An insolvency and forensic accounting firm has been appointed to investigate the finances of one of Australia's largest Indigenous corporations amid ongoing turmoil at the organisation.
Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation is funded by the federal and Northern Territory governments to provide a vast range of services in Tennant Creek and the surrounding Barkly region, including housing, youth programs and childcare.
But former employees and community members have expressed concerns about the alleged misappropriation of hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding within Julalikari, with NT Police confirming to the ABC it had launched an investigation into the organisation.
In January 2024, the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) announced it had appointed Western Australia-based firm Rodgers Reidy to examine Julalikari's books.
It is the latest blow to the organisation, which has been marred by years of mismanagement and governance failures, including being placed into special administration by ORIC in 2017.
'Financial anomalies' discovered
When contacted by the ABC last year, Julalikari confirmed an independent investigation had been conducted after an audit by the council identified some "financial anomalies".
"After reviewing the outcomes of this independent investigation, the board has made the decision to formally report and refer the matter to the NT Police for investigation," then chief executive Brody Moore said at the time.
"Moving forward, Julalikari will be supporting the police with their investigations into the matter and as such are unable to provide further comment at this stage.
"Our focus remains on managing the best interests of our organisation, its associated entities, our staff, our members and the services we continue to deliver to our community."
The council did not respond to questions about this latest development.
Much of Julalikari's funding is provided by the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), which provides Commonwealth-funded grants to Aboriginal corporations.
An analysis of federal government grant schedules shows NIAA has awarded almost $12 million in grants to the organisation over the past five years.
A spokesperson for NIAA said it would be "inappropriate to comment on matters currently under investigation" by police.
Community distressed by decline
Community members have also raised concerns about the future of Julalikari and its capacity to deliver much-needed services to the vast Barkly region.
John Fitz Jakamarra, a member of the organisation and long-time Tennant Creek resident, said the community was distressed by the turmoil within Julalikari.
"Julalikari may go down the drain and we're really sad about that because our families and a lot of Tennant Creek people have had a large part in the service," he said.
"It helps the community in the Barkly region so it's going to be a real shame if it does go."
Mr Jakamarra said he and other members had stopped receiving updates from the board on the governance of the organisation.
He said the decline in service provision was occurring at a time when the need in the Barkly region was greater than ever.
"Thirty or 40 years ago, all the families used to care for each other, everyone had food, we had people working in stations, the kids were happy going to school," he said.
"Now it's all changed.
"There's the alcohol problem, but we need to go deeper than because we know that there's 10-12 people in some of our houses … and as a community, we need to all get together."