We apologise that this week's seminar by Meg Switzer and Nicholas Hall has been cancelled. We hope to be able to present it in early 2010.

The seminar will outline a new model of economic development that harnesses and integrates the economic advantage that Indigenous people have in relation to land and culture. The concepts underlying the model are not new, but what is proposed is a concerted and sustained attempt to better coordinate economic activity across land management, tourism and art and craft production. These three sectors have traditionally developed on different trajectories under different strategic and funding regimes. There are however, opportunities to maximise employment for individuals who operate across these sectors.

A more synergistic cross-sector strategic approach has the potential to realise new and valuable market opportunities for remote areas. The proposed approach relies on enhancing economic development through strategic management of a location’s assets of advantage. It aims to demonstrate how economic opportunities can be built for improved market and social engagement of Aboriginal people in the broader economic and social activity of the nation.

The model will be illustrated using two current examples of enterprise development in Arnhem Land; firstly the Across the top Macassan Sea Voyage, that links emerging Indigenous tourism and art businesses across the coast of Arnhem Land; and secondly, the development of Buku’tjuwu Miyarriya Rom, the Two-way Learning Centre, located in Blue Mud Bay that links education, tourism, art and land management.

Meg Switzer is Director ASM and Associates Pty Ltd, Specialising In Heritage, Environment and Tourism and Facilitator for Stepwise Heritage And Tourism Pty Ltd
Nicholas Hall is Director Stepwise Heritage and Tourism Pty Ltd, and The Institute for Professional Practice In Heritage and The Arts, ANU