Working on Country

Working on Country
Name	Working on Country
Type	Indigenous land management program
Established	1990s
Region	Australia
Participants	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

Working on Country is an Indigenous-led land and sea management program in Australia that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to undertake cultural fire management, biodiversity conservation, pest control, and heritage protection on traditional estates. The initiative intersects with policy actors such as the Commonwealth of Australia, funding bodies like the Australian Government's environmental portfolios, and partner organizations including the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Landcare Australia, and various state agencies. It involves collaborations with research institutions such as the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, universities including the Australian National University and the University of Melbourne, and NGOs like WWF-Australia and the Nature Conservation Society of South Australia.

Overview

Working on Country programs employ Indigenous rangers, cultural practitioners, and land managers to deliver on-ground activities such as prescribed burning, native species monitoring, invasive species control, and cultural heritage surveys. These activities are implemented across jurisdictions including Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia, and New South Wales under agreements with landholders such as Parks Australia, Indigenous Protected Areas, and private conservation groups like the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. Funding and governance mechanisms often involve the Department of the Environment and Energy (Australia), the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia), and partnerships with philanthropic foundations such as the Ian Potter Foundation.

Historical Context

Origins trace to land rights movements including the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 and advocacy by organizations like the Central Land Council and the Northern Land Council. The expansion of on-country employment followed milestones such as the establishment of Indigenous Protected Areas in the 1990s and policy initiatives in the Howard government and later the Rudd government which shaped Indigenous employment and environmental programs. Key events influencing the model include native title determinations such as Mabo v Queensland (No 2) and the subsequent Native Title Act 1993, and conservation agreements involving bodies like the Australian Heritage Commission.

Cultural Significance and Traditional Practices

Working on Country foregrounds cultural knowledge held by elders, ceremonial custodians, and community councils such as the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara executive and the Torres Strait Regional Authority. Traditional practices integrated into programs include fire regimes practiced by groups represented by institutions like the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority and cultural mapping efforts in collaboration with archives such as the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. Cultural outcomes link to language revival projects supported by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies and universities like the University of Queensland, and to heritage protection under instruments associated with the Australian Heritage Council.

Legal Framework and Land Rights

The legal environment encompasses native title law informed by cases like Mabo v Queensland (No 2), legislative instruments such as the Native Title Act 1993, and state land tenure systems including pastoral leases and Aboriginal reserves administered by agencies like the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory. Agreements often reference statutory schemes such as the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and involve consent frameworks shaped by bodies like the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations and peak bodies such as the National Native Title Council. Land management arrangements sometimes intersect with conservation covenants held by entities like the Trust for Nature (Victoria).

Programs and Initiatives

Working on Country is delivered through multiple programmatic streams, including federally funded ranger programs, Indigenous Protected Areas coordinated by the Director of National Parks, and state initiatives partnered with organizations such as Bush Heritage Australia, Greening Australia, and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. Capacity-building and research collaborations involve the CSIRO, the Lowitja Institute, and universities including the University of Western Australia and the University of Sydney. International engagement has linked Australian Indigenous environmental practice with bodies such as the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and comparative programs in New Zealand with Māori-led conservation groups.

Outcomes and Challenges

Outcomes include employment, cultural maintenance, threatened species recovery projects (for example work affecting species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999), and improved biosecurity in partnership with agencies like the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia). Challenges involve sustainable funding influenced by federal budget decisions under administrations such as the Turnbull government and the Morrison government, governance issues within corporations registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, and jurisdictional complexities across states and territories. Evaluations and audits by bodies such as the Australian National Audit Office and research by institutions like the Australian National University continue to shape policy reform and community-led adaptations.

Category:Indigenous Australian programs