Arramwelke Aboriginal Corporation unfairly turfs former CEO Jeffrey Iversen, Fair Work rules

A Northern Territory Aboriginal corporation has to back pay thousands to its former chief executive – who was unfairly dismissed, according to Fair Work. Find out why.

MacDonnell Regional Council councillor Jeff Iversen superimposed on a sign of Bonya. In May 2025, the Fair Work Commission ruled Mr Iversen had been unfairly dismissed from his CEO position at Arramwelke Aboriginal Corporation. Arramwelke Aboriginal Corporation overseas the Bonya community store.

A former chief executive is going to be back-paid thousands by his former employer – a Northern Territory Aboriginal corporation – after he was unfairly dismissed, the Fair Work Commission has ruled.

In 2024, Jeffery Iversen was sacked by the Arramwelke Aboriginal Corporation after four years at the helm as chief executive.

Now, Australian Fair Work Commissioner Bernie Riordan has ruled his sacking was unfair, and ordered the corporation to back pay Mr Iversen $17,999.92 plus super.

MacDonnell Regional Council councillor Jeff Iversen and former Arramwelke Aboriginal Corporation chief executive. Picture: Linkedin

The back pay was equivalent to 11.7 weeks’ pay, Mr Riordan determined in his decision, published on May 16.

Mr Iversen was first appointed chief executive of the corporation, located in Bonya – 360km northeast of Alice Springs – in February 2020.

He was given the boot by the corporation’s chair David Blue in October 2024, following an outcome of a corporation board meeting.

His termination was “effective immediately”, the correspondence stated.

Mr Riordan’s decision states Mr Iversen presented unchallenged evidence which said he was not presented with KPIs, nor was he subject to any performance reviews.

No reason was given for the sacking, with Mr Iversen taking the corporation to the Australian Fair Work Commission.

Once the application was made, the Commission made more than 20 attempts to contact the corporation to advise it of the proceedings.

The Commission contacted the corporation via email, telephone, and post, with the first attempt made in November 2024.

When the corporation could be reached, it was told a person named John was the proper person to talk to, but he was not in at the time, Mr Riordan’s decision said.

Other times, calls went straight to voicemail.

“A message was left advising that the Fair Work Commission was attempting to contact the Arramwelke Aboriginal Corporation in relation to a Commission matter. A representative for Arramwelke Aboriginal Corporation was asked to return Chambers’ call,” Mr Riordan’s decision said.

The call – and others – were not returned, the decision said, leading to a hearing on the matter being vacated.

The corporation was informed of this via a letter, the decision stated.

“Determining a matter when the employer refuses to participate in a Commission proceeding is not unique,” Mr Riordan said.

Fair Work Commissioner Bernie Riordan. Picture: File

Mr Riordan’s decision said the corporation failed to comply with the Commission’s directions.

The corporation’s “lack of participation” left Mr Riordan with no idea of the size of the company, which he took into account in his decision.

Among other factors, Mr Riordan also took into account what he described as the corporation’s “absence of HR expertise” which he said had a “negative impact” on Mr Iversen’s termination.

Mr Iversen is currently a councillor for the MacDonnell Regional Council, representing the Anmatjere ward.

The Arramwelke Aboriginal Corporation is a taxpayer funded corporation which provides services to the Bonya community, such as a general store, and more.

Originally published as Arramwelke Aboriginal Corporation unfairly turfs former CEO Jeffrey Iversen, Fair Work rules