Aboriginal Waterways Assessment program

24 Aboriginal Waterways Assessment — Part B The program
How to present the data?
Because at the time there was
insufficient knowledge in local
communities of the mapping
technology and how to use it,
the research team developed the
approach to assimilating the data.
Scores from each place were recorded
in a results chart, which were then
transposed to a matrix. The matrix
shows the assessment locations using
the same identifiers that were used in
the results table. The matrix presents
scores that integrate river health with
cultural uses and values to provide
a ‘high’, ‘medium’ or ‘low’ score
distributed across a graph.
The scores are also transposed onto
an AWA regional map of the whole
assessment location. Each assessment
place is identified on the map, with
the same identifier and colour coding
Gamilaraay people
assessing the cultural health
of the Barwon River, New South Wales
(photo by Jackie Luethi, MDBA).
for scores that are used in the results
table and the map.
An average monthly natural river flow
at or near the place is also provided in
the place reports, to enable assessment
teams, and other community members,
to compare current flow conditions
with modelled pre-development flows.
The scores are also presented on onepage
place summaries. The summaries
provide photographic evidence of
the assessment team making their
assessments, as well as the condition
of the river at the place. Comments
recorded on the assessment forms are
included on these pictorial summaries,
to preserve local observations
about cultural, biodiversity and flow
conditions of the place.
The process is done in a manner that
does not change the words or the
meaning of the qualitative data. The
research data is handled in a culturally
respectful way, which preserves
the voices of the participant. It also
ensures that Aboriginal community
leadership holds the responsibility
of deciding how to interpret the
qualitative and quantitative data,
and how to use it for a Nation’s
water planning interests.