Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Indigenous youth learn Caring for Country skills
Eric Bell is working closely with the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority (CMA) to help Indigenous youth learn and participate in landscape management.
The CMA is working with several Indigenous corporations, including the Buranya Aboriginal Corporation in Yass, New South Wales to train 10 Koori boys at the Yass campus of Illawarra TAFE. In March 2007 the young men will complete Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management.
Funding
The Australian and State Governments provided $671,000 for this project with the State Government also providing additional support.
Buranya was allocated $160,000 from the funding for this project.
Activities
Buranya Chairman, Eric Bell, said the funding will provide a great opportunity for the young men, particularly with the high rates of unemployment in Yass.
“The boys in TAFE are learning about chainsaws, fencing, occupational health and safety laws, safe handling of chemicals, seed gathering and identifying Indigenous sites and artifacts,” Eric said.
“They are also doing practical land management two days each week to restore natural values along the Yass River.
“Once they have completed their certificates, Buranya will be able to tender for river and associated works and hopefully the young fellas will be able to get full-time work.”
Murrumbidgee CMA officer, Geoff Simpson, said the training was a great way to support the environment.
“You can't manage your country effectively if you don’t have the appropriate skills,” he said. “The goal is to increase the participation of Aboriginal people in natural resource management.”
He said the Murrumbidgee CMA was working closely with Aboriginal groups and communities to give them the chance to undertake work on the ground.
The training would give Indigenous participants greater opportunities to compete for jobs and contracts.
“Training lifts self-esteem and will provide meaningful employment for participants to work in a contemporary environment in a traditional manner,” he said.
“It enables Aboriginal people to reclaim their traditional role– looking after their country – in partnership with others.”
Achievements
Buranya Aboriginal Corporation formed a Landcare group in 2006 and in August 2006 the group received the Inaugural Indigenous Murrumbidgee Landcare award. Eric said the ‘boys’ were ‘happy as’ to win the award.
“Murrumbidgee CMA is looking at Buranya as a pilot program to base other programs on. It will set the benchmark and lead to the engagement of Traditional Owners across the Murrumbidgee catchment.” he said.
More Information
- Geoff Simpson, Murrumbidgee CMA Officer: (02) 6932 3247
- Murrumbidgee CMA
See also
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