Engaging with Traditional Owners

Engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people requires an understanding of the diversity of their beliefs, customs, traditions, social structures, cultural practices and histories. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have unique relationships to the land, sea and waterways. Their ownership and stewardship of Country needs to be acknowledged.

Australian law recognises that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have rights and interests in the land and sea under their traditional laws and customs - that they are Traditional Owners. Any engagement processes needs to be based on the principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) that recognise the critical decision making role of Traditional Owners.