Western Australian utilities giant, Water Corporation, has ended its support for Indigenous education charity MADALAH.

MADALAH provides scholarships for Aboriginal students from across WA to attend some of the highest-performing schools in the state. The organisation has helped thousands of students by providing financial support, mentorship, and access to a strong community of peers.

Water Corporation enjoys a monopoly in Western Australia. Its 2022 Annual Report reported an operating surplus of $879 million. The Corporation's 2023 operating surplus was $946.8 million.

National Indigenous Times asked Water Corporation a series of questions about the decision:

- Why has Water Corporation chosen not to continue funding MADALAH scholarships, despite the demonstrable success of the program and the large number of Indigenous students who have benefited from the Corporation's support?

- To what extent does this decision align with Water Corporation's publicly stated commitments to Aboriginal engagement, education, and reconciliation under your Reconciliation Action Plan?

- Can you confirm whether any formal impact evaluation was undertaken to assess the success of your five-year partnership with MADALAH? If so, will you make those findings public?

- What steps will you take to ensure students currently supported by Water Corporation funding are not left without financial support during critical years of their education?

- To what extent was any consultation undertaken with MADALAH, the students, or the communities affected by this funding withdrawal before the decision was made? (and if there was none, why not?)

- Can you outline what alternative programs or investments Water Corporation intends to support in place of the MADALAH scholarships to maintain continuity in its commitment to Indigenous education and leadership?

- We understand Water Corporation has expressed a wish to "maintain a partnership" with MADALAH despite ending scholarship funding. What does this mean in practical terms? Will any funding be provided?

- Is the decision to discontinue funding part of any broader cuts to Aboriginal programs at Water Corporation?

- Will Water Corporation publicly reaffirm its commitment to long-term Indigenous empowerment through education, and if so, how do you propose to demonstrate this in the absence of continued support for these scholars?

A spokesperson for Water Corporation told National Indigenous Times the Corporation entered into a five-year partnership agreement with MADALAH in late-2020 "to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from regional Western Australia with the cost of completing high school and beginning university".

"During this time, 32 students have benefitted from this assistance, with Water Corporation expecting funds will continue to be administered to support students already receiving scholarships," they said.

"Water Corporation is now in the process of exploring future partnerships which align with and support its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)."

While not directly related to support for any Indigenous education initiatives, including MADALAH, the spokesperson added that as part of its "continued commitment to supporting Aboriginal businesses across WA", 6.4 per cent of Water Corporation contracts above $50,000, totalling more than $24 million, were awarded to Aboriginal-owned businesses in the 2023-24 financial year.

"This reflects Water Corporation's commitment through its RAP to delivering employment and economic opportunities for First Nations people and communities across WA," they said.

More to come.