The Indigenous Water Policy Group (IWPG) oversees the Indigenous
Community Water Facilitator Network (ICWFN). The success of
projects currently being undertaken in northern Australia, such as
those conducted under the Tropical
River and Coastal Knowledge (TRaCK) research program, depend
upon Indigenous communities having a strong understanding and
capacity to engage in discussions about the future of north
Australia’s water resources. However, facilitation at the
community level to integrate Indigenous interests in water
management among the various stakeholders remains deficient.
The aims of the ICWFN are to:
- establish a community based network to advance Indigenous
engagement in research and management of tropical rivers, water use
and conservation across northern Australia, and,
- act as a catalyst to ensure that Indigenous interests are
articulated, encouraged and incorporated into water policy
decisions, management plans and water allocations.
The overall outcomes of this level of engagement will include
health, economic, cultural, environmental and social benefits among
Indigenous participants.
Funding for the ICWFN has been provided by the
National Water Commission until 2011 under the Raising National
Water Standards programme.
Under the direction of the Indigenous Water Policy Group,
NAILSMA and its partner organisations a network of six regionally
based Indigenous Community Water Facilitators are employed to:
·
develop water networks
·
facilitate the integration of Indigenous interests with other
stakeholders’ interests.
·
advance Indigenous engagement in research and management.
·
act as vehicles so that community interests are articulated at the
policy level.
The aim of the Network is to enhance and
secure the long-term engagement of Indigenous communities in water
reform processes, through developing extensive community networks.
Water facilitators support communication, training, education, and
Indigenous engagement in research and the planning and
establishment of management frameworks for tropical rivers.
The Coordinator of the ICWFN, based in Darwin, oversees the
Water Facilitators and their engagement of Indigenous communities,
NAILSMA's partner agencies, researchers and other water users and
managers.
The ICWFN report to the IWPG, TRaCK, the National Water
Commission and State and Territory jurisdictions.
The full team of Water Facilitators met for the first time in
Darwin in November 2009.
Photo: Back -Sonia Leonard (Ord), Warbin Aken (Wenlock),
Otto Campion (Network advisor) Hugh Wallace Smith (ICWFN
Coordinator) Peter Pender (Daly), Tony Murray (Gregory, Gulf of
Carpentaria).
Front - Marceil Lawrence (Mitchell) Lillian Chestnut
(FitzCAM project, Kimberley Land Council), Annette Kogolo
(Fitzroy),
