Workers dumped from employer housing amid financial woes

Former workers at an Indigenous youth services organisation that is experiencing financial issues in Western Australia's north say they were given less than a week's notice to leave their employer-provided accommodation.

The Wyndham Youth Aboriginal Corporation (WYAC) has provided education programs and a safe night space for people in the Kimberley town, 3,100 kilometres north of Perth.

The ABC reported last month that WYAC closed suddenly in mid-September, with its chief executive blaming federal agencies for reneging on promised funding.

This has led to its workforce being stood down and some being asked to leave their accommodation at short notice.

'Extremely unreasonable'

Ayesha Gomes worked for WYAC for more than a year as a provisional psychologist.

The Indian national's pathway to Australia was through sponsorship from WYAC, and she has now been left with uncertainty.

Ms Gomes was sent a text by WYAC chief executive Neville D'Silva on October 28 asking her to vacate the provided accommodation by November 1.

"Obviously that is extremely unreasonable," she said.

"Now my employment is terminated, I get only six months to find another sponsor to employ me, otherwise I will have to leave the country … it is concerning and scary."

Ms Gomes said she had unsuccessfully tried to contact WYAC board members.

She also contacted the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) but was told she was not authorised to obtain information regarding the company's status.

"I would really appreciate it if WYAC were more transparent and responsive to the concerns raised by employees," Ms Gomes said.

"It's obviously our lives, right? It's not simple to lose a job and in my case, potentially losing accommodation altogether so suddenly."

Financial issues

A second former WYAC employee, whom the ABC has chosen not to name, said the organisation stopped services after experiencing financial issues.

This led to workers being left in the dark about the future.

"We got stuck in the last few months; we didn't know what to do," they said.

"We weren't getting any help or support from anyone. It's very hard."

The employee said they had also tried to contact ORIC for help and clarification.

"I first sent [ORIC] an email [and] I've got a reply saying they won't be able to do anything," they said.

'Termination is mandatory'

Mr D'Silva said federal bodies such as the National Indigenous Australians Agency had reneged on "contractually owed" funding commitments, leading to a "trading halt".

"WYAC is restructuring," he said in a statement.

In a statement to the ABC last month, the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) said it was unable to comment publicly on grant management discussions with individual organisations, but said it was "continuing to engage with WYAC".

In relation to employees losing their jobs and some losing their homes, Mr D'Silva said it was an "internal matter".

"There are no funds, so termination is mandatory,"

he said.

"We reassess and restructure in due course and subject to funders paying their contracted amounts."

Mr D'Silva, who stepped down from the CEO position for a period of time this year, could not confirm if or when programs would resume.

Youth services void

Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley president David Menzel said youth programs would be "sorely missed" in the town.

"My fear is it's going to take significant time to reinstate those services; I really feel for those young people that were quite reliant on the services,"

he said.

"If staff are dislocated out of housing, the easiest place to find housing won't be in our local area. So we potentially lose those staff too."

A WA government spokesperson said they "acknowledged the concerns felt across the Wyndham community".

"The withdrawal of this support will be felt by many local young people and families who relied on these important services," they said.

The spokesperson said matters related to governance of Aboriginal corporations fell within ORIC's remit.

ORIC declined to comment on whether an investigation into WYAC or its finances was underway.

"Confirmation of whether ORIC is investigating a matter would not assist the community in understanding the current funding situation or when services may resume," they said in a statement to the ABC.