Engaging Indigenous Communities

REGIONAL INDIGENOUS FACILITATOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S GOALS AND The Port Phillip & Westernport CMA employs a Regional ASPIRATIONS Indigenous Facilitator funded through the Australian During 2014/15, a study was undertaken with Government’s National Landcare Programme. In Wurundjeri, Wathaurung, Wathaurong and Boon 2014/15, the facilitator arranged numerous events Wurrung people regarding their communities’ goals and and activities to improve the Indigenous cultural aspirations for involvement in land management and awareness and understanding of Board members and sustainable agriculture. The study improved the mutual staff from the Port Phillip & Westernport CMA and from understanding of priority activities for the future and various other organisations and community groups. set a basis for potential formal agreements between The facilitator also worked directly with Indigenous the Port Phillip & Westernport CMA and the Indigenous organisations and communities to document their goals organisations. relating to natural resource management and agriculture. A coordinated program of grants was established to help INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENT GRANTS Indigenous organisations undertake on-ground projects and training to increase employment opportunities. In 2014/15, $75,000 of Indigenous environment grants were awarded as part of the Port Phillip & Westernport IMPROVING CULTURAL AWARENESS AND CMA’s project. This included grants to: UNDERSTANDING • Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation to run 4 community, business and corporate forums and Events and activities undertaken in 2014/15 to improve produce two brochures promoting its environmental the Indigenous cultural understanding of people from services; the Port Phillip & Westernport CMA and various other organisations included: • Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative to train 8 members of its Indigenous Land Management Team • A cultural induction by the Boon Wurrung Foundation in farming and computer mapping skills; held on country at Phillip Island for people from Phillip Island Nature Parks, Bass Coast Shire Council, the • Boon Wurrung Foundation for the production of a Bass Coast Landcare Network and the Port Phillip & brochure and educational film; Westernport CMA; • Bunurong Land Council for development of a website • Discussions led by Bunurong author Bruce Pascoe to promote their field and environmental services; on Indigenous agriculture held at Tooradin and • Willum Warrain Gathering Place at hastings for Mt Rothwell with 120 attendees from various development of a food and fibre garden; and organisations and the broader community; • Wurundjeri Tribe Land Compensation Council for • Instruction from Office of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria radios and electronic mapping equipment for its staff on relevant legislation for staff from the Narrap land management team, and a separate grant Port Phillip & Westernport CMA and partners in for protecting and restoring the Sunbury Rings. Maribyrnong Valley projects; and • Discussion led by historian Gary Presland on the history of the Kulin people attended by staff from the Port Phillip & Westernport CMA and Councils.

NEXT STEPS The Regional Indigenous Facilitator role and associated activities will continue in 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18 with funding through the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.

CASE STUDY - INDIGENOUS CASE STUDY - BUNURONG AUTHOR ENVIRONMENT GRANT HELPS BRUCE PASCOE TELLS HIS STORY WATHAURONG ABORIGINAL As part of the series of activities to improve COOPERATIVE MANAGE COUNTRY Indigenous cultural understanding and The Port Phillip & Westernport CMA awarded an awareness for people from the Port Phillip & Indigenous environment grant of $5,000 to the Westernport CMA and other organisations, Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative in 2014/15 to Regional Indigenous Facilitator Rhys Collins enable training of members of its Indigenous Land arranged for author and Bunurong man Bruce Management Team in farming skills. Pascoe to hold 3 interactive seminars. Staff from the Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE The first was conducted for Port Phillip & met team members at the Wourdi Youang Westernport CMA staff followed by two public property at Little River to conduct on-site training. seminars held at the Tooradin Hall and Mt The team members participated in units from Rothwell Sanctuary. the TAFE’s conservation and land management The two public sessions attracted around 120 course with theory and practical sessions people including people from 25 Landcare covering fencing, the use of chemicals and groups. Bruce told a compelling story about occupational health and safety. what he had learned from his investigations into The team members also undertook training Aboriginal housing, engineering and agriculture conducted by a specialist company in computer- bringing together evidence from within the aided mapping using Geographic Information landscape and accounts of European explorers. Systems to enable them to better plan, map and oe at th e Pasc e publ ruc ic se record their field work. r B mi tho na au r a g t T on oo r ra nu d u in B

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The PPWCMA work within land and sea country of the Kulin Nation peoples and wish to pay respect to the Elders past and present, and to members of the present day community and to those Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in this country today.