In 2010 Yuendumu was wracked by conflict.  The Yuendumu Mediation and Justice Committee (YM&JC) was established as an innovative, responsive and highly effective Indigenous designed and driven initiative that has succeeded in restoring stability and harmony to the community.  It has played a powerful role in breaking cycles of disadvantage, distress and suffering caused by unmanaged community conflict and is a positive and compelling example of the drive, vision and commitment of Aboriginal people in Central Australia to take control and responsibility for matters in their community and their effectiveness and skill in doing so.  

In 2014 the presenters undertook a cost benefit analysis (CBA) that showed that YM&JC returned economic benefits that far exceeded its economic costs.  CBA is a powerful tool that is widely used by governments to evaluate the impact of projects on economic welfare.  This seminar explores the importance of conflict management as the foundation for community resilience and efficacy and the effectiveness of CBA as an evaluation tool.

Further research conducted by Anne, Greg and Rhiân has highlighted the tremendous range of benefits delivered by non-adversarial dispute resolution mechanisms such as conciliation and mediation and provides clear economic evidence of the advantages of a greater role for these processes.

Biographies:

Anne Daly is Emeritus Professor of Economics at the University of Canberra. She has undertaken research work on Indigenous issues for over 20 years focusing on labour force participation, education and family. This has involved both desk-based work and community-based activities.

Greg Barrett is an economist and former lecturer at the University of Canberra where he taught Cost Benefit Analysis for many years. He has produced several cost benefit analyses on issues such as a heath project in Fiji, Indigenous land rights in Victoria and Indigenous mediation projects in the Northern Territory and Queensland.

Rhiân Williams is a mediator and has worked on mediation research projects with AIATSIS and the Federal Court of Australia. In 2014 whilst working with Warlpiri people in Willowra to develop a group of local mediators modelled on the Yuendumu Mediation and Justice Committee she collaborated with Anne and Greg on the Yuendumu CBA.