The Voices from the Bush event and conference proceedings were held across 10 and 11 September this year and facilitated many insightful discussions and collaborations.
Thank you to everyone who joined the Voices from the Bush Conference – and in particular to the First Nations people who generously shared their stories and knowledge.
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Our Executive Director, Adam Lovell attended the event and has provided some of his reflections in this call to action:
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Highlights from Day 1
Voices from the Bush 2024 kicked off with an amazing Welcome to Country from the Australian Water Association CEO, Corrine Cheeseman, and a passionate, thought-provoking address from Committee Chair and Managing Director, KSJ Consulting Service and Platinum Civil Construction, Kiara Johnson. We were asked to consider our individual roles and responsibilities and to contemplate what influence our discussions over the conference proceedings might have on our approaches, our thinking and the structures within our everyday workplaces.
Uncle Bill Wilson facilitated a yarn with Kiara Johnson, Corinne Cheeseman and Adam Lovell about individual and collective accountability.
Djuna Pollard, CEO of Power and Water Corporation, and Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) Board member addressed the conference by reflecting on the importance of the water sector prioritising Closing the Water for Peoples and Communities Gap.
The keynote from Territa Dick, Mayor Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council and Chair of the Torres Cape Indigenous Council Alliance Inc. shared insights into the skills and training and asset management challenges facing her community. Until the gap closes, our approach to training must reflect the unique needs and circumstances of communities.
Our Closing the Water Gap for People and Communities Workshop session explored the current state of water programs servicing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the country. In reference to the Closing the Gap (CTG) Frameworks, Target 9B1, and in preparation for this workshop, we sought to develop an understanding of programs collectively and seek to articulate in what year this might occur on our current trajectory.
The product developed as a result of engaging First Nations water programs, reflected a time-based baseline of programs nationwide, including in what average timeframes might issues with water quality, conveyance, and source security be addressed.
Session attendees were walked through a select few parameters, including themes of barriers to accelerating these programs. These themes included re-thinking the core principles that drive our water programs, being clear about and advocating for the right capital and operating expenditure mix, sourcing, training and retaining the right people (with the right behaviour, competencies and attitudes) to deliver these programs and most critically of all, utilising engagement methodologies and resources in the right way – to develop and maintain strong relationships based on true partnership with community.
A summary of raw workshop feedback will be distributed to all conference attendees.
Highlights from Day 2
The day started with a hard-hitting, uncomfortable, emotional, and uplifting opening session. Stories were generously shared by Rob Singleton (Yawarrawarka Traditional Owner), Zaaheer McKenzie and Neil Brougham (Arabana Aboriginal Corporation), Hozaus Claire (Martuwarra Fitzroy River), Paul Bendotti (SA Water) and Tanya Plibersek, the Minister for the Environment and Water sending through a video message.
The Join Our Water Story Workshop presented by WSAA and The Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust heard from a group of water leaders who tried to do things differently, starting with listening to Aboriginal voices. Bek Christensen (Programs Director, Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust) set the scene and Gamilaraay/Kamilaroi man Jason Wilson (Local Engagement Officer, DCCEEW), Kamilaroi Bradley Moggridge (Professor of Science, University of Technology Sydney), Eric Vanweydeveld (Director, Aquanex Pty Ltd), and Meg Humphrys (Liveable Communities Advisor, WSAA) shared their lessons from their leadership journeys. Some take homes from the yarn were the power of connection to people and each other through on County immersion, the importance of self-reflection, and having the courage and vulnerability to do things differently in water management.
We were thrilled to have Nicholas Sabtino from the Torres Strait Shire Council and Mark David, Torres Strait Island Regional Council share their perspective as First Nations utility managers in the Torres Strait. Nicky and Mark shared their careers from water operators to utility managers, the journey to improve water and wastewater services, and their approach to supporting young Torres Strait Islander people with skills and training for a career in water. Chris Blake, Queensland Health, shared the successful Safe and Healthy Drinking Water in Indigenous Local Government Areas Program and the partnership with Nicky, Mark and other Indigenous Councils in Queensland.
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‘You can’t underestimate the importance of keeping the communities’ interests at heart when making decisions on safe water delivery.’ From Chris Blake , QLD Department of Health |
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Nina Braid, Aboriginal Partnerships Manager at Yarra Valley Water also facilitated a yarn with Uncle Bill Wilson, Jason Wilson and Bradley Moggridge (PhD) about First Nations Community engagement and co-creation. The First Nations Better Practice Community Engagement Toolkit brings together better practice community engagement case studies and practical experience from across the energy and water sectors to explore what has worked well, what was learned and what outcomes were achieved along the way. If you want to be part of these ongoing sessions, please visit the website and let us know here.
The conference closed with reflections from Uncle Bill Wilson, Corinne Cheeseman and WSAA’s Executive Director, Adam Lovell.
It was truly amazing to have a wealth of people, energy, and experience in the room for our Closing the Gap discussion. Providing a small picture of what a baseline might look like led to a rich discussion. The feedback we got from the over 80 people who joined us for the workshop activity following the presentation tells us that more opportunities to connect, share, reflect and then take action are needed.
Image credit to Australian Water Association
26 Sep 2024
