support does not run out in one generation, watch this video.

The Future Fund is invested in a diversified portfolio designed to grow steadily over time while protecting the capital. The Trustee works with professional investment managers and follows strict policies to ensure the Fund is managed responsibly and transparently.

The Future Fund is designed for long-term sustainability. Withdrawals can only be made in line with the Trust Deed and must be carefully considered to ensure the Fund continues to support future generations. The Trust Deed includes a perpetuity date of 2077, which means the Future Fund must be managed so that it lasts until at least that year.

No. The Future Fund is designed to provide long-term support for Beneficiaries after mining ends. Using it for direct cash payments would undermine its purpose and could leave future generations without support.

The Future Fund is designed to continue supporting Beneficiaries even after mining revenue ends. If mining stops earlier, the Fund becomes even more important – it becomes the primary source of long-term financial support for the Foundation.

The Gumala Trust, as the Trustee, engages professional investment managers who specialise in long-term, diversified portfolios. These experts follow strict investment policies approved by the Trustee to ensure the Fund grows steadily and is protected for future generations.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, or needs urgent help, there are services available 24 hours a day. These organisations can provide immediate support, counselling, or help you connect with local services in your area.

Western Australia – Statewide Services

• Lifeline – For anyone feeling overwhelmed, distressed or needing someone to talk to. Phone: 13 11 14

Website: lifeline.org.au

• Beyond Blue – Support for anxiety, depression and emotional stress.

Phone: 1300 22 4636
Website: beyondblue.org.au

• Suicide Call Back Service – 24/7 counselling for people at risk, carers and those affected by suicide.
  Phone: 1300 659 467
• 1800RESPECT – Support for people experiencing family or domestic violence.
  Phone: 1800 737 732
  Website: 1800respect.org.au
• Crisis Care (WA Government) – For urgent help with family crisis, child protection concerns, or emergency accommodation.
  Phone: 1800 199 008

Pilbara Specific Support

• Pilbara Mental Health Service – Local mental health support across the Pilbara region. Phone: (08) 9174 1240
• Wirraka Maya Health Service (South Hedland) – Aboriginal health and wellbeing services, including social and emotional support.
  Phone: (08) 9172 0400
• Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service (East Pilbara) – Health and community support for Jigalong, Parnngurr, Punmu and Kunawarritji.
  Phone: (08) 9176 8440
• Karratha Women’s Place – Support for women experiencing crisis, family stress or domestic violence.
  Phone: (08) 9144 4412
• Hedland Women’s Refuge – Safe accommodation and support for women and children escaping violence.
  Phone: (08) 9173 1948

Emergency Services

If someone is in immediate danger, call 000 for police, ambulance or fire.

A hardship payment is a small cash payment that the Trustee is allowed to make when a Beneficiary is facing an emergency or experiencing unusual hardship or distress. These payments are designed to help in situations where immediate support is needed.

Hardship payments are not general cash distributions. They exist only to provide short-term relief in exceptional circumstances.

The Trust Deed is very clear:

• The Foundation must focus on non-cash benefits, such as programs, services, community projects and long-term investments.
• The Trustee is not allowed to make large cash payments to individuals.
• The only time cash can be provided is when a Beneficiary is experiencing unusual hardship or distress.
• Even then, the Trust Deed only allows non-significant (small or modest) amounts.

These rules were put in place by the Elders to protect the Foundation’s long-term sustainability and ensure the money is used fairly and responsibly.

The Elders designed the Foundation to support Beneficiaries through education, health, community development, culture and long-term economic independence — not through ongoing cash handouts. Hardship payments are the exception, not the norm.

The rules exist to:

• Protect the Foundation’s funds for future generations
• Ensure fairness and consistency
• Prevent the Foundation from being drained by large cash distributions
• Keep the focus on long-term benefits, not short-term spending

These safeguards ensure the Foundation remains strong long after mining at Yandicoogina ends.

Because the Trust Deed only allows non-significant cash payments. This means the Trustee can only provide small or modest amounts — just enough to help someone through a difficult moment, not enough to replace income or provide ongoing financial support. If the Trustee were to provide large cash payments, it would breach the Trust Deed and undermine the long-term future of the Foundation.

The Trust Deed sets out how the Foundation’s income must be used each year. This includes minimum allocations to:

• Education and training
• Business development
• Community development
• Health and wellbeing
• Cultural purposes
• Long-term investments (the Future Fund)

Hardship payments sit outside these categories and are only permitted in emergencies. This ensures the Foundation stays focused on its core purpose: building strong communities, supporting culture, improving wellbeing and creating opportunities for future generations.

