Cultural land management research and governance in south-east Australia

This research project, funded by Natural Hazards Research Australia (the Centre), explored opportunities for enhancing collaboration between Indigenous land and fire managers and state, territory, and local government agencies. It focused on integrating Indigenous voice and representation into governance structures and developing research principles for ethical and collaborative cultural land management. The project was driven by recommendations from previous research and inquiries, including the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements.

The project employed a mixed-methods approach, combining interviews with Indigenous and non-Indigenous experts and workshops with Indigenous land management organisations, Traditional Owner groups, government agencies, university researchers and others. This approach aimed to gain insights into current and desired future states of collaborative engagement and identify opportunities for strengthening collaborative governance and research. The research design and methods were guided by Indigenous research methodologies, emphasising relationship-building and Indigenous self-determination.

This report outlines several key findings based on the project’s data collection and analysis, though the primary key findings are that:

1. Collaborative cultural land management projects continue to grow in size and scope across south-east Australia.
2. Though there have been significant structural changes in recent years, these collaborations occur in a social, legal, economic and political context shaped by substantial and ongoing inequalities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous organisations.
3. Given this context, collaborations rely to a significant extent on participants creating interpersonal and interorganisational bonds based on trust, respect for Indigenous rights and knowledge, and resourcing by non-Indigenous organisations
4. Much can be achieved within these collaborations, though perhaps the most effective means of support is the provision of long-term funding and formal collaborative agreements
5. Key barriers include the continuing lack of structural reforms to legal and economic arrangements regarding the management of Country, in particular formal recognition of Indigenous peoples’ proprietary land rights, as well as the lack of formal accountability in many collaborative arrangements.

Subsequently, the project team presents implications for future research and policymaking. The first of the research projects would focus on evaluating the performance of governments and government agencies in supporting Indigenous cultural fire management. Currently, despite government commitments to support cultural fire management, there are no known or shared indicators of performance. Developing simple, measurable and culturally appropriate indicators is important to creating accountability within collaborations. The second research project would centre on the creation of a group or lab to support researchers based at Indigenous organisations. Indigenous project partners and participants spoke to the need for Indigenous organisations to keep developing their own internal research capacity, identifying the lack of connection between Indigenous people in research roles as a significant obstacle to building and maintaining this capacity. The policy implications all relate to enabling Indigenous self-determination within the growing ‘contact zone’ of collaboration. Specifically, these include suggestions for government agencies to provide dedicated ongoing funding to Indigenous organisations for cultural land management, establishing structured engagement mechanisms, resourcing relationship building, ensuring culturally appropriate engagement and ensuring accountability and transparency in dealings with Indigenous organisations.

The project's findings highlight the complex dynamics of intercultural collaborations in cultural land management. Indigenous groups are actively navigating imposed non-Indigenous structures and demonstrating resilience in revitalising cultural rights, knowledge and practices. However, progress is often hindered by systemic challenges. The findings and implications offer a roadmap for fostering more equitable, effective and sustainable partnerships that recognise Indigenous rights, knowledge and values in land and fire management. By prioritising Indigenous self-determination, land and emergency management agencies can work towards a future where natural hazard management is grounded in sustainability and respect for Country.