Aboriginal Joint Management Newsletter: Issue 2, December 2023

Stage 2 consultation underway

Following a busy Stage 1, the Aboriginal Joint Management Unit has moved on to Stage 2 of a three-stage consultation process to design and develop a new model to expand Aboriginal joint management across NSW national parks. The aim is to develop the model in an equitable, cohesive way, that allows flexibility to meet the needs of different Aboriginal groups across the state.

Reflections on Stage 1

Stage 1 consultation included 30 workshops held across New South Wales and online:

• 11 workshops were hosted by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service for members of current joint management agreements who make up the National Parks and Wildlife Service Custodians Network
• 19 workshops were facilitated by independent contractors, Thirriwirri, to yarn with members of the Aboriginal community not involved in current joint management agreements with National Parks and Wildlife Service, including from Aboriginal organisations and Local Aboriginal land councils.

Hearing from 338 Aboriginal people in these workshops helped the team gain a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities to be addressed in the new model. This included the aspirations from Aboriginal people about what could be achieved by expanding joint management in New South Wales.

Stakeholder engagement

Other key stakeholders were given an opportunity to learn about the project and provide their insights during Stage 1:

• The Aboriginal Joint Management Unit presented to over 100 native title holders, claimants, and prescribed bodies corporate directors at the NTSCORP NSW Prescribed Bodies Corporate Conference in March 2023. Attendees were also invited to fill out an online survey to provide their input, to which 6 responses were received.
• In March 2023, a workshop was held with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment Aboriginal Culture & Heritage Staff Network. We heard from 147 Aboriginal staff members about their experiences of working in joint management with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Aboriginal communities. It was a very engaging session with a lot of passionate visions for the future from staff members.
• Sixty-four National Parks and Wildlife Service staff currently involved in Aboriginal joint management completed an online survey to draw upon their operational experience and the challenges, opportunities, and benefits of expanding this program for National Parks and Wildlife Service. This included 25 responses from Aboriginal staff members.

Key consultation with Aboriginal people

Working with our consultative and reference groups

The Aboriginal Joint Management Unit has continued to engage with 2 external consultative groups, the Aboriginal Consultative Group and the Stakeholder Consultative Group, on the development of the new joint management model.

The team also meet regularly with the Inter-Agency Reference Group, comprised of representatives from other NSW Government agencies to discuss elements of the project that overlap with their work, and opportunities for collaboration.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service Custodians Network Sub-Working Group is another group involved in the development of the project, with the 11 members representing the interests of the about 260 members of the Custodians Network.

Analysing feedback and Stage 1 reports

The team has thoroughly analysed the thousands of pieces of individual feedback shared by participants in Stage 1.

Summary reports detailing what was heard at the Custodians workshops with members of the Custodians Network, and the regional Aboriginal workshops with members of the Aboriginal community not currently involved in joint management with NPWS have been published.

Read our reports

• Regional Aboriginal workshop Aboriginal community engagement report
• Custodian aspirations for a new model for Aboriginal joint management of NSW parks

2023 Custodians Network Meeting

The National Parks and Wildlife Service held the annual Custodians Network Meeting on Worimi Country near Newcastle between 14 and 16 November 2023. Feedback from Stage 1 was reported back to the group. The National Parks and Wildlife Service also presented on the reframed key elements of the new model.

The Aboriginal Joint Management Unit conducted a workshop with 45 custodians from the joint management boards and committees. The workshop focused on the ‘caring for Country’ and ‘cultural economy and working on Country’ elements and how these can be incorporated into the new model. Custodians shared insights about the importance of caring for Country activities, what they would like to see in a joint management partnership and how we can work together on Country to keep people and Country healthy.

Now in Stage 2, the Aboriginal Joint Management Unit is using the feedback from Stage 1 to scope and test options for the new model with key stakeholders. This will involve further consultation and workshops with members of the Custodians Network and the project’s consultative and reference groups as part of developing and refining options for a new model.

After Stage 2, we will move into Stage 3, which will involve public exhibition of a draft model and opportunity for broad public consultation.

Check out our updated webpage

The Aboriginal Joint Management Unit has relaunched the Aboriginal joint management model consultation webpage with the latest updates about the project.

Watch videos about joint management

The Aboriginal Joint Management Unit filmed 3 short videos with representatives from current joint management agreements, portraying their stories and experiences of jointly managing their Country with NPWS. The videos have been posted on the How Aboriginal joint management works webpage and we encourage you to give them a watch.

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