There are over 70 Traditional Owner groups along the Queensland coastline whose traditional estates extend over the Great Barrier Reef and many more groups whose customary estates form part of the Reef’s Catchment.

Traditional Owner connections with the Great Barrier Reef extend over many thousands of years. It is a rich cultural land and sea-scape and Traditional Owners continue to be actively involved in the management of their Country.

The Reef was declared a Marine Park in 1975 and a World Heritage Area in 1981. Since this time, Traditional Owners have been seeking greater recognition of their rights, responsibilities and interests as the traditional custodians of the Great Barrier Reef. And from the 1990’s Traditional Owners have been coming together to seek more cohesive approaches to securing their aspirations for a ‘Healthy Reef and Healthy People’.

Caring for the Great Barrier Reef

A timeline of significant events highlighting the proud history of Traditional Owner work and achievements 

PRE-COLONISATION

Caring for country undertaken by individuals and clan groups with responsibility for their land and sea estates, under the guidance of elders and other knowledge- holders. These cultural rights and practices continue to underpin contemporary land and sea management.

COLONISATION

1788

European Colonisation beings

1824

1st European fishery in Moreton Bay

1825

Queensland settlement begins

1897

The Aboriginal Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act

1850's

Commercial net fishing begins in Moren Bay

1859

Queensland colony created

1901

Majority of Aboriginal people had been removed onto reserves.

1939

Aboriginals Preservation and Protection Act 1939

1969

Aborigines' and Torres Strait Islanders' Affairs Act 1965

1970 – 1979

1971

Aborigines Act and Torres Strait Islanders Act

1972

UN World Heritage Convention (WHC) Adopted

1974

Australian Government signs the UN World Heritage Convention

1975

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975

1975

Federal Racial Discrimination Act 1975

1977

Torres Strait Treaty

1976

Fisheries Act
1976 (QLD)

1977

Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP)

1978

Indigenous Interests recognised in GBRMPA Cairns Section Zoning plan

1979

Caring for Country movement begins

1979

The Emerald Agreement

1980 – 1989

1983

Palm Island Ranger Service established

1981

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park inscribed on World Heritage List

1984

First Aboriginal Land Council formed - Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
1990 - Cape York Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
1994 - North Queensland Land Council
1994 - Torres Strait Regional Authority
2005 - Queensland South Native Title Services Ltd

1984

Aboriginal and Torres Strat Islander Heritage Protection Act

1987

The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Death in Custody (1987 - 91)

1984

Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984

1985

GBRMPA Traditional Knowledge and the Marine Environment Workshop

1988

First Aboriginal person appointed to the GBRMPA Great Barrier Reef Consultative Committee

1988

GBRMPA Policies on sustainable take of green turtles and dugongs by Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander people developed

1988

Commonwealth Employment Program in Natural and Cultural Resource Management (CEPANCRM), and Aboriginal Rural Resource Initiative (ARRI)
Funding outcome from RCIADIC encouraging reconnection with country and resources

1989

Northern Aboriginal Fisheries Conference

1990 – 1999

1991

Ecological Sustainable Development Working Group Fisheries Report

1991

Council of Aboriginal Reconciliation established

1991

Aboriginal Land Act 1991 (QLD) and the Torres Strait Islander Land Act 1991 (QLD)

1992

Mabo v Queensland High Court of Australia Decision

1992

Turning the Tide: Conference on Indigenous Peoples and Sea Rights

1992

UN Convention on Biological Diversity
Signed by Australia, ratified in the EPBC Act 1992

1993

Native Title Act (C1th)

1993

Cape York Land acquisition program established

1993

Julayinbul Statement on Indigenous Intellectual Property Rights

1993

Resource Assessment Commission Coastal Zone Inquiry: Final Report

1994

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Coastal Reference Group established

1994

Torres Strait Regional Authority established

1994

GBR 25 Year Strategic Plan

1995

Indigenous Land Corporation (now the Indigenous Land & Sea Corporation)

1995

Indigenous Policy and Liaison Unit (IPLU) GBRMPA established

1994

GBR Marine Park Act 1975 amended to include Aboriginal representation

1996

First Indigenous GBRMPA Board Member appointed

1997

Sea Forum convened focusing on use and management of dugongs

1997

Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) program established

1997

GBR Ministerial Council directive: Co-management arrangements for dugong be developed with Indigenous Peoples.

1998

Marine Strategy for Torres Strait released

1998

Review of Aboriginal Involvement in the Management on the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area

1998

Yanner Native Title High Court Decision

1998

Australia's Oceans Policy

1998

Mer Islanders claim traditional fishing rights under the Torres Strait Treaty.

1998

Sea Forum II: T.O. Governance rights and responsibilities into GBR planning and management

1999

Native Title Indigenous Land Use Agreements Regulations 1999 (Cth)

1999

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

2000

Croker Island High Court Decision

2000

Hopevale Aboriginal Council launches Turtle and Dugong Hunting Management Plan

2000

EPBC Act Indigenous Advisory Committee formed

2000 – 2019

2000

Four GBRMPA Reef Advisory Committees established with Indigenous representation.

