Our Culture
The wisdom and knowledge of our Elders guides everything we do at Akeyulerre. All our work is led by Arrernte people and interconnects to support and strengthen our families and communities to lead good lives. Our ways of working respect and follow Arrernte law and culture.
“We want to put a healing centre in Alice Springs.
In Alice Springs there is no place where our people can go and sit down and heal.
In this healing place we will gently help our people to heal. We will be able to hold them gently as they heal themselves with the help of the people who work there.
This healing centre will bring all our people together, to heal together, to help together, to help one another, to find our ways of encouraging our people to heal and to make our spirits grow strong…
This special healing place is for everyone…”
— A Palmer 1997 (dec)
Our Story
With a focus on healing our community, we support the work of Angangkere (traditional healers), we make bush medicine rubs for our families and for the wider community and we support our families to come together and spend time on country.
At Akeyulerre, Arrernte voices are strong and shape the way things happen, young people feel proud of who they are and enjoy learning from their elders. We have jobs and do activities that are culturally and socially relevant for Arrernte people, being surrounded by the strength and abilities of our families helps us feel positive and inspired.
All Arrernte families are welcome and respected at Akeyulerre. Everyone makes an active contribution to what is happening at the centre.
Our Way
The wisdom and knowledge of our elders guides everything we do at Akeyulerre.
All our work is led by Arrernte people and interconnects to support and strengthen our families and communities to lead good lives. Our ways of working respect and follow Arrernte law and culture.
Our members, directors and staff keep Akeyulerre strong and follow a governance system that respects Arrernte and corporate ways of working. Akeyulerre works to develop and promote the inherent right of Arrernte people to lead their own cultural, political and social lives.
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Akeyulerre Aboriginal Corporation was established as an Incorporated Association in 2000. In 2020 we transitioned to an Aboriginal Corporation under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.
Our Centre
Back in 1999 a group of Arrernte Elders met at the old greenhouse over the road from the old Alice Springs Jail. They talked about setting up a place where Arrernte people could come for traditional healing.
We needed a place where we could come together and practice our healing treatments. This is where Akeyulerre Healing Centre was established, named after the rocky hill behind the centre that marks an important cultural site.
We have been coming together and using that house for more than 20 years to do healing and make bush medicines, and we take our families on country to learn and keep our knowledge strong. This is what the old people who set up this place wanted and we are still doing this today.
As so many of our people have been coming to Akeyulerre, the little house got too small. With lots of hard work and support from others we have managed to buy the place next door and build a beautiful new building to come together.
We are looking forward to continuing our strong healing and family work as well as creating opportunities to share our stories and strengths with the broader community.
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We are proudly keeping the vision of our Elders strong, maintaining respect for our land, culture and law while teaching this to our younger generations.
Our People
“Akeyulerre recognises our Elders past and present - they are our visionaries, our mentors, our guides. We acknowledge the next generation - they are our future, our inspiration and our hope. Akeyulerre recognises our responsibility to the land - which holds our spirits and our stories and keeps us strong and healthy. There are many people - our Elders, Directors, and Staff - who keep Akeyulerre strong and who are working hard to hold the vision the founding Elders had for the Healing Centre.”
Working at Akeyulerre
Working at Akeyulerre means being part of a passionate team dedicated to celebrating and preserving Arrernte culture. Our workplace fosters respect, collaboration, and connection, offering meaningful opportunities to support community well-being through cultural healing, knowledge-sharing, and enterprise. Together, we create a space where tradition and innovation come together to empower and strengthen our people.
Our Staff
Chief Executive Officer
Marli Banks
General Manager
Leo Abbott
Executive Support Officer
Tariq Odegaard
Digital Archives & Media Officer
David Liddle
Employment
Our team of 30 staff at Akeyulerre is made up of 80% Arrernte employees. All staff at Akeyulerre are required to hold an ochre card and have an ability to work out bush.
Current Employment Opportunities
Ingkenteme Project Officer
The Ingkenteme Project Officer’s role is to work with the Ingkenteme Coordinator alongside Arrernte elders and families to plan, coordinate and document all aspects of Akeyulerre’s bush schools program of trips on country and family nights.
Family Support Services Program Manager
Akeyulerre Aboriginal Corporation is looking for an experienced and culturally grounded FSS Program Manager to lead our Family Support Services (FSS) program in Alice Springs. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a community-led, culturally safe environment, supporting Aboriginal families through strengths-based programs.