Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
Key
site specific
region wide
Transforming Indigenous understanding into real results
The Baridja Indigenous Advisory Group
Stuart Harradine regards himself as a bit of a translator. Charged with building communication and trust between the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and key Indigenous groups, he wrestles daily with unwieldy terms like engagement protocols, advisory groups, and Memorandums of Understanding.
"Put simply, to raise understanding, information has to go both ways," said Stuart, Indigenous Landcare Facilitator with Wimmera CMA.
Funding
Thanks to $300,000 from the Australian and State Governments, a strong relationship and sense of good will has developed between the CMA and Indigenous groups.
Activities
"We started by drafting interim engagement protocols that clearly set out what Indigenous groups are in the region, what each group has responsibility for and who the key contacts are," said Stuart.
This was particularly important in helping the CMA meet its legislative requirements under the Native Title and Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Acts.
"Next we set up an advisory group called Baridja, meaning 'river country,' consisting of six local Indigenous people with a high level of understanding of the key issues," Stuart said.
The purpose of the group was to provide advice on effective engagement with communities. The group formed an action plan to identify the need for cultural heritage and native title policies and procedures for the CMA, and to establish employment and training strategies.
Another success has been Indigenous cultural heritage and awareness training ('Engaging Indigenous communities') conducted for CMA staff. The accredited course included background on Indigenous people, the different groups in the Wimmera, how they operate and what their aspirations are.
"The overall aim is to establish Memorandums of Understanding with key organisations to formalise these protocols," said Stuart. "This means I need to be a bit of a translator myself to balance government needs with the needs of Indigenous groups."
To help achieve this Stuart's developing a plain-English information brochure for Indigenous people about CMA services such as Landcare and Waterwatch.
"There's already a good relationship between most groups and the CMA, and a good sense of rapport," he said. "But it's time to move on from the 'feel good' talk to real results and practical outcomes."
Achievements
It all takes time, but Stuart is a patient man.
"Aboriginal people see relationships as a partnership between people or a group of people, not between organisations. And you have to maintain those relationships," Stuart said.
"It's still a work in progress, but it's very important because we're laying the foundations for ongoing results and partnerships."
More information
- Stuart Harradine, Indigenous Landcare Facilitator: (03) 5382 1544 or harradines@wcma.vic.gov.au
- Wimmera CMA: www.wcma.vic.gov.au
See also
Key
Links to another web site
Opens a pop-up window