Strong communities start with Country. But are we listening?
At a glance
Climate change is one of the top concerns for global communities. It is a challenge we all face no matter where in the world we call home. In Australia, there are many macro initiatives to minimise climate change, like the Australian Government’s Long Term Emissions Reduction Plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
On a micro level there has been an emerging niche market in building and infrastructure designs that seek to learn from the world’s oldest surviving cultures and environmentalists, Australia’s First Nations peoples.
Australian First Nation peoples believe everything starts with Country – dreaming and creation stories, language, dance, song, lore, community. “Country” in the Australian First Nation context is akin to “Mother Earth”.
For millennia our First Nations people have considered Country as a part of our being and who we are. There is no duality in Aboriginal beliefs when it comes to Country. It is not a case of there is Country, and here is a community. We are one.
Our communities are voicing their concerns on a variety of issues including infrastructure projects and demanding better outcomes. But does Country have a voice? The Principles for Action in the NSW Government Architect’s Connecting with Country Framework give us the opportunity to practically and proactively give Country a voice. So, it begs the question, who is engaging with Country?
‘Considering’ Country is not enough
In our planning processes we ‘consider’ Country, but that leads to the belief that maybe it wasn’t top of mind in the first place, and it is something we will have to retrofit in a long list of negotiables later.
Indigenous communities have higher expectations of their involvement in projects, and this may take on additional importance with the Voice to Parliament referendum.
This provides us the opportunity to listen to Country and, in turn, build stronger communities. It also translates to being First Nations people being consulted early and often. From this we increasingly see growing capacity and resilience to be able to participate and be involved in the planning process alongside industry professionals. Don’t forget they are the experts of their local area.
Closed doors
We know that more often than not the building blocks of projects (feasibility and funding) are worked on behind closed doors. Subject matter experts and their diligent consultants work on de-risking a project. This means that the early planning process for projects happens with limited external input. Locations are selected, funding decisions are made, and any impacts identified thereafter need to be mitigated.
Can we turn this approach upside down?
But does Country have a voice? Who speaks for Country? The Principles for Action in the Connecting with Country Framework give us the opportunity to practically and proactively give Country a voice.
Imagine if we listened and we were in the room, behind those closed doors, helping Country speak for herself. That’s the future of planning we want to encourage and support in Australia, but also across the world. Where we know the history and stories of Country help define the feasibility and funding decisions.
We are working to challenge the status quo and change the approach. We cannot continually shoe-horn a Designing with Country approach when the fundamentals of where a project will be located on Country have already been determined. This seems counterintuitive and doesn’t reflect good engagement with Country.
We need to listen to Country
What we know is that everything starts with, and ends with, Country. Country is alive, it breathes, it gives life, and it takes it back. It heals.
When it comes to Country, like all communities, it is sensitive and complex, however we know that by giving voice to Country and ensuring we engage with our communities early and often, we are building better outcomes for everyone.
Meet the Authors
Romina is an infrastructure communications specialist. Her extensive experience includes the strategic development and implementation of effective communication and engagement strategies for some of Australia’s largest infrastructure projects.
Romina has in-depth knowledge of the requirements of stakeholders, communities and clients and has extensive experience working with highly sensitive projects or communities. Her key skill is ensuring that major projects apply a community and stakeholder lens to key decisions to ensure broader support for the project, resilience in the scope and execution of projects and minimising risks to project outcomes.