Conservation, Biodiversity World Heritage RAC, Fisheries RAC, Tourism and Recreation RAC, Water Quality and Coastal Development RAC

2000

UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)

2003

Recovery Plan for Marine Turtles in Australia

2001

Traditional Owner groups worked with GBRMPA for traditional reef names

2002

North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) established

2003

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan

2003

National Indigenous Fishing Conference, Perth

2003

National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey

2004

Budj Bim Cultural Landscape 1st culturally important place included on the National Heritage List.

6 July 2019 - Budj Bim Cultural Landscape became the first site in Australia to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List purely for its Aboriginal cultural importance.

2004

Puchiwu Fishing Cooperative at Lockhart River

2004

Marine Parks Act 2004 (QLD)

2004

GBRMPA Representative Areas Program

2004

Managing Sea Country Together Report

2004

Marine And Coastal Committee Taskforce on Marine Turtle and Dugong populations

2005

1st GBRMP Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement (Girringun)

2008 - Girringun TUMRA (2nd agreement) 2008 - Wuthathi TUMRA
2009 - Kuuku Ya’u People’s Marine Park ILUA
2011 - Girringun TUMRA (3rd Agreement)
2011 - Port Curtis Coral Coast TUMRA
2013 - Lama Lama TUMRA
2013 - Yuku Baja Muliku TUMRA
2014 - Yirrganydji TUMRA
2014 – Woppaburra TUMRA
2016 – Gunggandji TUMRA
2018 - Mundaburra TUMRA
2021 - Darumbal TUMRA

2005

The Wet Tropics Regional Agreement (2005)

2005

National Indigenous Land and Sea Country Workshop

2005

Torres Strait Island and Sea Management Strategy

2006

Wild River Rangers (renamed Qld Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers)

2007

Working on Country Program

2007

UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) endorsed by Australian government

2008

NAILSMA Dugong and Marine Turtle Program (2005-2008)

2008

Thuwathu / Bujimulla Sea Country Plan

2008

GBRMPA Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships Program

2010

Torres Strait Regional Sea Claim Native Title

2011

Cape York Turtle and Dugong Taskforce established

2010

Saltwater People Network Planning Forum 2010

2011

T.O. Sea Country Turtle and Dugong Workshop, Cairns

2012

National Indigenous Sea Country Workshop

2012

First GBR Saltwater Women’s Gathering

2012

Statement of Outstanding Universal Value for the GBR amended to include Indigenous cultural values

2012 Reactive Monitoring Mission Report,
2012 Decision 36 - request strategic assessment, long- term plan, targets and review of ports with view to list ‘in danger’
2015 Not listed in danger - Reef
2050 Plan and Investment Framework
2021 Decision 44 - impacts of climate change - adopt Paris Agreement, invite Reactive Monitoring Mission
2022 Reactive Monitoring Mission visit GBR

2013

Recovery Plan for Marine Turtles in Australia 2017- 2020

2013

QLD T.O. Sea Country Turtle and Dugong Workshop

2013

First World Indigenous Network Conference - Darwin

2013

Reef Rescue Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships Sponsorship Program

2014

Indigenous Sea Country Policy Group - Sea Country Management Policy Framework

2014

Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan Indigenous Targets developed
2015 Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan released

2015

FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication

2016

Reef 2050 Indigenous Implementation Plan

2016

The Land and Sea Management Strategy for Torres Strait (2016-2036)

2016

Indigenous Heritage Expert Group (IHEG) GBRMPA established

2017

Queensland’s Sustainable Fishing Strategy

2016

Girringun Sea Country Forum (Mission Beach)

2017

Daintree Handover Traditional Owners Negotiation Committee

2017

Qld Senior Rangers Workshop 2017, Yirrganydji country

2018

GBRF Traditional Owner Advisory Group established
GBR Traditional Owners Program Logic, Reef 2050 GBR T.O. Workshop Reef wide Forum

2018

T.O. Aspirations Project Report
The Next Generation of Reef 2050 Actions

2019

Strong Peoples Strong Country Framework

2019

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Strategy finalised by GBRMPA and Traditional Owners

2019

GBR Regulations 2019 Part 4 TUMRAs

2019

Reef Trust Partnership T.O. Workshop

2019

Human Rights Act 2019 QLD Cultural rights Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples

2020 – CURRENT

2021

Handback of 4 National Parks to Eastern Kuku Yalanji people for joint management

2020

Australian Institute for Marine Studies Indigenous Partnerships Plan

2021

Expansion of Sea Country Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) Program

2021

National First People’s Gathering on Climate Change (Gathering)

2021

GBRF Healing Country Statement

2022

Healthy Water Forum

2022

Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Implementation Plan and ReefTO website and other communication products launched

2024

ReefTO Taskforce established

2025

Sea Country Forum held in Gimuy (Cairns)

Resources

Sea Country Forum
SeaCountryForumProgram
Over 160 Traditional Owners from more than 50 clans with inherent Sea Country rights to the Great Barrier Reef came together for our first Sea Country Forum, held in Gimuy (Cairns).
Terms of Reference
This Taskforce Terms of Reference, together with the Taskforce Governance Charter and Host Corporate Services Plan, provide the framework for the Taskforce’s establishment and operation. It should be read alongside the Reef TO Plan and its supporting documents.
Governance Charter
This provides the framework for the Taskforce’s establishment and operation. It provides important context for the Taskforce’s operation, outlining its purpose, priorities, structure, membership, roles and responsibilities. It also outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Host Organisation and ongoing role of Traditional Owner Steering Group members.
Agreement to Partner
The Agreement to Partner with the Commonwealth and the Queensland governments is a significant milestone in our journey for recognition of our rights and interests in the Great Barrier Reef as articulated in the Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Implementation Plan.
Media Release
Read our media release about the Agreement to Partner with the Commonwealth and the Queensland governments.
Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Implementation Plan

Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Steering Group

The Plan builds on a strong history of Traditional Owners articulating their priorities for the Reef and provides an operational platform to strategically coordinate and advance the delivery of actions to achieve our aspirations. To get on with the job of doing. Of working together to help our Reef and People get healthy again.
Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Implementation Plan

Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Steering Group

The Plan builds on a strong history of Traditional Owners articulating their priorities for the Reef and provides an operational platform to strategically coordinate and advance the delivery of actions to achieve our aspirations. To get on with the job of doing. Of working together to help our Reef and People get healthy again.
Reef Trust Partnership - Summary Workshop Report

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners

The purpose of the workshop was to seek Traditional Owner input on activities to be delivered under the Reef Trust Partnership.

The workshop was structured around activities designed to inform:

    • The development of the Partnership’s first annual work plan (2019-2020) and five-year forward plan (2019-2024), and
    • A concept for a Reef-wide co-design framework to guide program delivery.
Strong Peoples Strong Country

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

This report presents the key elements of the Indigenous heritage monitoring framework for the Great Barrier Reef: Strong peoples – Strong country. This summary has been extracted from the Indigenous Heritage Expert Group report, which outlines a proposed design for monitoring of the Indigenous heritage theme under the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program.
The full report is, Monitoring Indigenous Heritage within the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program: Final report of the Indigenous Heritage Expert Group.
Traditional Owner Communique on Targets and Indicators

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners

This Communique is to keep you informed of the progress on the review of specific targets and indicators for Traditional Owners in the updated Reef 2050 Plan.
The work undertaken at the Traditional Owner’s Workshop in Townsville recently aligned the work and outcomes with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other international obligations including and national and state legislation.
Reef Trust Partnership - Summary Workshop Report

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners

The purpose of the workshop was to seek Traditional Owner input on activities to be delivered under the Reef Trust Partnership.
The workshop was structured around activities designed to inform:
• The development of the Partnership’s first annual work plan (2019-2020) and five-year forward plan (2019-2024), and
• A concept for a Reef-wide co-design framework to guide program delivery.

Strong Peoples Strong Country

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

This report presents the key elements of the Indigenous heritage monitoring framework for the Great Barrier Reef: Strong peoples – Strong country. This summary has been extracted from the Indigenous Heritage Expert Group report, which outlines a proposed design for monitoring of the Indigenous heritage theme under the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program.
The full report is, Monitoring Indigenous Heritage within the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program: Final report of the Indigenous Heritage Expert Group.

Traditional Owner Communique on Targets and Indicators

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners

This Communique is to keep you informed of the progress on the review of specific targets and indicators for Traditional Owners in the updated Reef 2050 Plan.
The work undertaken at the Traditional Owner’s Workshop in Townsville recently aligned the work and outcomes with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other international obligations including and national and state legislation.
Reef Trust Partnership - Summary Workshop Report

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners

The purpose of the workshop was to seek Traditional Owner input on activities to be delivered under the Reef Trust Partnership.
The workshop was structured around activities designed to inform:
• The development of the Partnership’s first annual work plan (2019-2020) and five-year forward plan (2019-2024), and
• A concept for a Reef-wide co-design framework to guide program delivery.
Strong Peoples Strong Country

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

This report presents the key elements of the Indigenous heritage monitoring framework for the Great Barrier Reef: Strong peoples – Strong country. This summary has been extracted from the Indigenous Heritage Expert Group report, which outlines a proposed design for monitoring of the Indigenous heritage theme under the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program.
The full report is, Monitoring Indigenous Heritage within the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program: Final report of the Indigenous Heritage Expert Group.
Traditional Owner Communique on Targets and Indicators

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners

This Communique is to keep you informed of the progress on the review of specific targets and indicators for Traditional Owners in the updated Reef 2050 Plan.
The work undertaken at the Traditional Owner’s Workshop in Townsville recently aligned the work and outcomes with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other international obligations including and national and state legislation.
Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef: The Next Generation of Reef 2050 Actions

The Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Aspirations Project

This report is intended to support Traditional Owners to celebrate and document their achievements in securing a more “joined-up” approach to governance and management across the GBR. Based on the extensive engagement undertaken, it seeks to distil their core aspirations and plans regarding the governance and management of Sea Country.

