Oral Presentation AFSS/NZFSS Joint Conference 2019

Background to your involvement in the Aboriginal Water Officer Network:

My role as the aboriginal water officer for the Wimmera CMA is to support Aboriginal Traditional owner organisations i.e. BGLC (Barengi Gadjin Land Council) in the Wimmera involvement and engagement with the community, looking at the aspirations and cultural values on water related matters, that are not limited to:

• Manage projects funded through the Aboriginal Water Program
• Participate in the Aboriginal Water Officer Network facilitated by the Aboriginal Water Unit of the department
• Reconnect Traditional Owners to Country
• Increase the understanding of Aboriginal water Values, requirements and uses
• Promote inclusion of Aboriginal values and uses in water planning and management
• Build capacity within the Traditional Owner organisations to participate in water planning, including water
• Resource Plan (WRP) development and implementation as required under the Basin Plan
• Conducting Aboriginal Waterway Assessments (AWA’s) to inform water planning

By doing this I have taken on the responsibility of being the co-chairperson of the Aboriginal water officers network where all the regional aboriginal water officers around the state in either in CMA roles or aboriginal land council role and also the water corporations come together and talk about how we can keep the aboriginal water network continuing for years to come and what we can to improve the status of cultural/aboriginal water around the state.