Noongar Boodja Trust Strategic Review 2021-2025
The Trustee of the Noongar Boodja Trust (NBT) invites proposals from suitably qualified and experienced proponents to undertake a 5-year strategic review.
The NBT Strategic Review (NBT Review) is intended to provide a structured opportunity to reflect on the Trust’s performance to date, articulate the Noongar community’s long-term aspirations and determine the measures necessary to realise nation-building objectives.
EOI release: Monday 23 March 2026 (RFP package distributed following EOI submission)
RFP Proposal deadline: 2:00pm WST, Friday 24 April 2026
Interviews (as required): Wed 13 May and Friday 22 May 2026
Decision/notification: Week of 25 May
Project dates: July 2026 – December 2026
For an information package, please email NBT@perpetual.com.au
Background
The Noongar Boodja Trust Deed (the Deed) provides that the Trustee must undertake a Strategic Review (NBT Review) of the Trust in consultation with the Eligible Noongar Entities (the ENE), the State, the Noongar Relationship Committee (NRC) and the Noongar Advisory Company NAC) at prescribed periods, including 5 years after the date of the Deed, notably 29 March 2026 (at clause 26).
Pursuant to the Deed, a further Review must be completed 10 years after the date of the Deed (29 March 2031) and every 10 years thereafter.
The Trustee, with support from the State and NAC, is undertaking a process to engage external consultant/s or organisations with specialist expertise in functional matters associated with Trust management and Nation building principles.
Purpose and Objectives of the NBT Review
The Deed provides (clause 26(b)) that the purpose of the NBT Review is to consider the manner in which the trust operates with the object of identifying:
any shortcomings in the Trust’s operation;
any means of more effectively operating the Trust; and
the effectiveness of the Noongar Future Fund in enabling the Trust to carry out its objects sustainably in perpetuity.
Alongside its Deed requirements, the NBT Review enables a broader reflection on Trust progress to date and the pathways needed to achieve the aspirations of the Noongar Nation.
The NBT Review is expected to:
identify the strengths, risks and opportunities for improvement to ensure long-term sustainability and benefits for the Noongar community;
reflect on progress and celebrate successful achievements and milestones;
promote accountability and transparency;
assess Deed compliance alongside broader nation-building outcomes;
set measurable indicators to track 5-year progress against a longer-term vision;
recommend actions based on Review findings for more effective Trust operation;
assess whether Trust long-term goals are achievable and identify any required actions to ensure successful delivery;
incorporate recommendations into updated Trust governance documents such as the Noongar Boodja Trust Deed, Regional Corporation and CSC Principles, Trustee Strategic Plan 2026-2028 and KPIs to embed identified opportunities for improvement in relation to compliance requirements and nation building objectives;
evaluate the previous 5 years to set a baseline for future evaluation, identify shortcomings or roadblocks and identify opportunities to improve the Trust’s effectiveness;
assess Deed compliance alongside broader nation-building outcomes;
with reference to the Future Fund, modelling both the actual and estimated annual growth from 2021 to 2033, to understand whether the Trust’s long-term goals are achievable and identify any required actions to ensure successful delivery.
While there are important evaluation and compliance aspects to the Review of the NBT, at this critical point in the development of the Noongar South West Settlement, the NBT Review is an opportunity to deeply assess what is working well and what requires strengthening, and to ensure it is on a Noongar-owned pathway to Noongar nation-building.
How to Respond
To receive an information package, please email NBT@perpetual.com.au