It then explores what the Reef 2050 Plan committed to, reviews its implementation to date, and documents Traditional Owners’ discussions and statements about the best way forward.
Traditional Owner Theory of Change for the Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners

This Theory of Change is designed to support Traditional Owner work as part of the Reef 2050 Framework and the subsequent review of the Plan in 2020. It aims to do this by providing clarity for implementation and by capturing critical thinking around the outcomes that Traditional Owners want to see in the Reef. This Theory of Change builds on a strong history of Traditional Owners articulating their priorities for the GBR including the Sea Forum work (2004 and 2010), Sea Country Management Policy Framework (2014), National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Project 3.9 Indigenous capacity building and increased participation in sea country management (2016); Reef 2050 Indigenous Implementation Plan (2016) and more recent work under the Reef 2050 umbrella including the Traditional Owner Aspirations Project (2018) and RIMREP Strong Peoples Strong Country Framework (2018). A recent look at the themes emphasised in Traditional Owner planning is captured in Table 1. This workshop was part of a wider move towards co- design and an attempt to bring past work around Traditional Owner priorities to fruition.
Monitoring Indigenous Heritage within the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program

Indigenous Heritage Expert Group

The Indigenous Heritage Expert Group (IHEG) was created to advise on the design of the Indigenous heritage theme of the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program (RIMReP) in a context where it has been recognised that the most striking gap in socio- economic monitoring was the absence of monitoring pertaining to Traditional Owner (TO) use, dependency and wellbeing. The IHEG reviewed a series of Traditional Owner-driven monitoring frameworks implemented throughout Australia. The review is summarised in this report.
Reef 2050 Mid-Term Review

The Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Project

Our initial analysis into the Reef 2050 Mid Term Review (MTR) (March 2018) advised that no Traditional Owner driven Actions were identified as able to be consolidated; easily simplified; or reworded without broad scale consultation with GBR Traditional Owners. It was also recognised that the current actions, while not comprehensive or highly implementable, do target key interests of Traditional Owners.
In response to the Consortium’s initial advice of March 2018, the Reef 2050 Joint Team advised that four Traditional Owner Actions will be marked as completed, with a further two Actions identified to be assigned as Principles.
Reef 2050 Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owner Workshop Reef-wide Forum

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners

The Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Aspirations project is led by Traditional Owners to better understand and reflect aspirations for the protection and management of the Great Barrier Reef and provide this input to improve the Reef 2050 Plan.
Reef Trust Partnership Investment Strategy

Great Barrier Reef Foundation

The purpose of this document is to outline a high- level roadmap for the Partnership to deliver on each of the priority Components included in the Grant Agreement. The Investment Strategy includes core pillars around which all Components will revolve; key challenges and opportunities; and major themes to inform the next layer of work.
Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef: The Next Generation of Reef 2050 Actions

The Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Aspirations Project

This report is intended to support Traditional Owners to celebrate and document their achievements in securing a more “joined-up” approach to governance and management across the GBR. Based on the extensive engagement undertaken, it seeks to distil their core aspirations and plans regarding the governance and management of Sea Country.
It then explores what the Reef 2050 Plan committed to, reviews its implementation to date, and documents Traditional Owners’ discussions and statements about the best way forward.

Traditional Owner Theory of Change for the Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners

This Theory of Change is designed to support Traditional Owner work as part of the Reef 2050 Framework and the subsequent review of the Plan in 2020. It aims to do this by providing clarity for implementation and by capturing critical thinking around the outcomes that Traditional Owners want to see in the Reef. This Theory of Change builds on a strong history of Traditional Owners articulating their priorities for the GBR including the Sea Forum work (2004 and 2010), Sea Country Management Policy Framework (2014), National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Project 3.9 Indigenous capacity building and increased participation in sea country management (2016); Reef 2050 Indigenous Implementation Plan (2016) and more recent work under the Reef 2050 umbrella including the Traditional Owner Aspirations Project (2018) and RIMREP Strong Peoples Strong Country Framework (2018). A recent look at the themes emphasised in Traditional Owner planning is captured in Table 1. This workshop was part of a wider move towards co- design and an attempt to bring past work around Traditional Owner priorities to fruition.

