The benefits of Caring for Country in NSW
There exists a growing body of literature about the benefits to Indigenous people, as well as to the environment, of living on and caring for land and sea country. However, most of these findings emanate from Northern Australia, where Aboriginal people are usually working on their own Aboriginal-owned or -controlled land. NSW is the state with the largest absolute number of Indigenous people, but their landholdings comprise less than one per cent of the state. This seminar will explore the various ways in which Indigenous people in NSW are attempting to care for their country, and present some initial proposals for research into whether similar social, economic and cultural benefits flow from these activities. It will explore how such benefits might be documented and measured in this context, both to reflect Indigenous priorities and to meet Federal and State government policy goals.