Sydney’s National Centre of Indigenous Excellence set to remain open

Less than a week after the notice of its closure, the National Indigenous Centre of Excellence (NCIE) in the Sydney suburb of Redfern will remain open pending an agreement between the Indigenous Land and Sea Council (ILSC) and the properties' new owners, the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC).

In a press statement issued yesterday, ILSC announced that the operation of the NCIE's fitness and aquatic services will transfer to the NSWALC this week.

The statement advised that the announcement has been made in "anticipation of the ILSC and the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) agreeing on the transfer of ownership and operation of these services in the coming days."

In the statement, ILSC Group Chief Executive, Joe Morrison stated “we have been in constant dialogue with key stakeholders over the weekend and, as a result, the ILSC will keep the fitness and aquatic services operating.

"We are looking forward to meeting with the NSWALC to finalise principles for the transfer to them as the new owner and operator."

Last week saw hundreds of people gather at the NCIE after the abrupt news that it would close this week, leaving dozens of Aboriginal staff jobless and youth without their safe space.

Last Monday, around 50 NCIE staff were notified of the business closure by the ILSC, a decision that followed a two-year divestment process.

They were notified they would be out of jobs in a week, with small payouts offered subject to signing non-disclosure agreements.

In response, community members turned up at the Centre daily to protest the decision, which drew the attention of Federal Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney, and Federal Member for Sydney Tanya Plibersek.

Speaking to the crowd on Friday, Minister Burney delivered an ultimatum to the ILSC and NSWALC, telling them to "get your act together" and sort the centre's future within a week.

Emphasising that she wanted to see centre stay open, tenants whose services operate out of the centre given permanency, and that people keep their jobs, Minister Burney stated “the negotiations about the future of the aquatic and the gym have to have local people sitting at the table," she said.

While the NSWALC took ownership of the property, the organisation has been adamant that it was not able to take over operations of the "debt-funded" business.

The ILSC apologised to staff on Friday, and has now acknowledged the decision "caused distress for staff employed at the fitness and aquatic services as well as the community".

Images: The National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) in the Sydney suburb of Redfern will remain open (top, credit: Facebook) and yesterday's statement from the ILSC saying it will "keep the fitness and aquatic services operating" (below, credit: Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation).