The future direction of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation is being shaped by the organisation's largest ever community engagement process.
The engagement took place over a 15-week period, from May to August 2022, and saw the Corporation listen to more than 400 people.
Over the course of 1,200 hours of consultation, the Corporation gained insights to inform its National Indigenous Land and Sea Strategy, the ILSC's primary policy document, and to refresh the organisation's relationship with Indigenous people.
The Strategy (NILSS) will set the course for the next five years.
Now the ILSC seeks to continue the process with the release of the report of the community consultation and an invitation to make comment on the emerging direction of the NILSS.
The report and Strategy outline for comment share key themes identified from the community consultation, covering aspirations related to returning Country, managing Country and sector leadership, and the desired role of the ILSC.
ILSC Group chief executive Joe Morrison said the themes form part of the ambitions of the Indigenous communities across the country, demonstrating the growing voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
"We wanted Indigenous people right across Australia to have their say in shaping the future of the ILSC – an organisation which strives to serve all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through the return of Country," he said.
"We have heard you loud and clear – and that's why the community consultation report released today lays bare to some pretty frank feedback from our community. We're not highlighting just the positives.
"Some of you said that you want the ILSC to step back and let Indigenous people lead the way. Others want the ILSC to play a greater role in advocating to industry and government, and influence policy by amplifying our united voice.
"What you told us – about your aspirations and priorities – will shape the future of the ILSC."
ILSC Group chair Ian Hamm said community-centred engagement is now "firmly embedded within the fabric" of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation.
"In 2022, the ILSC's Board underwent significant renewal and one of our fundamental priorities was to make sure the ILSC is delivering for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples that it serves," said Mr Hamm.
"We then completed the organisation's largest ever community engagement process to ensure strengthened alignment between the ILSC and the Indigenous community.
"This is stage one. The community consultation report offers insights into what we heard – and now the NILSS will be informed by the voices of our community, directly influencing the ILSC's strategic direction."
Community members will have a further chance to have their say on the Strategy as a three-week consultation period has begun.
The full community consultation report and the strategy outline for comment can be accessed via this website.
The Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation is a corporate Commonwealth entity established under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005.
Its "long-term vision" for meeting the Act's mandate is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to enjoy the rightful entitlements, opportunities and benefits that the return of country and its management brings.
The ILSC's primary grant program – Our Country Our Future – provides assistance for acquiring and managing rights and interests in land, salt water and fresh water country "in order to achieve this vision".
Last month the ILSC announced grants to assist Aboriginal corporations impacted by floods.
The National Indigenous Land and Sea Strategy is the ILSC's primary policy document; defining the strategic direction, operations, and performance of the ILSC.
The community engagement to inform the NILSS included 44 in-person sessions across Australia, two virtual sessions and six invite-only, sector-specific roundtable discussions.
An online survey was also conducted, and additionally the ILSC accepted written submissions and confidential phone calls.
The NILSS will be released in mid-2023, after which the ILSC will conduct further community engagement to inform its Regional Indigenous Land and Sea Strategies (RILSS).
The RILSS will be region-specific and focused on issues and opportunities for the three regions – east, west, and central, and will be released before the end of 2023.
