ReefTO Alliance
Standing together for Sea Country,
from Bundaberg to the Torres Strait
Founded at the ReefTO Summit · 29–30 September 2026 · Gladstone on the lands of the Bailai, Gurang, Gooreng Gooreng and Taribelang Bunda peoples.
What is the ReefTO Alliance?
The ReefTO Alliance is a Traditional Owner-owned and led organisation that brings Reef Traditional Owners together as one strong voice for Sea Country across the Great Barrier Reef.
It is grounded in Lore, kinship and connection to Sea Country, and independent from government — with its own funding base — so it can speak freely and act in the interests of Traditional Owners.
The Alliance strengthens what is already there. It does not replace the authority of PBCs, Traditional Owner corporations or existing groups — it stands behind them, with the strength of many. Every cultural group keeps speaking for their own Country.
The moment we've been working towards
This didn’t start with us.
For generations, Reef Traditional Owners have carried a vision — that we would one day stand together as one, from Bundaberg in the south to the Eastern Islands of the Torres Strait in the north. One voice for Sea Country, strong enough that it could no longer be spoken over, or spoken for.
Our people have cared for the Reef since time immemorial. We carry the knowledge, Lore and responsibility to look after our Sea Country, because the health of the Reef and the health of our people are deeply connected.
This September, at Gladstone, that vision becomes real: the founding of the ReefTO Alliance.
What will the ReefTO Alliance do?
The Alliance exists to turn collective strength into real change for Sea Country. Its work will include:
- Restoring and strengthening Traditional Owner authority over the Great Barrier Reef.
- Advocating for policy reform, investment and genuine co-governance in how the Reef is managed.
- Advance the care of Sea Country through the cultural knowledge, practices and authority of Reef Traditional Owners.
- Sharing knowledge between groups and building collective capability.
- Delivering on-ground programs that put Traditional Owner priorities into action.
- Investing in the next generation of Reef Traditional Owner leaders.
The ReefTO Alliance will continuously evolve and mature through the direction and leadership of Reef Traditional Owners.
How is it led?
The Alliance is owned and led by Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef. Its leadership is geographically balanced, drawn from across six regions, so every part of the Reef has a fair and equal voice. It is guided by an Elders Council, upholding culture and Lore, and a Youth Council, building the leaders of the future.
It is independent, with its own sustainable funding base — including a $30 million Futures Fund — so it can act for the long term, in the interests of Traditional Owners.
Traditional Owner groups across the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area are grouped into six regions, so that every part of the Reef — from Bundaberg to the Torres Strait — has a fair and balanced voice, rather than the largest or most resourced groups carrying the most influence.
Where did the idea come from?
Since the 1980s and even earlier, our Elders and community leaders have been coming together to talk about the importance of unity and collective power in advocating for Sea Country rights and management.
In 2018, the Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Aspirations Project delivered a report to support Traditional Owners in securing a more “joined-up” approach to governance and management across the Great Barrier Reef. Following extensive engagement, one of the recommendations was to establish a “GBR Traditional Owner Sea Country Alliance” as a stand-alone entity independent from government to provide more power in advocating for the strategic interests of Reef Traditional Owners in GBR management.
Establishing an Alliance carried over as action PC-5 in the Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Implementation Plan, and was selected by Reef Traditional Owners as one of the highest priorities for delivery at the Sea Country Forum in March 2025.
The Values that Guide Us
Honour: We honour the inherent rights, authority and sovereignty of Reef Traditional Owners over their Sea Country. Everything the Alliance does starts here.
Respect: We operate with deep respect for the diversity of cultures, Lore and protocols across the Reef, and for the knowledge that Elders and leaders carry.
Hope: We are building something that will outlast all of us. This Alliance is an act of hope — for future generations, for Sea Country, and for the rights of Traditional Owners that must be protected and strengthened over time.
The ReefTO Alliance Engagement Journey
The ReefTO Alliance will be founded at the ReefTO Summit in Gladstone on 29–30 September 2026, and will continue to grow and mature through the direction and leadership of Reef Traditional Owners in the years that follow.
“A future where we no longer fight for a seat at the table because we’ve built our own.”
Frequently Asked Questions
A Traditional Owner-owned and led organisation that brings Reef Traditional Owners together as one strong voice for Sea Country across the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. It will be founded at the ReefTO Summit in September 2026.
The Alliance is led by and for Reef Traditional Owners — the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with inherent rights and responsibilities to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, from Bundaberg to the Eastern Islands of the Torres Strait.
Membership is for Reef Traditional Owner organisations with the cultural authority to represent cultural groups with inherent Sea Country rights in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Organisations join as the Aliance’s first Members at the Summit in September 2026 — and the Alliance’s work benefits all Reef Traditional Owners, member or not.
No. The Alliance does not replace or override the authority of PBCs, Traditional Owner corporations or existing groups, and it does not affect native title. It strengthens what is already there, giving Traditional Owners one shared voice on the issues that affect Sea Country across the whole Reef. Every cultural group keeps speaking for their own Country.
No. The Alliance is independent from government, with its own funding base,
so it can speak freely and act in the interests of Traditional Owners.
Through its own sustainable funding base, including the revenue earned on a $30 million Futures Fund. It is a registered not-for-profit organisation with deductible gift recipient (DGR) status.
It is owned and led by Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef, with leadership drawn from across six regions so every part of the Reef has a fair and equal voice. It is guided by an Elders Council, upholding culture and Lore, and a Youth Council, building the next generation of leaders.
The Alliance will be formally founded at the ReefTO Summit in Gladstone on 29–30 September 2026, and will continue to grow under the leadership of Reef Traditional Owners in the years that follow.
The ReefTO Alliance is being built for and by Reef Traditional Owners right across the Great Barrier Reef, from Bundaberg to the Eastern Islands of the Torres Strait. If you’re a Reef Traditional Owner, this is for your mob.
The best place to start is a yarn with your PBC or Traditional Owner organisation, who can tell you how your group is taking part. You’re also welcome to get in touch with us any time at engage@reefto.au and we’ll point you in the right direction.