Topic: Water for Remote First Nations Communities in Australia

The video features stories from First Nations communities from Central Australia about past and present relationships with water, along with a vision for the future.  

In 2019, the Australian Water Association (AWA), in partnership with the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA), funded a video called Kwatja Ngkama – Talking Water 

The video features stories from First Nations communities from Central Australia about past and present relationships with water, along with a vision for the future.  

The video explores key themes such as connection Country, climate change, management of remote water services, water resources for future generation and inclusion. 

The key objective of the project was to provide a voice to First Nations communities and to provide a platform to share their thoughts and aspirations and to be included in the national conversation about water. 

The project took 12 months (from April 2019 to April 2020) to complete and involved an extensive engagement process with local communities, Traditional Owners and various organisations like the Central Land Council.  

A total of 80 people were consulted to understand the appropriate channels to approach the right people.  

Strong awareness of cross-cultural environment and local customs were essential. All engagements were based on long term relationships and trust. 

Extract from the video (commences at 8:45): 

“… people who used to live in those communities are now living in Alice Springs because their water supplies aren’t maintained like they used to be …  

…it has a severe impact particularly on their living conditions, where they come to, if they don’t have anywhere to stay where they are in town… 

There are real social issues that come out of not maintaining water systems… those things need to be thought more about how to maintain and provide services to those remote communities… We need to think more long-term rather than quick fixes…  

I think Aboriginal people really need to be involved in the future development of all the remote areas… they live there they understand the situation.  

We have been here for a very, very, very long time, thousands of years. We find ways to be able to survive in remote areas, you know…  

Climate change is something that is happening… we see here where we are… we see in other parts of Australia. We are experiencing things I don’t think we have seen before. Aboriginal people have got something to offer to the rest of the world… We can’t be divided anymore … We need to be included and we have a lot to offer…”  

(Peter Mbitjana Renehan – CEO of the Centre for Appropriate Technology) 

This case study has been approved by Peter Renehan. An article about the video is available here