Priority

Working with First Peoples

Collaborating to care for Country

Country is the sky, lands and water ways to which First Peoples are connected. It contains complex ideas relating to cultural practice, lore, law, language, and identity. Country provides both physical and spiritual sustenance to First Peoples.

For First Peoples, traditional knowledge includes ecological, cultural and spiritual knowledge and we seek to listen to and learn from this knowledge to help protect Country forever. As we continue to work with First Peoples, we recognise their invaluable knowledge of caring for Country.

Trust for Nature recognises First Peoples past and continuing connection to Country and partners across every region of Victoria.

Learn about the Warreen Beek Rangers Program

At the heart of our work lies a commitment to meaningful engagement and respect for First Peoples’ knowledge and perspectives when caring for Country. 

Our approach is guided by principles of cultural sensitivity, reciprocity, and mutual respect.

By actively involving First Peoples stakeholders in decision-making processes, we want to ensure that our initiatives are aligned with First Peoples’ priorities and aspirations. 

In 2024, the Conservation Covenant deed was amended to acknowledge and facilitate Traditional Owners’ cultural practices on private land. The updates recognise Traditional Owners as custodians of Victoria’s land, encouraging engagement in land management and access pathways. These changes aim to foster collaboration and self-determination while ensuring conservation values are upheld. It is a small but important step to enabling opportunities for First Peoples through our work.

We’re working across Victoria to provide conservation training for First Peoples.  

The program, designed and delivered through a partnership between Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and Trust for Nature, provides culturally endorsed and TAFE–accredited training. 

Students learn on Country with Elders and other experts, and have gained experience protecting middens, building a bush food garden, and participating in a cultural burn at Coranderrk on Wurundjeri Country, the first cultural burn on the property in over 160 years.  

The course enables an increased number of First Peoples to obtain and retain employment in the conservation sector and build culturally appropriate career pathways while contributing to the strengthening of language and culture.

Learn more about the Warreen Beek Rangers’ program.

At the heart of our work lies a commitment to meaningful engagement and respect for First Peoples’ knowledge and perspectives when caring for Country. 

Our approach is guided by principles of cultural sensitivity, reciprocity, and mutual respect.

By actively involving First Peoples stakeholders in decision-making processes, we want to ensure that our initiatives are aligned with First Peoples’ priorities and aspirations. 

In 2024, the Conservation Covenant deed was amended to acknowledge and facilitate Traditional Owners’ cultural practices on private land. The updates recognise Traditional Owners as custodians of Victoria’s land, encouraging engagement in land management and access pathways. These changes aim to foster collaboration and self-determination while ensuring conservation values are upheld. It is a small but important step to enabling opportunities for First Peoples through our work.

We’re working across Victoria to provide conservation training for First Peoples.  

The program, designed and delivered through a partnership between Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and Trust for Nature, provides culturally endorsed and TAFE–accredited training. 

Students learn on Country with Elders and other experts, and have gained experience protecting middens, building a bush food garden, and participating in a cultural burn at Coranderrk on Wurundjeri Country, the first cultural burn on the property in over 160 years.  

The course enables an increased number of First Peoples to obtain and retain employment in the conservation sector and build culturally appropriate career pathways while contributing to the strengthening of language and culture.

Learn more about the Warreen Beek Rangers’ program.