Governance

The return of Aboriginal people to live on their clan estates in the 1970s became known as the outstation movement. This movement of people back to country is the root of the BAC who today continues to assist people on country.

The BAC is also the governance organisation for the Djelk Ranger program and its emerging enterprises. BAC is located in Maningrida and services some 10,000 sq km of country. BAC is one of Australia's oldest outstation resource centre associations, established in 1974 to support those people who chose to live on their clan estates in the Arnhem Land reserve rather than in the government settlement of Maningrida. In 1979, it was incorporated under the Federal Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act.

BAC is directed by an Indigenous executive Committee elected annually by the members at the Corporation's Annual General Meeting. Policies developed by the executive are implemented through the management team in conjunction with senior staff in each program area. The Djelk Rangers have been at the forefront of Indigenous Aboriginal land and sea management in the Top End of the Northern Territory because they have had a strong governance organisation to lobby and provide much-needed administrative assistance to the emerging group. 

The BAC has also been a case study in the Indigenous Community Governance Project (ICGP). The ICGP is a partnership between CAEPR and Reconciliation Australia, to undertake research on Indigenous community governance with participating Indigenous communities, regional Indigenous organisations, and leaders across Australia.