The project is funded by the Australian Government ($1.02 million). The project is managed by the National Water Grid Fund Science Program, with funding provided through the National Water Grid commitment for First Nations capability-building.
This project will develop groundwater training resources. Credit: SA Government
Project overview
Communicating groundwater decisions is difficult when communities or stakeholders do not have a good understanding of the concepts and processes. Groundwater flows, unlike surface water, are hidden making it harder to explain how the system and processes work. This project proposes to increase groundwater knowledge and understanding for Indigenous Australians, communities and groundwater practitioners.
The project aims to develop a suite of groundwater training resources that incorporates Indigenous Australian and western groundwater knowledge for community and groundwater professionals. Knowledge sharing is key to increase the breadth of topics and understanding for greater representation of cultural and environmental values of water. Through increased groundwater knowledge both of groundwater practitioners, Indigenous Australians and within communities, outcomes should support decision-making processes and better outcomes for affected communities and for the environment.
The focus will be on rural and regional Australia where groundwater management decisions can directly impact on water resources in remote and regional Indigenous Australian communities. The content will also describe the resources of key Australian Basins and South Australian regions, including the Great Artesian Basin, Murray Basin, Eyre Peninsula, Barossa Valley, Riverland, and the Limestone Coast.
An outcome of the project will include scholarships to Indigenous Australian students, for university study in groundwater, being re-established by the South Australian Department of Environment and Water and the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training. This will provide future pathways for Indigenous Australians to seek out education/career opportunities in groundwater. It will also provide broader foundational knowledge to assist First Nations communities manage their own groundwater resources, prior to future infrastructure proposals being received.
The South Australian Department of Environment and Water is also contributing $330,000 through in-kind contributions*.
* In-kind contributions are contributions of goods and services and do not contribute to the total project cost.
This project supports the Australian Government’s commitment to Close the Gap on water security in First Nations communities.