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Managing fire with the Desert Habitat Method

Posted: January 13th, 2025

Nyangumarta Rangers and Traditional Owners, with the Indigenous Desert Alliance, are managing traditional desert fire methods with modern technology using a new tool.

The Desert Habitat Method (DHM) is a transparent measurement tool which can help rangers to plan, track, and improve their work; explain their work to others, including Elders, community members, and stakeholders; report their work to funders; and encourage potential new funders to see the value of supporting their work. This method focuses on fire management, and is a way to measure the outcomes of right way fire on habitat for native animals.

The DHM is currently in the testing phase, with two on-Country workshops held in 2024 bringing together rangers, Elders, and Traditional Owners to work through the new tool, ensuring it will work effectively. Two trials are also planned to be held in 2025.

The project is supported by funding from the Australian Government’s Innovative Biodiversity Monitoring Program.

Watch this short film from the Indigenous Desert Alliance, Nyangumarta Wika Muwarr, about the recent workshop with Nyangumarta rangers and Traditional Owners, where they share their story of connecting ancient fire management with modern tools.

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Images by Salty Davenport

AIATSIS 2025: Call for Abstracts

Posted: January 10th, 2025

The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) is calling for abstracts for their 2025 Summit.

The AIATSIS Summit is a five-day forum for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, academics, native title stakeholders, and legal experts, along with representatives from government, galleries, libraries, archives and museums, to come together to collaborate on issues of importance for First Nations peoples.

This year’s summit will be co-hosted by the Larrakia Nation in Garramilla/Darwin, with the theme ‘Voices of Empowerment: Strengthening our Future’. The theme pays tribute to a world where First Nations people’s rights, knowledge, and voices are respected and valued by all Australians.

The Summit also incorporates a Youth and Emerging Leadership stream. An opportunity to apply for sponsorship will open in January 2025.

The call for abstracts is now open, closing on Friday 24 January 2025.

Download the Call for Abstracts flyer for more information, or visit the AIATSIS website to submit.

Applications open for the Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Water Interest

Posted: January 10th, 2025

Expressions of Interest are invited from First Nations people across WA to join the Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Water Interests (CAWI).

CAWI is an independent body advocating for First Nations peoples’ inland water rights, values, and interests with governments and water stakeholders at national and state levels. CAWI members are committed to elevating the cultural, spiritual, social, economic, and environmental interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia.

The Committee is currently seeking people with experience in these areas:

• Western cultural water rights and interests
• Water science
• Management and leadership
• Advocacy and working with government
• Strategic governance and communications
• Policy and planning.

The committee meets face-to-face at least four times a year, and members are remunerated. Travel, accommodation, and meal allowances are arranged by the Department of Climate change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

Applications close at 9.59pm AWST on Friday 28 February 2025.

Download the Position Description for more information and to apply, or visit the DCCEEW website.

Train for the New York City Marathon with the Indigenous Marathon Project

Posted: January 9th, 2025

Registrations are now open for the Indigenous Marathon Project (IMP).

Each year, 12 First Nations people from across Australia and between the ages of 18 – 30 spend six months training with IMP for the biggest marathon in the world, the New York City Marathon. IMP covers all costs for squad members, including travel, accommodation, education costs, equipment, and a uniform.

The IMP program is more than just athletic training, as squad members meet throughout the year to participate in a camp and an official running event, as well as hear from inspirational leaders. The compulsory education component of the program will also provide squad members with:

• A Certificate in Indigenous Leadership and Health Promotion
• A Level 1 Recreational Running Coach Accreditation through Athletics Australia
• CPR and First Aid qualifications
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid
• Media training.

Previous IMP squad members have used their training to become change-makers and leaders in their communities for healthy and active lifestyles – like Shannon Stack, proud Yamatji and Noongar man who completed the program in 2024, and who hopes to inspire others to chase their dreams.

Download the IMP flyer for more information, and apply now on the Indigenous Marathon Foundation website.

To donate to the program, contact the Indigenous Marathon Foundation Fundraising and Partnerships Manager on 02 6162 4750.

