Caring for country in the Northern Rivers region

Amie McElroy is passionate about the contribution Aboriginal communities can make in caring for country and managing natural resources.

"Aboriginal people have an intimate knowledge of the land that has been handed down for generations and the Elders still have this to pass on," she said.

"The knowledge can be used in restoring and caring for lands that have been handed back to communities, or which are owned by private Aboriginal landholders."

Amie is part of the Aboriginal Community Support Officer network set up across the region by the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (CMA). Amie works through Booroongen Djugun Aboriginal Corporation and is based at Booroongen Djugun College in Kempsey.

The support officers' role is to involve Aboriginal communities and individuals in managing natural resources and looking after the environment.

Funding

Since 2005, the Australian Government has provided $540,000 through the Northern Rivers CMA for the Aboriginal Community Support Program. From this, Booroongen Djugun Aboriginal Corporation has received nearly $88,000. The State Government has also provided support.

Activities

"My job involves going out to Aboriginal communities and working with them to identify areas on their land that can be improved," Amie said. "I then help them plan and undertake environment and resource management projects.

"This can include identifying funding opportunities and helping to draft tender applications, as well as hooking up communities with other networks that can support projects.

"Finding training opportunities to skill up our people is an important part of what we do."

Amie's work has helped catalyse a number of projects. These have ranged from helping to develop a scholarship at the University of New England for Aboriginal natural resource management students, to rejuvenating a neglected swamp area in Kempsey.

Another project involves restoring and protecting 1.5 kilometres of Nulla Nulla Creek, which runs through the Thungutti Aboriginal Community at Bellbrook. Accredited training in conservation and land management forms part of the project, together with weed management, protective fencing and regeneration of native plants and foods.

Achievements

"We're heading in the right direction," said Amie. "We've been able to show how carrying on traditional knowledge in caring for country can lead to careers for young people in managing natural resources.

"The importance of what Aboriginal Elders have been saying and doing is now being recognised by their own children. A type of 'cultural renaissance' is taking place, with young Aboriginal people finding links with their own culture again."

More information

1. " Amie McElroy Booroongen Djugun College Aboriginal Community Support Officer: (02) 6562 1729 or acso@booroongencollege.nsw.edu.au

Australian Government NRM Team
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
1800 552 008 (toll-free)

DEWHA  | DAFF  | australia.gov.au  | NAP  | NHT 
Caring for our Country is an Australian Government initiative jointly administered by the Australian Government departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts