Ms Colbung and nine other council members will advise the government on critical issues affecting Aboriginal people, including informing it of the impact of its programs and policies on Aboriginal people.

The appointments of Ms Colbung - who was chairperson of Premier Mike Rann's interim advisory council - and the other members were announced last Friday by Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Minister Jay Weatherill.

Ms Colbung, who is also the director of the South Australian Aboriginal Sports Academy, has been appointed for two years, starting May 1.

Five other members from the interim council will be reappointed for one year, while four new members to the group will join Ms Colbung on two-year terms.

Ms Colbung said of the council's role: "As an advisory group, it will be our job to provide honest, fearless and reflective representation on behalf of Aboriginal people across the state."

She said the advisory council will complement the advocacy role of the Commissioner for Aboriginal Engagement, Mr Klynton Wanganeen, appointed earlier this year.

"The advisory council and the Commissioner for Aboriginal Engagement will ensure Aboriginal people have an advocacy voice to support them, as well as a representative body involved in government decision making," Ms Colbung said.

Announcing the appointments, Mr Weatherill said: "Aboriginal people need a representative voice at government level to consult and negotiate on issues important to them. The advisory council will be integral in ensuring Aboriginal people in metropolitan and regional areas are very much part of shaping the way services are planned, delivered, monitored and evaluated.

"The council will provide a strong, consistent and collective voice for Aboriginal people in areas including justice, health, education, training and community development," he said.

Mr Weatherill said the new council - five men and five women - was a "good mix" of people from a range of professional backgrounds.

"The appointees are experts in different areas of Aboriginal and community affairs including a lawyer, a senior academic, the deputy chair of Aboriginal Congress, and a leader in the field of drug and alcohol policy."People appointed to the council need a very high level of commitment and experience. They need a deep understanding of Aboriginal culture, policy and service delivery experience and most importantly, good standing within the Aboriginal community," he said.

The 10 council members were chosen from about 80 nominations received in response to a public call for those interested in being on the council.

The appointment adds further to Ms Colbung's growing influence with the State Government.

In February last year she was appointed to the Social Inclusion Board headed by Monsignor David Cappo. In 2006-07 she was one of 26 community leaders on South Australia's Strategic Plan Update Team and chairperson of a Aboriginal group which oversaw the increase from two to nine Aboriginal-specific targets in the strategy plan.

She was previously regional Indigenous service development officer with the Eyre Regional Health Service and has worked for Federal and State Governments in a variety of service delivery, program and policy roles in Ceduna.

Ms Colbung was the first Aboriginal woman elected to a South Australian local council in 1967 when she represented ratepayers on the District Council of Ceduna.

She holds a Diploma of Business and a Bachelor of Adult and Vocational Education from the University of South Australia. She is a Graduate of the University of NSW and Thailand's Thammasat University's People's Diplomacy, Human Rights and International Law Program. Ms Colbung is also a Fellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Network.

The other members of the SA Aboriginal Advisory Council are:

Deputy chairperson Parry Agius, executive oficer of the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement's Native Title Section. He is also a key contributor to the negotiations for Indigenous Land Use Agreements in South Australia. Mr Agius is also editor of ‘Aboriginal Way’, South Australia's only indigenous newspaper.

Mary Anderson, a Yankunytjatjara woman who has worked with many different organisations around the APY Lands. She is secretariat support officer for Tjungungku Kuranyukutu Palyantjaku, a regional forum for APY service organisations and government.

n Harry Miller, chief executive officer of the Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service. He is involved in Aboriginal rights and improved social and economic outcomes for Aboriginal people.

Lewis O'Brien, a Kaurna elder and Adjunct Research Fellow, Indigenous College of Education and Research at the University of South Australia. He is a member of the Adelaide City Council's reconciliation committee.

Dr Alice Rigney is a Narungga and Kaurna woman and retired school principal. Dr Rigney was the first in a group of Aboriginal people to work for the Education Department in the early 1960s, and was the first female Aboriginal school principal in SA.

Khatija Thomas is a solicitor with the Women's Legal Service of South Australia. Originally from Port Augusta, she has also worked for the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement.

Sharon Gollan is one of the most renowned Aboriginal academics in Australia. She has 25 years experience in the public health, youth, children and community services sector and is program director at the College of Indigenous Education and Research for the University of South Australia.

Aaron Stuart has spent more than 17 years with the South Australian Police. Port Augusta-based, he is now a senior project officer in the suicide prevention strategy area of Centacare Catholic Family Services. He is chairman of the Arrubanna Native Title Claim Group and vice-chairman of Aboriginal Congress for South Australia.

Scott Wilson is chief executive officer of the Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council SA. He also is deputy chairperson of the Alcohol Education Rehabilitation Foundation.