Monitoring Indigenous Heritage within the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program

Indigenous Heritage Expert Group

The Indigenous Heritage Expert Group (IHEG) was created to advise on the design of the Indigenous heritage theme of the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program (RIMReP) in a context where it has been recognised that the most striking gap in socio- economic monitoring was the absence of monitoring pertaining to Traditional Owner (TO) use, dependency and wellbeing. The IHEG reviewed a series of Traditional Owner-driven monitoring frameworks implemented throughout Australia. The review is summarised in this report.

Reef 2050 Mid-Term Review

The Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Project

Our initial analysis into the Reef 2050 Mid Term Review (MTR) (March 2018) advised that no Traditional Owner driven Actions were identified as able to be consolidated; easily simplified; or reworded without broad scale consultation with GBR Traditional Owners. It was also recognised that the current actions, while not comprehensive or highly implementable, do target key interests of Traditional Owners.
In response to the Consortium’s initial advice of March 2018, the Reef 2050 Joint Team advised that four Traditional Owner Actions will be marked as completed, with a further two Actions identified to be assigned as Principles.

Reef 2050 Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owner Workshop Reef-wide Forum

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners

The Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Aspirations project is led by Traditional Owners to better understand and reflect aspirations for the protection and management of the Great Barrier Reef and provide this input to improve the Reef 2050 Plan.

Reef Trust Partnership Investment Strategy

Great Barrier Reef Foundation

The purpose of this document is to outline a high- level roadmap for the Partnership to deliver on each of the priority Components included in the Grant Agreement. The Investment Strategy includes core pillars around which all Components will revolve; key challenges and opportunities; and major themes to inform the next layer of work.
Reef Blueprint - Great Barrier Reef Blueprint for Resilience

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

This blueprint signals a change in the future management of the Great Barrier Reef.
Like all reefs globally, accumulated pressures, in particular those related to climate change, are impacting the Reef’s resilience and we are witnessing dramatic system-wide declines in its condition.
These changes, combined with future climate projections, compel us to refocus our management efforts and adopt new approaches to secure the future of this irreplaceable icon.
Traditional Owner Theory of Change for the Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners

This Theory of Change is designed to support Traditional Owner work as part of the Reef 2050 Framework and the subsequent review of the Plan in 2020. It aims to do this by providing clarity for implementation and by capturing critical thinking around the outcomes that Traditional Owners want to see in the Reef. This Theory of Change builds on a strong history of Traditional Owners articulating their priorities for the GBR including the Sea Forum work (2004 and 2010), Sea Country Management Policy Framework (2014), National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Project 3.9 Indigenous capacity building and increased participation in sea country management (2016); Reef 2050 Indigenous Implementation Plan (2016) and more recent work under the Reef 2050 umbrella including the Traditional Owner Aspirations Project (2018) and RIMREP Strong Peoples Strong Country Framework (2018). A recent look at the themes emphasised in Traditional Owner planning is captured in Table 1. This workshop was part of a wider move towards co- design and an attempt to bring past work around Traditional Owner priorities to fruition.
Monitoring Indigenous Heritage within the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program

Indigenous Heritage Expert Group

The Indigenous Heritage Expert Group (IHEG) was created to advise on the design of the Indigenous heritage theme of the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program (RIMReP) in a context where it has been recognised that the most striking gap in socio- economic monitoring was the absence of monitoring pertaining to Traditional Owner (TO) use, dependency and wellbeing. The IHEG reviewed a series of Traditional Owner-driven monitoring frameworks implemented throughout Australia. The review is summarised in this report.
Reef Blueprint - Great Barrier Reef Blueprint for Resilience

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

This blueprint signals a change in the future management of the Great Barrier Reef.
Like all reefs globally, accumulated pressures, in particular those related to climate change, are impacting the Reef’s resilience and we are witnessing dramatic system-wide declines in its condition.
These changes, combined with future climate projections, compel us to refocus our management efforts and adopt new approaches to secure the future of this irreplaceable icon.
Traditional Owners and Sea Country in the Southern Great Barrier Reef – Which Way Forward?

Allan Dale, Melissa George, Rosemary Hill and Duane Fraser

This project aims to detail a coordinated Indigenous framework and show how indigenous participation in sea country management can be increased to address these gaps. The project has facilitated consultations with Traditional Owners and their key partners to analyse, further develop and support the parallel development and subsequent implementation of a sector specific (Indigenous) implementation plan under Reef 2050 (Department of the Environment, 2015). An earlier draft of this paper was used to stimulate a conversation among Traditional Owners about the key issues and needs that should inform such an implementation plan.
Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan - Indigenous Implementation Plan
The Reef 2050 Plan sets out the way in which the Australian and Queensland governments will manage, protect and improve the condition of the Great Barrier Reeffor current and future generations. A collaborative effort with Traditional Owners, local government, industry and the community is crucial for the Plan's successful delivery and to ensure that the best available knowledge and expertise underpins decision making. This is part of a long term processto make improvements to the health of the Reef and will be a very challenging and difficult task.
Traditional Owners and Sea Country in the Southern Great Barrier Reef – Which Way Forward?