If you’re experiencing hardship, the best first step is to contact GAC, as they are responsible for supporting Beneficiaries day-to-day and can guide you through what help may be available. GAC can talk with you about your situation, explain the process and help you understand whether a hardship application is appropriate under the Trust Deed.

• Phone: (08) 9219 4500
• Email: info@gumala.com.au
• Perth Office: Level 2, 165 Adelaide Terrace, East Perth WA 6004
• Tom Price Office: 1 Stadium Road, Tom Price WA 6751

If you’re unsure where to start, reaching out to GAC is the quickest way to get the right information and support.

Yes. The Yandi Land Use Agreement was signed before Native Title was determined, which means there is a legal question about whether Beneficiaries should be defined by the original contract or by Native Title law. The Gumala Trust cannot make this decision on its own. We are seeking independent legal advice to ensure the Foundation operates correctly and lawfully. We will keep Beneficiaries informed as this work progresses.

Gumala and BNTAC are separate organisations with different roles and responsibilities. Gumala manages the Gumala Trust and delivers programs and services under the Yandi Land Use Agreement. BNTAC manages its own trust and membership matters separately.

If you have questions about BNTAC decisions or Trustee arrangements, please contact BNTAC directly at admin@bntac.org.au.

This change relates to BNTAC, not Gumala. Gumala is a separate organisation and was not part of this decision. For information about the appointment of Mutual Trust, including how the decision was made or what fees apply, please contact BNTAC directly at admin@bntac.org.au.

You’re always welcome to contact the Gumala Trust directly. We take every concern seriously and aim to respond promptly, respectfully and in a way that supports clear communication between the Trust and Beneficiaries.

• Phone: (08) 6289 7500
• Email: gipl@gumalatrust.com
• Office: Level 3, 165 Adelaide Terrace, Perth WA 6004

The Trustee holds at least one formal consultation meeting each financial year, as required by the Trust Deed. In addition, the Trust participates in roadshows, online town halls and community visits throughout the year to stay connected with Beneficiaries.

Beneficiaries are welcome to contact the Trust to request a meeting. Depending on the issue, we can arrange a phone call, online meeting or in-person discussion during community visits or in Perth.

We stay connected with Beneficiaries through:

• Roadshows across the Pilbara and Perth
• Town Hall sessions for open discussion
• Direct contact via phone, email and in‑person meetings

Yes. Gumala is committed to creating opportunities for young Traditional Owners, including work experience, internships and pathways into employment. We encourage families to get in touch to learn more about available opportunities.

The results were emailed to all Beneficiaries in March 2025. You can review them again here: 2024 GGF Survey Results.

The results of the Gumala Trust’s consultation roadshow and survey undertaken in mid-2025 were shared with all Beneficiaries in October 2025, by email, social media, and a series of online sessions to share the results. You can review the report here: 2025 Gumala Trust Consultation Results.

The General Gumala Foundation has two organisations with different roles. Knowing who to contact helps you get the right support quickly and without confusion.

When to contact the Gumala Trust (GIPL)

The Gumala Trust is the Trustee. We manage the Foundation’s funds, make decisions about distributions, and ensure everything is done in line with the Trust Deed and the Elders’ original intent.

You should contact the Gumala Trust if you have questions about:

• The Trust Deed and how the Foundation must operate
• Distribution rules or funding decisions
• Governance, transparency or compliance
• The Future Fund or long-term financial sustainability
• Feedback or complaints about how the Trust is being managed
• Tenancy or housing support (for current tenants of Gumala-owned properties)

The Gumala Trust Contact Details:

• Phone: (08) 6289 7500
• Email: gipl@gumalatrust.com
• Office: Level 3, 165 Adelaide Terrace, Perth WA 6004

When to contact GAC (Gumala Aboriginal Corporation)

GAC is the Manager under the Trust Deed. They work directly with Beneficiaries and deliver programs, services and day-to-day support.

You should contact GAC if you need help with:

• Updating your personal details (address, phone number, bank details)
• Membership or Traditional Owner Register enquiries
• Program information (education, health, culture, community programs)
• Hardship enquiries
• Help with applications or documents
• General Beneficiary support

GAC Contact Details:

• Phone: (08) 9219 4500
• Email: info@gumala.com.au
• Perth Office: Level 2, 165 Adelaide Terrace, East Perth WA 6004
• Tom Price Office: 1 Stadium Road, Tom Price WA 6751