These vital partnerships between Traditional Owner Corporations and Aboriginal groups involve planning and managing integrated catchment management projects, delivering on-ground works, and undertaking cultural heritage assessments to make sure projects are sensitive and aligned to the goals of Traditional Owners for working on Country.
Students from Lindenow Primary School, Gunaikurnai Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation and Greening Australia participating in tree planting and other activities at Skull Creek. Photo credit: East Gippsland CMA.
Five Aboriginal people have been appointed to Catchment Management Authority (CMA) boards. This helps to build knowledge in the catchment management sector, strengthen connections with Aboriginal communities and respond to the protection of important cultural values.
Three grants have been awarded in the Aboriginal Leadership category of the Our Catchments, Our Communities Leadership Development Grants. The grants support the aspirations of future Aboriginal leaders and strengthen knowledge and leadership skills with a focus on integrated catchment management.
A highlight of the Our Catchments, Our Communities 2018 Catchments Summit was the session ‘Strengthening catchment partnerships with Traditional Owners’. It provided an opportunity for Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Victorians to share their stories, knowledge and approaches to managing Country with catchment management partners.
Key achievements to date
- All 12 Registered Aboriginal Parties in Victoria are engaged by CMAs for Our Catchments, Our Communities projects.
- Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations and the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations are members in the governance for implementing Our Catchments, Our Communities.
- The second Our Catchments, Our Communities Catchments Summit in 2018 included seven presentations by Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Victorians partnering in integrated catchment management.
East Gippsland CMA
Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation and Gippsland Environment Agency Partnership Agreement (13 signatories)
We have a partnership with the East Gippsland CMA which offers to support and collaborate the works together. The relationship allows us to be part of the planning of the projects we undertake in these significant areas which are quite important to the Gunaikurnai people. Part of our role that we play in looking after Country and working on Country is part of the partnership.
Page last updated: 08/12/22