Allan Dale, Melissa George, Rosemary Hill and Duane Fraser

This project aims to detail a coordinated Indigenous framework and show how indigenous participation in sea country management can be increased to address these gaps. The project has facilitated consultations with Traditional Owners and their key partners to analyse, further develop and support the parallel development and subsequent implementation of a sector specific (Indigenous) implementation plan under Reef 2050 (Department of the Environment, 2015). An earlier draft of this paper was used to stimulate a conversation among Traditional Owners about the key issues and needs that should inform such an implementation plan.

Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan - Indigenous Implementation Plan
The Reef 2050 Plan sets out the way in which the Australian and Queensland governments will manage, protect and improve the condition of the Great Barrier Reeffor current and future generations. A collaborative effort with Traditional Owners, local government, industry and the community is crucial for the Plan's successful delivery and to ensure that the best available knowledge and expertise underpins decision making. This is part of a long term processto make improvements to the health of the Reef and will be a very challenging and difficult task.
Long Term Sustainability Plan Indigenous Targets Project Report

Indigenous Sea Country Police Group and the Cape York Turtle and Dugong Taskforce Steering Committee

This report captures the key outcomes of the project established to develop LTSP Indigenous targets. The project capitalised on the work done by TOs, over a significant time period, in sea country planning and management. As such, the project has a responsibility to those people to ensure that they are informed about the way in which the product of the effort has been utilised. Furthermore, the should also have easy access to that information, provided in a format that is unambiguous in its documentation of the project, the processes and approaches used in its management, and the deliverables produced. This is the primary purpose of this report.
Long Term Sustainability Plan Indigenous Targets Project Report

Indigenous Sea Country Police Group and the Cape York Turtle and Dugong Taskforce Steering Committee

This report captures the key outcomes of the project established to develop LTSP Indigenous targets. The project capitalised on the work done by TOs, over a significant time period, in sea country planning and management. As such, the project has a responsibility to those people to ensure that they are informed about the way in which the product of the effort has been utilised. Furthermore, the should also have easy access to that information, provided in a format that is unambiguous in its documentation of the project, the processes and approaches used in its management, and the deliverables produced. This is the primary purpose of this report.
Sea Country Forum
SeaCountryForumProgram
Over 160 Traditional Owners from more than 50 clans with inherent Sea Country rights to the Great Barrier Reef came together for our first Sea Country Forum, held in Gimuy (Cairns).
Terms of Reference
This Taskforce Terms of Reference, together with the Taskforce Governance Charter and Host Corporate Services Plan, provide the framework for the Taskforce’s establishment and operation. It should be read alongside the Reef TO Plan and its supporting documents.
Governance Charter
This provides the framework for the Taskforce’s establishment and operation. It provides important context for the Taskforce’s operation, outlining its purpose, priorities, structure, membership, roles and responsibilities. It also outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Host Organisation and ongoing role of Traditional Owner Steering Group members.
Agreement to Partner
The Agreement to Partner with the Commonwealth and the Queensland governments is a significant milestone in our journey for recognition of our rights and interests in the Great Barrier Reef as articulated in the Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Implementation Plan.
Media Release
Read our media release about the Agreement to Partner with the Commonwealth and the Queensland governments.
Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Implementation Plan

Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Steering Group

The Plan builds on a strong history of Traditional Owners articulating their priorities for the Reef and provides an operational platform to strategically coordinate and advance the delivery of actions to achieve our aspirations. To get on with the job of doing. Of working together to help our Reef and People get healthy again.
Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Implementation Plan

Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Steering Group

The Plan builds on a strong history of Traditional Owners articulating their priorities for the Reef and provides an operational platform to strategically coordinate and advance the delivery of actions to achieve our aspirations. To get on with the job of doing. Of working together to help our Reef and People get healthy again.
Reef Trust Partnership - Summary Workshop Report

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners

The purpose of the workshop was to seek Traditional Owner input on activities to be delivered under the Reef Trust Partnership.

The workshop was structured around activities designed to inform:

    • The development of the Partnership’s first annual work plan (2019-2020) and five-year forward plan (2019-2024), and
    • A concept for a Reef-wide co-design framework to guide program delivery.
Strong Peoples Strong Country

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

This report presents the key elements of the Indigenous heritage monitoring framework for the Great Barrier Reef: Strong peoples – Strong country. This summary has been extracted from the Indigenous Heritage Expert Group report, which outlines a proposed design for monitoring of the Indigenous heritage theme under the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program.
The full report is, Monitoring Indigenous Heritage within the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program: Final report of the Indigenous Heritage Expert Group.
Traditional Owner Communique on Targets and Indicators

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners

This Communique is to keep you informed of the progress on the review of specific targets and indicators for Traditional Owners in the updated Reef 2050 Plan.
The work undertaken at the Traditional Owner’s Workshop in Townsville recently aligned the work and outcomes with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other international obligations including and national and state legislation.
Reef Trust Partnership - Summary Workshop Report

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners

The purpose of the workshop was to seek Traditional Owner input on activities to be delivered under the Reef Trust Partnership.
The workshop was structured around activities designed to inform:
• The development of the Partnership’s first annual work plan (2019-2020) and five-year forward plan (2019-2024), and
• A concept for a Reef-wide co-design framework to guide program delivery.

