The Paper Tracker is a project of UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide.

• Our goals
• Why is it called the ‘Paper Tracker'?
• How does it work?
• Who is it for?
• Community visits
• Our staff
• UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide

Our goals

The main goals of the Paper Tracker project are to make it easier for Anangu to:

•      talk with governments as equal partners
•      make informed decisions
•      participate in broader debates about their future.

Most of all, the Paper Tracker is about making sure that governments talk straight with Anangu and follow through on commitments.

Why is it called the 'Paper Tracker'?

For thousands of years Anangu have carefully tracked the movement of people and animals across their lands. These tracking skills have helped them find food and water and allowed them to know when strangers have come on to their land.

It is often difficult for Anangu to track written information - especially when it is held in Canberra or Adelaide and only available in English.

The Paper Tracker makes it easier for Anangu to track the government paper trail.

How does it work?

Whenever governments promise to do something that could have a major impact for Anangu, a new page is added to the website. The page then tracks that particular promise.

For example, if a government promises to build a swimming pool in a particular community, a page will be added to the website to track the story of that promise. If the promise is kept and construction of the swimming pool begins, we will put that information on the website. If the promise isn't kept or things are taking too long, we will write to the government to ask them for an update. Whatever we learn will be published on the website so that all Anangu (and their supporters) can know what is happening.

Who is it for?

The Paper Tracker is for all Anangu living in remote communities in South Australia (APY Lands, Maralinga Tjarutja Lands, Umoona and Yalata communities).

We hope it can also help co-workers, friends and supporters of Anangu to understand what governments are saying and doing.

Community visits

The Paper Tracker recognises the importance of meeting regularly with Anangu on their lands. These meetings are opportunities for Anangu to highlight issues that are of particular concern to them and for us to check the direction and impact of our work. We aim to make at least three visits to Anangu communities each year.

Our staff  

The Paper Tracker is a small project located within UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide's Research and Development Unit.

The Paper Tracker project has one full-time worker. It also has the strong support of UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide's Minister and Board.

Jonathan Nicholls

Jonathan joined UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide in early 2007 as its Senior Policy Officer (Indigenous Policy). Jonathan's work focuses on South Australia's remote Anangu communities. He previously worked for the Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee (Parliament of South Australia) and, prior to that, with the Ara Irititja Project.

Rev Peter McDonald

Peter is the Minister of UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide. As a key part of that role, he advocates for the needs of disadvantaged South Australians.

UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide Board

It has been a conscious, strategic direction of the Board of UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide to find ways for our organisation to support remote Aboriginal communities.

UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide

UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide is a community service organisation with over 100 years experience in providing service to low income and disadvantaged people in South Australia. We work with people and communities to break the ‘cycle of disadvantage'. As part of this work, we advocate for a society which is fair and just, we oppose racism and all forms of unjust discrimination and we recognise peoples' right to self-determination. To read more about UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide's Visions, Values and Principles click here.

UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide is an agency of the Uniting Church in Australia.