TRaCK Synthesis & Adoption Year 2011 - 12

NAILSMA is participating in the TRaCK Synthesis and Adoption Year (2011-12) through two projects under the Indigenous enterprises and water planning topic, including a synthesis of Indigenous livelihoods future research agenda and the development of a community field guide for Indigenous people on Indigenous engagement in water planning. These projects seek to raise awareness about water planning processes in Indigenous communities, and in the long-term improve the development of Indigenous livelihoods, Indigenous participation in water planning and standards for community engagement.

NAILSMA Projects

The two projects that NAILSMA will be delivering by March 2012 are.

1. TRaCK Synthesis - Indigenous Livelihoods Future Research Agenda: This research will progress toward the development of a north Australian sustainable Indigenous livelihoods plan by delivering a number of recommendations based on the findings. Indigenous community participants from the Kimberley, Northern Territory and the Cape will provide scenarios from which to develop recommendations. The overall outcomes will contribute significantly to work developed under the NAILSMA NAWFA Projects.
   
2. Field Guide - For Indigenous Water Management: The field guide is designed to improve Indigenous participation in water planning and standards of community engagement.  The field guide will be a toolkit for water practitioners that includes information about water management in Australia, what water planning is, Indigenous involvement in water planning, how Indigenous people can be engaged and how Indigenous people can be engaged  better. The field guide will be informed specifically by learnings and experiences of the NAILSMA Indigenous Water Facilitator Network (ICWFN) which was a network of water practitioners across the north that was aimed at improving Indigenous awareness and engagement in local water planning processes.
   

The Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge (TRaCK) theme projects have concluded; its research outcomes proving essential in furthering our knowledge of northern Australia’s rivers and water resources. TRaCK was successful in securing further funds to undergo this Synthesis and Adoption Year for selected projects, funded by the National Water Commission (NWC).

TRaCK research has highlighted a need to increase Indigenous community engagement in water planning processes and collaborative development with agency water planners. The program has led to the formation of the Indigenous enterprises and water planning topic, which is one of six broad topics identified for the Synthesis and Adoption Year.

The National Water Commission (NWC) funds the TRaCK Synthesis and Adoption Year until March, 2012.

The NAILSMA coordinated TRaCK projects will work closely with:

• Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge (TRaCK) consortium – through its Theme 6 research program and all other TRaCK programs;
  

• North Australian Water Futures Assessment (NAWFA) programs; and
  
  
• The Indigenous Water Policy Group (IWPG) and the Indigenous Community Water Facilitators Network (ICWFN).