Water Facilitators, February 2010.
Back: Peter Pender (Daly),Warbin Aken (Wenlock),
Sonia Leonard (Kimberley), Tonya Murray (Gregory, Gulf of
Carpentaria). Front: Annette Kogolo (Fitzroy).
The success of Water Program projects 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.
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.
Funding for the ICWFN has been provided by the
National Water Commission until 2011 under the Raising National
Water Standards programme.
