Blog

Traditional Owners contribute to development of YMAC’s upcoming TEK survey guidelines

Posted: December 15th, 2025

YMAC’s Land and Sea Management (LSM) team, in collaboration with Pilbara ethnobotanist Vicki Long & Associates (VLA), has been working on the development of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) survey technical guidance.

The project aims to provide clarity and improve both the consistency and quality in TEK reports being produced. When published, the guidance will act as a standard framework for the design and scoping of TEK surveys in the context of the Environmental Protection Authority’s Social Surroundings requirement during the Environmental Impact Assessment process.

Social Surroundings surveys in the context of Aboriginal communities usually entail the assessment of First Nations values and concepts, such as the notion of Country, bush tucker, bush medicine, mythological features of the landscape, water flows, or song lines. These surveys require specific expertise to capture information related to ethno-botany and other traditional ecological knowledge (TEK).

Through producing guidelines for the design and scoping of Traditional Ecological Knowledge surveys, YMAC is aiming to address the existing disconnect between First Nations values and priorities and the requirements of the environmental approvals process (typically based on western science).

Because we believe it important the process to capture the cultural knowledge to inform the guidelines comes from a grassroots approach and considers cultural protocols, YMAC’s LSM team recently organised a workshop in Karratha. Traditional Owners from 10 different Pilbara groups joined us, sharing valuable insights, raising key questions, and helping to identify essential inclusions for the guidelines.

YMAC thanks all the workshop participants for sharing their knowledge. Outcomes include promoting the adoption of a methodology respecting the principles and values of First Nations communities during the environmental assessment process, while fostering improved engagement between industry proponents and Aboriginal communities impacted by project developments.

The guidelines are currently being developed, with an aim to be finalised in 2026.

This project is supported by funding from the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program.  Find out more about the NRM program at  https://bit.ly/StateNRM

Public comment invited on the Ghost Bat Recovery Plan

Posted: December 15th, 2025

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) are inviting public comment on their newly released a Ghost Bat Recovery Plan.

The Recovery Plan aims to increase the national population size of the Ghost Bat by 10% by 2041, with the Pilbara one of six regions identified as a region of interest. It includes actions for research and management which aim to stop the decline in numbers of the species, as well as clarifying the distribution, ecology, threats and recovery actions which are necessary and achievable.

Responses to the plan are invited until Tuesday, 10 March 2026. Download the Recovery Plan and submit your responses on the DCCEEW website.

Stolen Generations Redress Scheme

Posted: November 6th, 2025

The WA Stolen Generations Redress Scheme has opened.

First Nations people who were removed from their families in Western Australia before 1 July 1972, while under the age of 18, are eligible to apply for an individual payment of $85,000 through the Stolen Generations Redress Scheme. Payments are expected to be delivered in late 2025.

Find out more and apply on the WA Government website, and/or download the related fact sheet.

Keep mob safe online

Posted: October 29th, 2025

Cyber Security Awareness Month is a great reminder to check our online safety. Though we hear about lots of scammers and dangers of being online, there are some simple things we can do to keep ourselves and our mob safe.

The top three tips for staying safe online are:

1. Always set up multifactor authentication
2. Use a unique and strong passphrase, instead of a password, on every account
3. Install software updates to keep your devices secure.

The Australian Government has released a range of shareable resources to encourage safety, including videos, social media tiles, a poster and a fact sheet. Issues covered include the above three tips, as well as watching out for scams, knowing the dangers of public Wi-Fi, speaking up about cyber-attacks and hacks, and checking privacy and location settings.

Download the resources to be informed and share them amongst your community from the Act Now, Stay Secure website.

Apply now for a First Nations International Fellowship and Partnership Grant

Posted: October 21st, 2025

Applications for the First Nations International Fellowship and Partnership Grants Program are now open.

The program aims to support First Nations people in supporting sustainable partnerships across the Indo-Pacific by enhancing the number of First Nations people participating in international meetings. Fellowship Grants support First Nations experts, practitioners, and advocates working in fields with a foreign policy interest, while the Partnership Grants support First Nations experts, practitioners, advocates, and traditional knowledge-holders to build sustainable partnerships across the region.

