Working Together on the North Coast
Working Together on the North Coast
Building on the collaborative platform created by Aboriginal Engagement on the North Coast
Collaborations -
LP023-017
The issue
Actively work towards securing funding for continuation and development of the Aboriginal Engagement Role into the future.
Building collaborative partnerships between Landcare and Aboriginal stakeholders across the region has been a key focus of the North Coast Regional Landcare Network - supported by funding from Landcare NSW, the first Aboriginal Landcare Officer in NSW was appointed in 2021 to help coordinate activities and find ways to connect, support and work together.
In the second phase of the Working Together program in 2022 there was clear opportunity to build on this collaborative platform the Aboriginal Landcare Officer has established and utilise the networks, communication channels and momentum of interest to integrate the diverse Aboriginal communities and organisations into biodiversity recovery programs.
The solution
The Aboriginal Landcare Officer has delivered key regional outcomes under the statewide Landcare Program “Working Together” initiative which has resulted in the establishment of a solid network of Aboriginal partners which is built on mutual understanding, trust, and a genuine desire to contribute community ideas to Landcare activities.
From these outcomes, key themes emerged to develop professional practice and resources aimed at securing future engagement and funding:
- Education, youth, ranger teams
- Food and landscape resilience
- Biodiversity and Habit loss and threatened species
The impact
The important work of providing culturally appropriate platforms to allow Indigenous voices to contribute to actions meeting their local priorities - recognising the importance of local and cultural knowledge to build stronger partnerships continues. Cultural understanding and learning are interwoven into most activities and engagements undertaken by the North Coast Regional Landcare Network.
Continued funding has been secured from several sources for the Aboriginal Engagement role to continue full time in 2023, including:
- School based Bush Tucker Education and Installation of Gardens in Grafton and Tabulam
- People Led Preparedness Resilience Workshops – Nature Based
- Far North Coast Aboriginal Engagement Partnership – Koala Strategy
Key facts
- Building collaborative partnerships between Landcare and Aboriginal stakeholders across the region has been a key focus of the North Coast Regional Landcare Network
- Cultural understanding and learning are interwoven into most activities and engagements undertaken by the North Coast Regional Landcare Network.