Location:
Murrumbidgee Catchment, Southern New South Wales

Indigenous communities involved:
Ngunnawal, Wiradjuri, Wolgalu, Nari Nari and Mutthi Mutthi nations.

How the project come about:
There was a need to engage with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal people in the Murrumbidgee catchment to encourage meaningful involvement in natural resource management (NRM).

The Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is developing an Aboriginal Employment Strategy that aim s  to build the capacity of Aboriginal communities to implement NRM on-ground works on country.

The CMA negotiated suitable work and training opportunities for Traditional Owners and Aboriginal people with community organisations, CDEP’s, NSW training providers and local governments.
Potential employers were provided with an awareness of Aboriginal values in the landscape and how Indigenous people can add value to landscape management.
Employment and training projects have now been Wagga Wagga implemented , Yass, Balranald and Narrandera. These range from river and wetland restoration to cultural tourism. Participants are employed under a traineeship with a host employer for 12 months. During this time participants undertake on-ground works and obtain accreditation in related fields.

Funding:
$25,000 from the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust and Murrumbidgee CMA contributed $100,000.

How Indigenous communities were involved:
All communities in the Murrumbidgee catchment were able to voice their opinions on Indigenous Engagement in NRM via the Traditional Owners Reference Group, which was established by the Murrumbidgee CMA.

The Murrumbidgee CMA employs Indigenous Community Support Officers located in Hay, Wagga Wagga and Queanbeyan, who work with Aboriginal communities and assisted to develop and implement projects in key locations.

So far, four programmes for Aboriginal people have been established in the Murrumbidgee catchment: Wagga Wagga City Council (10 Indigenous trainees employed), Buranya Aboriginal Corporation in Yass (10 employed), Mutthi Mutthi Nations Aboriginal Corporation in Balranald (eight employed) and the Sandhills Advanced Aboriginal Corporation in Narrandera (10 employed).

What was achieved:
Indigenous participants gain a sense of pride in working on country because the on-ground activities recognise the importance of the natural landscape to Traditional Owners and Aboriginal people.  The practical work also takes place in culturally significant riparian areas along the Murrumbidgee River.

Importantly, respect for culture and heritage is being passed on. The trainees employed by the Wagga Wagga City Council are installing cultural interpretation signs to promote Wiradjuri Heritage.  In Yass, trainees are educating the community about Ngunnawal and Wallabaloola culture. As a result, the wider community is seeing the value of Aboriginal culture and heritage, which in turn has sparked interest from other communities in the catchment area.

Overall, Aboriginal people and communities are developing a future in NRM. Each participant will  qualify for a Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management. This will enable them to: form a business that addresses NRM; undertake works for Government organisations like RTA and private landholders; undertake contract work for local councils; undertake fencing works for private landholders; complete Aboriginal heritage assessments for private landholders and Government agencies; and develop cultural tourism opportunities with their business and promote to Aboriginal heritage.
From this, many economic, social, employment and education benefits will flow through to Indigenous communities.

More information:
Geoffrey Simpson
Catchment Officer (Aboriginal Communities)
Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority
(02) 69323 232