Traditional Owner-led stewardship of Country will be at the centre of a new Program to deliver healthier waterways in the Great Barrier Reef and Catchments.

NAILSMA is excited by the opportunity to undertake Phase One of the Traditional Owner-Led Water Quality Improvement Program, including establishing a Traditional Owner-Led Reef Water Quality Advisory Group to help inform the Phase Two design of a grant program supporting on-ground activities to strengthen stewardship of Country.

NAILSMA CEO and Djabugay and Djirrabal Traditional Owner, Barry Hunter, said the organisation’s main role would be to support the voices, knowledge and stewardship of Country by Traditional Owners.

“Amplifying Indigenous leadership and continuing to shift the dial in outcomes and influence is at the heart of this work,” Mr Hunter said.

NAILSMA Director of Policy and Development, and Kuku Yalanji and Maluligal Traditional Owner, Dr Cass Hunter, said the Program would centre around Indigenous-led solutions.

“The program and its phases support pathways for continuing the success stories of Traditional Owners restoring Country and the important flows across land, water and sea,” Dr Hunter said.

The Traditional Owner-Led Water Quality Improvement Program is funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust. To find out more about the Program, visit https://www.dcceew.gov.au/about/news/nailsma-help-lead-reef-water-quality-program or email healthywater@nailsma.org.au.