First Nations engagement

As part of the hub's ongoing commitment to ensuring First Nations input and engagement, Hub First Nations Knowledge Broker, Dr Raelene Ward, and Director of UniSQ's Centre for Heritage and Culture, Prof Celmara Pocock, embarked on a meaningful journey across south western Queensland and northern New South Wales.

The tour included visits to First Nations Elders in the Node regions (PDF 1MB), to talk and gain their perspective and learnings.

Find out more about the project. 

In partnership with Rural Economies Centre for Excellence and SQNNSW Hub. 

The third project component is largely driven by QUT in partnership with Goolburri Aboriginal Health Service, Cherbourg community and UniSQ.

Project components

• A research project with Indigenous women “exploring drought responses, resilience to drought, and the impact of drought on social and emotional wellbeing.
• A series of workshops with Indigenous women who are food and fibre entrepreneurs to “support the exploration and development of First Nations food and fibre opportunities”.
• An online platform to promote and amplify the great stories Indigenous women are telling about their sustainable production and their diversification projects, using mostly native plants through culturally safe practices that align with sustainable care for Country.

This is the first project research designed and led by First Nations Knowledge Broker, Dr Raelene Ward.

Weir River’ (Mullul Warril), is a 4900-acre property situated on Bigambul Country in the Cecil Plains/Moonie area. The property is owned by James and Gina Golder. Gina is a proud Kamilaroi woman residing in Dalby who is keen to promote her property as an ideal location for the creation of bush tucker and availability for disengaged youth.

Weir River provides an opportunity to investigate, and concept test a business model that creates entrepreneurial opportunities in the rural sector for First Nations people. Weir River, along with up to four other sites under First Nations people’s control, will be used as part of a research-led project encompassing:

• caring for Country principles of traditional land management techniques
• bush tucker
• floriculture
• nutraceuticals
• Indigenous entrepreneurial opportunities
• education and employment opportunities for First Nations youth, and
• market opportunities for indigenous plants harnessed On Country.

Information gained from this project can be used to inform replication of the business model to other agricultural land across Queensland, providing business and employment pathways for First Nations peoples. The project also aims to support First Nations disengaged youth at risk of suicide and expose young people to land and river management opportunities that increase health and wellbeing and align to future job opportunities across regional Queensland.

An On Country, research-led scoping report that identifies data gaps, challenges and opportunities related to agricultural and land management income generation opportunities for First Nations people in regional communities of Queensland (Darling Downs and Southwest).

In partnership with QUT, UniSQ's School of Nursing and Midwifery, Cherbourg Regional Aboriginal and Islander Community Controlled Health Service (CRAICCHS) and Goolburri Aboriginal Health Advancement Company Limited (Toowoomba). This project is an ARC Indigenous Discovery Grant funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

Project aims

• To co-develop a place-based definition of food sovereignty and to co-design a Food Sovereignty Model (FSM), that draws on Indigenous knowledges specific to the Indigenous community within the regions of Goolburri services.
• To identify and develop strategies that will build sustainable food systems.
• To locally co-develop tailored strategies to foster food sovereignty.
• To co-develop resources that preserve language and cultural foodways that can be integrated into educational curriculum (thus supporting the preservation of language, culture, biodiversity, and sustainable development).
• To foster a sense of belonging, pride, wellbeing and resilience for young Indigenous people within the regions of Goolburri services.

Outcomes

We strongly believe that any research undertaken within the regions of Goolburri services must be of benefit this Indigenous community.

• Food Sovereignty Model specifically designed for, and by, the Indigenous community.
• Greater understanding of holistic health and wellbeing from a cultural, social, political and nutritional perspective.
• Employment of Indigenous staff from Year 1 to Year 4.
• Upskilling of community members.
• Production of Indigenous Native foods and other foodstuffs deemed important to the community that could potentially become a commercial opportunity.
• Production of a children’s book on cultural foods and foodways, written in identified Indigenous language/’s and English and illustrated by local children and young people, that potentially may be a commercial opportunity.