Workshop brings Cape York orgs together
- Cape York NRM
- Mar 19
- 2 min read
More than 80 Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs), land trusts Aboriginal Corporations and ranger groups from across Cape York were invited to workshop together at Cape York Conversations: Pathways to Partnership in Cairns.
More than 60 of those confirmed their attendance, bringing together people who own or manage land and water resources from First Nation organisations from across Cape York Peninsula, to share their aspirations and experiences in sustainable land management.
Cape York Natural Resource Management (Cape York NRM) CEO Pip Schroor said the workshop was the first of its kind.
“We have brought in Indigenous landholders from across the Cape to hold initial discussions on sustainable land management, this is the first gathering of its kind in the region, opening doors to new partnerships and collaboration on key initiatives,'' she said.
“By fostering conversations with Indigenous landholders, this workshop will lay the foundation for future projects, drive collaboration and create meaningful pathways for sustainable land practices On Country.''
More than 60 per cent of the land in Cape York is held under Aboriginal Freehold or Native Title, meaning it is owned or managed by First Nations people – this highlights the importance of First Nations-led land management and the role of Cape York NRM in supporting Traditional Owners, landholders, and communities to sustainably manage and protect Country.
Cape York NRM First Nations Engagement & Project Officer Lachlan Bassani organised the event.
“We kept the agenda as open as we could to allow for wide-ranging discussions about what opportunities are out there and where our challenges lie. It was also a great opportunity to talk about funding and the possibilities for coming together on our issues,” he said.
The main outcome of the meeting – the formation of a Cape York First Nations Community of Practice – was an opportunity to work together on a wide-ranging agenda from cultural heritage, governance and nation-building to food security, water rights and agriculture.
“We’re excited for the possibilities,” he said.
“There are as many opportunities as there are issues on Cape York, and all of us agreeing to work together on all of it is a great thing.“We can only keep moving forward from here.”
Building and strengthening connections with First Nations people and organisations is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust. This event is supported by TNQ Drought Hub through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and delivered by Cape York NRM.
