The Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations announced on Thursday Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation had been placed under special administration, a move the group’s board had requested.

Deputy registrar Joe Mastrolembo said this step would provide specialist support.

“Our office has previously notified Mungabareena of our governance concerns and requested certain matters be addressed,” he said.

Mr Mastrolembo said he was pleased the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation had agreed to continue supporting the corporation.

“We all want to ensure the corporation can continue providing culturally appropriate services to its local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community,” he said.

Alan Eldridge, of the NSW firm Australian Indigenous Business Services, has been appointed as special administrator until March 8.

Mr Eldridge will work with the corporation’s staff and members, as well as VACCHO, to improve its governance, structures and financial position.

VACCHO, which had been working in partnership with Mungabareena since July, welcomed the appointment.

Chief executive Jill Gallagher said she had been surprised and pleased the Mungabareena board had requested an administrator.

“I think that showed a lot of gumption and very good leadership,” she said. “We always have to work in sync and together with ORIC, but I think together we would be able to do it a lot quicker.”