TRC works extensively with indigenous communities including Australia’s First Nations communities in every state and Territory. The work ranges from business plans for individuals starting new businesses through to region wide strategies for growing tourism and meeting traditional owner aspirations.
Consultants Tracey Diddams and Shane Dredge have been working with several start up businesses on the South Coast of NSW on a range of First Nations tourism business and marketing plans. A program facilitated through Department of Primary Industries, Tracey and Shane have been designing tailored business plans together with each of the business owners, from sole traders through to medium-sized corporations, all offering a raft of different tourism products and experiences. Each business plan clearly articulates individual visions and goals, short-term needs, longer-term aspirations and an achievable action plan. We are now working with each of the business owners and strategic partners on supporting business and marketing plan implementation.
Nationally Tracey and Director Janet Mackay have worked on several tourism master and actions plans including for Yamatji country in Western Australia where we worked with four cultural committees to discuss their aspirations for tourism across their country, and assist them in formulating a staged approach to implementation including ensuring they were able to offer different products and experiences from their neighbours.
We are working with the community on Pam Island to develop a tourism master plan to deliver economic benefits for that community, and have recently been undertaking planning with Traditional owners for Pajinka (the tip of Cape York) as well as more broadly on Cape York.
Trails have also featured in aspirations for communities with a business case for Wallaman Falls to Paluma in Queensland developed with two traditional owner groups as the basis for planning for cultural experiences. That work is now continuing with experience planning and capacity building.
In Central Australia we are working with the community to look at a new walking experiences in the East MacDonnell ranges. Further north in East Arnhem land, Miringu Dhukarr Heritage Trails is being investigated as a multi-day hike retracing the steps of the Northern Reconnaissance Unit during World War II. The vision is for Yolngu guides to lead hikers through the tropical savannah, sharing Yolngu culture and telling the stories of the warriors who defended Australia’s northern coastline during WWII.
“Our goal is a sustainable, Yolngu-led social enterprise that will create employment in, and enable us to grow our homeland communities, while strengthening and sharing our rich cultural heritage and connection to country.”
Whilst every project is different, the principles are the same. TRC acts as facilitators to work with the First Nations communities to identify their aspirations and what they need to do to get there.
In our projects we apply the following approach when consulting with First Nations first people:
- Participatory planning working together to foster inclusivity and project ownership, and to support achievable and flexible solutions that empower local people to share culture, live and work on country and holistically address issues
- Clear pathways that incorporate ongoing support
- Using an Indigenous Lens for tourism planning or ‘way of seeing’ so that local people own and can deliver their tourism vision.
Some of the considerations are shown in the diagram below:
Janet and Alistair are also currently working with Mandy Muir, a senior Traditional Owner of the Murumburr clan within Kakadu National Park. Mandy and her mother run Kakadu Billabong Safari Camp and cultural tours and we are helping with business support as the business grows and strengthens.
Kakadu Billabong Safari Camp (www.kakadubillabongsafaricamp.com.au) offers camping and Aboriginal cultural experiences along the Jim Jim Creek in Kakadu National Park, NT, Australia.
