Water Research Australia seeks to include the voices of indigenous Australians in our organisation and in our research as we strive to achieve our vision of healthy communities and a healthy planet. We have much to learn from the oldest culture on earth who have managed our land and waterways sustainably for at least 60,000 years.
As part of our Reconciliation journey we encourage all members of our BIG Team to read and understand the Uluru Statement from the Heart. It was developed through an extensive consultation process and calls for “a fair and truthful relationship with the people of Australia and a better future for our children based on justice and self-determination”.
We encourage everyone to focus on the Voice referendum question, seek out the information they need to make an informed decision, and to understand how it aims to enable the voices of our First Nations peoples to be heard especially on laws and policies that directly affect them.
We acknowledge and respect that there could be differing views across our stakeholders, members and individuals in these organisations, and support that we must all make our own decisions independently as is our democratic right and responsibility.
WaterRA will continue to pursue reconciliation and seek to walk with our First Nations peoples for better management of country and water towards a better future and a better Australia.