YMAC welcomes First Nations Clean Energy Strategy

Posted: December 11th, 2024

Filed under: renewable energy, Renewable Energy Guide, Simon Hawkins

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) welcomes The First Nations Clean Energy Strategy 2024 – 2030 (the Strategy), officially launched on 6 December in Adelaide by the Hon Chris Bowen MP, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy.

The Strategy, developed in collaboration with First Nations people and organisations from across the country, is a national framework to guide investment, influence policy, and support First Nations people to self-determine how they participate in, and benefit from, Australia’s clean energy transition.

YMAC CEO Simon Hawkins said he felt privileged to have been part of this process, representing YMAC on the First Nations Clean Energy and Emissions Reductions Advisory Committee (FNCEERAC).

The three main goals of the Strategy – Power First Nations communities with clean energy; Enable equitable partnerships; and Achieve economic benefits with First Nations peoples – clearly align with and complement YMAC’s own objectives and work to-date in this evolving industry, which has seen a rapid growth in our representative regions in recent years.

As a long-term advocate for First Nations equity and ownership in the clean energy sector and ensuring Traditional Owners are front and centre in creating sustainable, renewable energy opportunities on Country, YMAC is proud to have been able to contribute to the Strategy through representation on the FNCEERAC.

Read more on our Media Releases page, or download the Strategy from our Renewable Energy Guide.

Remaining ORIC training opportunities for 2024

Posted: November 12th, 2024

The Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) offers free workshops and courses that are designed to build the corporate governance knowledge, skills, efficiency and accountability of directors and members of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations.

The remaining ORIC training opportunities for 2024 are:

• Privacy and data laws – Monday, 18 November (9am-12pm (AWST)) – online (via Microsoft Teams)
• Understanding finances for corporations – Wednesday, 20 November (9am-12:30pm (AWST)) – online (via Microsoft Teams)
• Understanding finances for corporations – Tuesday, 26 November (9am-12:30pm (AWST)) – online (via Microsoft Teams)
• Director inductions – Monday, 2 December (9am-10am (AWST)) – online (via Zoom)
• Corporate governance for Indigenous corporations – Wednesday, 4 and Thursday, 5 December (8am-4:30pm (AWST) each day) – in-person (Perth, WA)

ORIC can also offer customised training for individual corporations, if preferred.

For more information, visit the links above and/or email info@oric.gov.au.

Pilbara Listening Tour

Posted: October 1st, 2024

Earlier this year the Commissioner for Children and Young People WA, travelled to Port Hedland, Karratha and Newman to listen to what Pilbara youth had to say about their lives in the region and their hopes for the future.

Their responses, insights and opinions are captured in the Pilbara Listening Tour 2024 publication.

Read what they have to say about culture, environment, entertainment, safety, mental health and more in the below document:

Applications open for ‘First Nations Expert Working Group on Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property’

Posted: September 13th, 2024

Applications are now open for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to join an expert working group on Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) – and close at 12pm (AWST) on Friday, 20 September 2024. 

In partnership with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts and other government agencies, the expert working group will advise on new laws to protect First Nations traditional knowledge and cultural expressions. This includes addressing the harm caused by fake art, merchandise and souvenirs.

The development of the new laws will be First Nations-led.

The panel will consist of up to seven members and a Chair who can demonstrate at least one of the following:

1. knowledge and expertise in ICIP,
2. lived experience with ICIP and an understanding of current issues,
3. stakeholder engagement and the ability to represent the views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This is a paid opportunity of at least two years, with a possible option to extend for one year. There will be a minimum of five meetings per financial year, with at least one of those being in-person.

To learn more about this work, the working group and how to apply, visit the Federal Office of the Arts website, and/or watch the webinar recording available online.

If you have any questions about the expert working group, email icip@arts.gov.au by 3pm (AWST) on Thursday, 19 September 2024.

Note, applications for the working group must be lodged through to AusTender, using ATM ID: 10029826, where you will find more information about this opportunity. You will need to register an account to view the documents and apply.

Bring Them Home – Perth rally at Parliament House

Posted: September 11th, 2024

Members of the community from across the Pilbara, Yamatji and Kimberly regions have organised a rally at Parliament House as their petition calling for urgent action is tabled in Parliament.

They are calling on upon the WA community to join together for a peaceful protest and rally on Tuesday 17 September to stand united in support of the families of the missing persons.