Grant activities for this round are to be completed between March 2026 – 31 December 2026.

Applications close on 14 November 2025. Download this Fact Sheet and Frequently asked Questions for more information and apply at https://DCG.smartygrants.com.au/FirstNationsGrants2. ​​

Badimia Dual Signage Project – Community Consultation (Saturday, 18 October)

Posted: October 1st, 2025

The Badimia Guwaga Project, in partnership with Bundiyarra Irra Wangga Language Centre, is hosting a community consultation on Saturday, 18 October 2025 at the Mount Magnet Rec Centre.

The session is an opportunity for attendees to provide input and learn about project updates regarding the dual naming of sites – in Badimia and in English – around Mount Magnet and surrounding areas on Badimia Country.

For more information, contact Bundiyarra Irra Wannga Language Centre (P: (08) 9920 7900; E: language@irrawangga.org.au), or Project Coordinator Dr Kiara Rahman (E: kiara24@live.com.au).

PBCs invited to consult on the Western Australian Aboriginal Climate Adaptation Project

Posted: September 15th, 2025

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) is holding regional workshops throughout September and October 2025 with the aim of speaking with First Nations people, organisations, and communities in WA for the Western Australian Aboriginal Climate Adaptation Project (WAACA). DWER is also keen to speak directly to PBCs, with an invite to hold 1:1 30-60 minute consultations for the project.

The WAACA Project aims to integrate First Nations knowledge and worldviews into WA’s climate resilience efforts. In this phase of the project, consultation will be focussed on climate resilience and adaptation as well as the design of a fund for future Aboriginal-led climate adaptation projects.

Workshops and meetings can be scheduled at the following times and locations:

Broome: Workshop and meetings
Tuesday, 30 September – Wednesday, 1 October

Online workshop
Wednesday, 1 October

Geraldton: Meetings
Monday, 6 October

Perth: Workshops and meetings
Tuesday, 14 October

Online workshop
Friday, 24 October

To register attendance, fill in this online form. For more information, visit the WA Government website, or email firstnationsclimateresilience@kaalabarna.com.au

Exmouth Gulf Taskforce Final Report released – ‘whole-of-gulf’ marine park recommendation adopted

Posted: September 5th, 2025

It has been another wonderful day of celebration for Nganhurra Thanardi Garrbu Aboriginal Corporation (NTGAC) – representing the culmination of several years’ work to better protect and manage Exmouth Gulf and its surrounds.

Recognising the internationally significant values of the area, the State Government has announced it will create a ‘whole-of-gulf’ marine park, which is to be jointly vested with and managed by NTGAC. This announcement was in response to the Exmouth Gulf Taskforce’s Final Report, which was released by the State Government today.

YMAC is extremely proud to have assisted NTGAC throughout the taskforce process and congratulates all who were involved in achieving this incredibly important outcome.

L-R: Member for the Pilbara Kevin Michel, Minister for the Environment Matthew Swinbourn, WA Premier Roger Cook, NTGAC Vice Chair Rachael Cooyou-Hicks, NTGAC Chair Karla Tittums, Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) CEO Paul Gamblin (Photo: Radhika Kayarat, YMAC)

Join us in congratulating Nganhurra Thanardi Garrbu Aboriginal Corporation!

Posted: August 29th, 2025

Today, we congratulate Nganhurra Thanardi Garrbu Aboriginal Corporation (NTGAC) and the Baiyungu and Yinnigurrura Peoples, as they celebrate the formal creation of new conservation estate on their Country.

The related Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) enables the creation of reserves, which include Jarralya National Park and Boologooro Nature Reserve. Together, these areas cover around 380,000 hectares of Country in the Gascoyne region.

Through the State Government’s Plan for Our Parks initiative, these areas will be jointly managed by NTGAC and the WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).

YMAC is proud to have been part of achieving this important milestone and acknowledges all of the hard work contributed by everyone involved in accomplishing it.

Jarralya National Park (Photo: Adrienne Cameron, YMAC)