Recently, UniSC and FIDO - The Watchdog of K'gari jointly hosted the K’gari Land and Sea Country: djaa-ngarawinj 2023 Conference. The event followed the third symposium hosted by UniSC and a series of biennial conferences hosted by FIDO. This was the first occasion for UniSC and FIDO to co-host the conference.
The K’gari Land and Sea Country: djaa – ngarawinj Conference 2023 was delivered with the support of the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation (BAC) and the Butchulla Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (BNTAC). The event was an opportunity for UniSC and partners to share research, identify key issues, opportunities, and collaborations. Past UniSC K’gari symposiums and FIDO conferences have focused on the Land. The aim of this conference was to also examine the issues relating to Sea Water.
The conference was designed to build on the outcomes of the K'gari Fraser Island Research Symposium 2021, and the existing partnerships, particularly with FIDO, BNTAC, the BAC, QPWS, the K’gari World Heritage Committee, Kingfisher Resort, and the Fraser Island Natural Integrity Alliance for K’gari (FINIA). It provided an opportunity for FIDO associates and UniSC academics to share their research, and for Traditional Owners to share their knowledge of K’gari and surrounding Sea Country.
The program was intended to be collaborative with an emphasis on knowledge sharing and learning by the participants. The aim was to work together to identify and map current initiatives and research opportunities. Outcomes included a shared understanding of the management of K’gari and the future needs in caring for Land and Sea Water.
Key conference aims:
- Map current research on K’gari and surrounding Sea Country
- Identify current management practices and key initiatives in caring for K’gari and surrounding Sea Water
- Generate key research questions, opportunities, and collaborations
- Share the work of UniSC researchers
- Share the work of FIDO and other K’gari stakeholders
- Promote engagement in the Fraser Coast community and,
- Promote engagement in three adjoining biospheres and World Heritage.
For more information contact: kwalker4@usc.edu.au
UniSC and FIDO acknowledge the generous support and conference sponsorship of the following organisations:
- Department of Environment and Science, Queensland
- Sealink's Kingfisher Bay Resort
- Fraser Coast Council
- Waddy Lodge, K'gari
- McCullough Robertson Lawyers
Conference program
Registration 9-9:30am, Reception area Building B, UniSC Fraser Coast
|
Day 1 |
Session | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 9- 9:30am | Registration | Reception area Building B |
| 9:30- 10am |
Welcome Chair: Kim Walker, UniSC, Zela Bissett, FIDO Welcome to Country: Aunty Veronica Bird, Butchulla Elder |
Lecture Theatre Building B |
| 10-10:40am |
Celebrating K’gari’s name return Chair: Adam Musial Aunty Chris Royan, BAC Director, Aunty Gayle Minniecon, BAC Director: K'gari's name return: What next for K'gari? |
Lecture Theatre Building B |
| 10:40-11am | Morning tea | Outside Building B |
| 11am-1pm |
K’gari’s Sea Country Chair: Sue Sargent Uncle Glen Miller, Butchulla Elder: Observations of changes in the Sandy Straits as a result of silt loads caused by flooding in the Mary River and the effects on mangroves, sea grass, shellfish, sea turtles, dugong and migrating sea birds Assoc Prof Andrew Olds, UniSC: K'gari's coastal seascapes: ecology, impacts and conservation Great Sandy Marine Park - threats / re-zoning Aunty Veronica Bird, BNTAC: Turtle Rehabilitation and Research Centre Project Sue Sargent: Discussion |
Lecture Theatre Building B |
| 1-2pm | Lunch | Executive suite |
| 2-3pm |
Chair: Sue Sargent Hannah Maloney, UniSC student: Project Manta has been collaborating with BNTAC and Australia Zoo to explore the waters of K'gari looking for potential important aggregation sites for manta rays Caitlin Smith, UniSC student: Sea turtle health assessments and ecotoxicology Lesley Bradley: Saving K’gari’s sea turtles Don Bradley: Threats to K’gari’s shore birds |
Lecture Theatre Building B |
| 3-3:30pm | Afternoon tea | Outside Building B |
| 3:30-4:30pm |
Chair: Sue Sargent Round tables: What are the issues? What actions are required? |
Registration 9-9:30am, Reception area Building B, UniSC Fraser Coast
| Day 2 | Session | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 9-10:30am |
Acknowledgement to Country Chair: Adam Musial Shania Clarke: Butchulla language program/national language program Jade Gould, UniSC: First Nation peoples' relationship with the Australian landscape Dr Annie Ross, University of Queensland: Challenging the nature/culture divide in management planning John Green, BAC: Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation Land and Sea Program Adam Musial: Discussion |
Lecture Theatre Building B |
| 10:30-10:45am | Morning tea | |
| 10:45am-1pm |
K’gari’s Land Country Chair: Dr Kim Walker Prof Jamie Shulmeister, Canterbury University: A long-term view of the environmental change on K’gari Peter Shooter, FIDO: Pandanus post fire recovery program Dr Linda Behrendorff, QPWS: The implications of visitor management on K’gari Dr Kim Walker: Discussion |
Lecture Theatre Building B |
| 1-1:45pm | Lunch | Executive suite |
| 1:45-3pm |
Round tables: Caring for K’gari. What are the issues? What actions need to be taken? Chairs: Jamie Shulmeister, Sue Sargent Where to next for K’gari? |
Working afternoon tea |
K'gari land, sea and water