Strong Peoples Strong Country

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

This report presents the key elements of the Indigenous heritage monitoring framework for the Great Barrier Reef: Strong peoples – Strong country. This summary has been extracted from the Indigenous Heritage Expert Group report, which outlines a proposed design for monitoring of the Indigenous heritage theme under the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program.
The full report is, Monitoring Indigenous Heritage within the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program: Final report of the Indigenous Heritage Expert Group.

Traditional Owner Communique on Targets and Indicators

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners

This Communique is to keep you informed of the progress on the review of specific targets and indicators for Traditional Owners in the updated Reef 2050 Plan.
The work undertaken at the Traditional Owner’s Workshop in Townsville recently aligned the work and outcomes with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other international obligations including and national and state legislation.
Reef Trust Partnership - Summary Workshop Report

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners

The purpose of the workshop was to seek Traditional Owner input on activities to be delivered under the Reef Trust Partnership.
The workshop was structured around activities designed to inform:
• The development of the Partnership’s first annual work plan (2019-2020) and five-year forward plan (2019-2024), and
• A concept for a Reef-wide co-design framework to guide program delivery.
Strong Peoples Strong Country

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

This report presents the key elements of the Indigenous heritage monitoring framework for the Great Barrier Reef: Strong peoples – Strong country. This summary has been extracted from the Indigenous Heritage Expert Group report, which outlines a proposed design for monitoring of the Indigenous heritage theme under the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program.
The full report is, Monitoring Indigenous Heritage within the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program: Final report of the Indigenous Heritage Expert Group.
Traditional Owner Communique on Targets and Indicators

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners

This Communique is to keep you informed of the progress on the review of specific targets and indicators for Traditional Owners in the updated Reef 2050 Plan.
The work undertaken at the Traditional Owner’s Workshop in Townsville recently aligned the work and outcomes with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other international obligations including and national and state legislation.
Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef: The Next Generation of Reef 2050 Actions

The Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Aspirations Project

This report is intended to support Traditional Owners to celebrate and document their achievements in securing a more “joined-up” approach to governance and management across the GBR. Based on the extensive engagement undertaken, it seeks to distil their core aspirations and plans regarding the governance and management of Sea Country.

It then explores what the Reef 2050 Plan committed to, reviews its implementation to date, and documents Traditional Owners’ discussions and statements about the best way forward.
Traditional Owner Theory of Change for the Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners

This Theory of Change is designed to support Traditional Owner work as part of the Reef 2050 Framework and the subsequent review of the Plan in 2020. It aims to do this by providing clarity for implementation and by capturing critical thinking around the outcomes that Traditional Owners want to see in the Reef. This Theory of Change builds on a strong history of Traditional Owners articulating their priorities for the GBR including the Sea Forum work (2004 and 2010), Sea Country Management Policy Framework (2014), National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Project 3.9 Indigenous capacity building and increased participation in sea country management (2016); Reef 2050 Indigenous Implementation Plan (2016) and more recent work under the Reef 2050 umbrella including the Traditional Owner Aspirations Project (2018) and RIMREP Strong Peoples Strong Country Framework (2018). A recent look at the themes emphasised in Traditional Owner planning is captured in Table 1. This workshop was part of a wider move towards co- design and an attempt to bring past work around Traditional Owner priorities to fruition.
Monitoring Indigenous Heritage within the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program

Indigenous Heritage Expert Group

The Indigenous Heritage Expert Group (IHEG) was created to advise on the design of the Indigenous heritage theme of the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program (RIMReP) in a context where it has been recognised that the most striking gap in socio- economic monitoring was the absence of monitoring pertaining to Traditional Owner (TO) use, dependency and wellbeing. The IHEG reviewed a series of Traditional Owner-driven monitoring frameworks implemented throughout Australia. The review is summarised in this report.
Reef 2050 Mid-Term Review

The Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Project

Our initial analysis into the Reef 2050 Mid Term Review (MTR) (March 2018) advised that no Traditional Owner driven Actions were identified as able to be consolidated; easily simplified; or reworded without broad scale consultation with GBR Traditional Owners. It was also recognised that the current actions, while not comprehensive or highly implementable, do target key interests of Traditional Owners.
In response to the Consortium’s initial advice of March 2018, the Reef 2050 Joint Team advised that four Traditional Owner Actions will be marked as completed, with a further two Actions identified to be assigned as Principles.
Reef 2050 Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owner Workshop Reef-wide Forum

