Catching Up

Indigenous NRM News

Green Army field day at Stradbroke

APRIL 2015

Hi everyone,
Welcome to the April 2015 edition of the Indigenous NRM news. I work in the role of
Traditional Owner and Engagement Officer at SEQ Catchments and look forward to
working with you across many of our community projects.
This edition looks at some recent community projects and initiatives, as well as future
events which may be of interest to you.
These newsletters will be going out from now onwards every three months. I hope
you enjoy the newsletter and I look forward to any feedback you might have.

Community are welcomed to the field

day

Bree Pinner
Traditional Owner and Engagement Officer
BPinner@seqcatchments.com.au

Quandamooka Green Army success

On North Stradbroke Island a six month Green Army project has been underway to
restore Quandamooka native title land around Amity Point and Dunwich.
Green Army is an Australian Government initiative designed for people aged 17-24 to
gain training and experience in environmental and heritage conservation projects.

The Green Army team have been

managing the spread of a range of
different weeds.

Coordinated by Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC), SEQ

Catchments and Conservation Volunteers Australia, the project has provided a group
of young Aboriginal people the opportunity to work on country and learn the environmental management skills needed to restore natural and culturally significant landscapes.

Trainees have focused on managing spread of various weeds and restoring habitat
for a range of threatened species like the water mouse, the wallum sedge frog and
the swamp orchid.
QYAC coordinator Darren Burns said that this project builds on the longstanding
Quandamooka community capacity building programme. It addresses our core strategic values outcomes which focus on youth development and engagement of our
people in the healing and future management of our traditional lands into the future,
he said.
The majority of the team are first year school leavers and to have a project of this
scope for them jump straight into is very valuable.

To showcase the work they have done, the team held a community field day at
Straddie.
After a barbeque lunch and walk through country guided by the green army team, the
trainees turned teachers and educated us about the native plants and foreign weeds
that need to be managed.
Well done to the green army team for all your effort and hard work in restoring the
landscape.
Green Army participant Jacob MartinDoyle telling us about Asparagus
Fern.

SEQ NRM Plan review with Traditional Custodians

Earlier in February this year, SEQ Catchments hosted a regional workshop with Traditional Custodians at the Brisbane
Botanic Gardens to discuss targets in the SEQ Natural Resource Management (NRM) Plan around recognition and
involvement of Traditional Owners and Aboriginal people in planning and decision-making on their country.
The SEQ NRM Plan is our communitys plan for the future of the regions natural assets (like beaches, farmland,
waterways and bushland).
Discussions in the workshop raised important issues in SEQ that need continued effort, including:

Recognition and involvement of Traditional Owners in decisions making

Partnership with Traditional Owners on projects

The challenges associated with changing government policies and focus.

Recognition and maintenance of cultural values, sites and sensitivity.

The importance of educating the broader community and government, by creating awareness and respect of
Aboriginal culture.

Providing continuous feedback and communication to the community about projects, upcoming events and funding
opportunities.

The need to educate and improve awareness of cultural heritage bodies.

Building on relationships and two-way communication between SEQ Cathments staff and Traditional Owners.

A key role of SEQ Catchments is to support Traditional Owners by looking for funding for projects where Custodians
have a site, property or other projects they want to manage.
Following the workshop the SEQ Catchments team will continue to work with Traditional Owners from each sub-region to
discuss issues and projects specific to local areas.

From the left: Simon Brown (SEQ Catchments), Ronald Vieritz, Bree Pinner (SEQ Catchments), Robyn Currie, Louisa Bonner,
Margaret Lawton, Maureen Sandy, Melinda Serico, Maroochy Baramba, Nurdon Serico, Leish Krause, Fred Palin, Andrew Davidson
(SEQ Catchments), Murray Saylor (TGAI Management Consultants), not in the workshop photo but also present on the day: Cameron
Costello.

GRANTS
Our Land Our Future
The Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) has launched their new program, Our
Land Our Future. In this program, ILC have developed a funding stream aimed at
partnering with Indigenous land owners and organisations to support land
management goals and projects.
The ILC will work with groups to find potential co-investors who share the goals
of Indigenous landholders.
This funding stream has an open timeline and no application forms. It relies on
Aboriginal groups contacting ILC directly to discuss ideas for sustainable land
management project which might include:

Tourism and eco-tourism businesses

Access and protection of culturally significant sites
Protection and restoration of culturally significant landscapes
Pastoral businesses
Land-based enterprises creating employment opportunities for indigenous
people

For more information about the program criteria, support and application process
visit: www.ilc.gov.au/Home/Our-Land-Program
Or contact the ILC Brisbane office on:
Tel: (07) 3854 4600
Email: Eastern Office@ilc.gov.au

NAIDOC grant funding now open

The NAIDOC grant funding round for 2015 is now open and will close at 5.00pm
ACT local time on Tuesday 21 April.
This funding aims to support local activities during NAIDOC week that celebrate
Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander culture, history and achievements.
Funding this year will be directed under the Indigenous Advancement Strategy,
in the Culture and Capability programme.
If you would like more information about how to apply for NAIDOC funding and
the documents you will need, visit the Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet at www.dpmc.gov.au

EVENTS
National Reconciliation Week
27 May - 3 June
Theme: Its time to change it up

Celebrated each year, National

Reconciliation Week commemorates
the anniversaries of the 1967
referendum on May 27 and the high
court Mabo decisions on June 3.
National Reconciliation Week is a time
to share culture and histories, and
contribute to reconciliation efforts.
For more information on National
Reconciliation Events visit:
www.reconciliation.org.au

NAIDOC week
5 - 12 July 2015

Theme: We all Stand on Sacred Ground:

Learn, Respect and Celebrate

This years theme highlights Aboriginal

and Torres Strait Islander peoples
strong spiritual and cultural connection
to land and sea.
NAIDOC week is an opportunity to pay
respects to country; honour those who
work to preserve land, sea and culture
and to share the stories about
significant sites or sacred places.
For more information about upcoming
NAIDOC events and celebrations, visit:
www.naidoc.org.au
SEQ Catchments Office - Brisbane

Level 2, 183 North Quay, Brisbane 4000

Ph: 3211 4404 Fax: 3211 4405
Bree Pinner

Traditional Owner & Indigenous

Engagement Support Officer
M: 0437 645 127
E: bpinner@seqcatchments.com.au