coastal custodians - Department of Environment and Climate Change

the initial induction workshop the
Committee has held three business
meetings with the most recent held at
Batemans Bay on 2 nd April 2007 to 3 rd
April 2007.
The Committee has developed and
endorsed the Committee Procedures,
Terms of Reference and Code of
Conduct at their last business
meeting. The Committee also
developed and endorsed a Strategic
Agenda with the primary vision of
ensuring:
“Healthy Country cared for and
respected by all people, to maintain
Aboriginal people’s spiritual and
physical connection from the past
to the present and into the future”.
To achieve their vision the Committee
developed the following three goals:
1. To make Aboriginal culture and
heritage front and centre in the
development of policies to
support the social and human
development of Aboriginal
people in NSW.
2. To contribute to DEC being a
culturally aware and respectful,
credible, efficient and effective
organisation.
3. To provide sound advice based
on the needs and aspirations of
the Aboriginal people of NSW.
The Committee has established
seven principles around which they
will conduct their business:
1. The Committee, in being
representative of the Aboriginal
community of NSW, acts as a
voice in the interests and
aspirations of Aboriginal people
in NSW and their cultural
heritage.
2. Aboriginal people have the right
to self-determination – that is
the right to determine the
direction of their own social,
cultural, economic and political
development.
3. Given Aboriginal peoples’
custodial interests in Country,
Aboriginal people have a
responsibility to care for the
landscape of NSW, its
biodiversity and places of
particular cultural significance.
4. Access to Country and its
resources is essential so
Aboriginal people can continue
cultural practices, maintain links
with the land and care for
Country.
5. Aboriginal communities obtain
cultural, social and economic
benefits through being involved
in environmental management
and conservation.
6. ACHAC promotes and supports
partnerships between Aboriginal
communities and DEC.
7. ACHAC acts as advocate to
promote awareness of
Aboriginal culture and heritage
to other government agencies.
The Committee has identified five
priority areas they will consider that
relate to the:
• protection of Aboriginal cultural
heritage,
• understanding Aboriginal
cultural heritage and managing
heritage information/knowledge,
• cultural identity/renewal,
• managing lands, gardens,
terrestrial and marine parks,
• building a working environment
that affirms and respect
Aboriginal culture.
Coastal Custodians 8