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners

The Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Aspirations project is led by Traditional Owners to better understand and reflect aspirations for the protection and management of the Great Barrier Reef and provide this input to improve the Reef 2050 Plan.
Reef Trust Partnership Investment Strategy

Great Barrier Reef Foundation

The purpose of this document is to outline a high- level roadmap for the Partnership to deliver on each of the priority Components included in the Grant Agreement. The Investment Strategy includes core pillars around which all Components will revolve; key challenges and opportunities; and major themes to inform the next layer of work.
Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef: The Next Generation of Reef 2050 Actions

The Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Aspirations Project

This report is intended to support Traditional Owners to celebrate and document their achievements in securing a more “joined-up” approach to governance and management across the GBR. Based on the extensive engagement undertaken, it seeks to distil their core aspirations and plans regarding the governance and management of Sea Country.
It then explores what the Reef 2050 Plan committed to, reviews its implementation to date, and documents Traditional Owners’ discussions and statements about the best way forward.

Traditional Owner Theory of Change for the Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners

This Theory of Change is designed to support Traditional Owner work as part of the Reef 2050 Framework and the subsequent review of the Plan in 2020. It aims to do this by providing clarity for implementation and by capturing critical thinking around the outcomes that Traditional Owners want to see in the Reef. This Theory of Change builds on a strong history of Traditional Owners articulating their priorities for the GBR including the Sea Forum work (2004 and 2010), Sea Country Management Policy Framework (2014), National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Project 3.9 Indigenous capacity building and increased participation in sea country management (2016); Reef 2050 Indigenous Implementation Plan (2016) and more recent work under the Reef 2050 umbrella including the Traditional Owner Aspirations Project (2018) and RIMREP Strong Peoples Strong Country Framework (2018). A recent look at the themes emphasised in Traditional Owner planning is captured in Table 1. This workshop was part of a wider move towards co- design and an attempt to bring past work around Traditional Owner priorities to fruition.

Monitoring Indigenous Heritage within the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program

Indigenous Heritage Expert Group

The Indigenous Heritage Expert Group (IHEG) was created to advise on the design of the Indigenous heritage theme of the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program (RIMReP) in a context where it has been recognised that the most striking gap in socio- economic monitoring was the absence of monitoring pertaining to Traditional Owner (TO) use, dependency and wellbeing. The IHEG reviewed a series of Traditional Owner-driven monitoring frameworks implemented throughout Australia. The review is summarised in this report.

Reef 2050 Mid-Term Review

The Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Project

Our initial analysis into the Reef 2050 Mid Term Review (MTR) (March 2018) advised that no Traditional Owner driven Actions were identified as able to be consolidated; easily simplified; or reworded without broad scale consultation with GBR Traditional Owners. It was also recognised that the current actions, while not comprehensive or highly implementable, do target key interests of Traditional Owners.
In response to the Consortium’s initial advice of March 2018, the Reef 2050 Joint Team advised that four Traditional Owner Actions will be marked as completed, with a further two Actions identified to be assigned as Principles.

Reef 2050 Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owner Workshop Reef-wide Forum

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners

The Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Aspirations project is led by Traditional Owners to better understand and reflect aspirations for the protection and management of the Great Barrier Reef and provide this input to improve the Reef 2050 Plan.

Reef Trust Partnership Investment Strategy

Great Barrier Reef Foundation

The purpose of this document is to outline a high- level roadmap for the Partnership to deliver on each of the priority Components included in the Grant Agreement. The Investment Strategy includes core pillars around which all Components will revolve; key challenges and opportunities; and major themes to inform the next layer of work.
Reef Blueprint - Great Barrier Reef Blueprint for Resilience

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

This blueprint signals a change in the future management of the Great Barrier Reef.
Like all reefs globally, accumulated pressures, in particular those related to climate change, are impacting the Reef’s resilience and we are witnessing dramatic system-wide declines in its condition.
These changes, combined with future climate projections, compel us to refocus our management efforts and adopt new approaches to secure the future of this irreplaceable icon.
Traditional Owner Theory of Change for the Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners

This Theory of Change is designed to support Traditional Owner work as part of the Reef 2050 Framework and the subsequent review of the Plan in 2020. It aims to do this by providing clarity for implementation and by capturing critical thinking around the outcomes that Traditional Owners want to see in the Reef. This Theory of Change builds on a strong history of Traditional Owners articulating their priorities for the GBR including the Sea Forum work (2004 and 2010), Sea Country Management Policy Framework (2014), National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Project 3.9 Indigenous capacity building and increased participation in sea country management (2016); Reef 2050 Indigenous Implementation Plan (2016) and more recent work under the Reef 2050 umbrella including the Traditional Owner Aspirations Project (2018) and RIMREP Strong Peoples Strong Country Framework (2018). A recent look at the themes emphasised in Traditional Owner planning is captured in Table 1. This workshop was part of a wider move towards co- design and an attempt to bring past work around Traditional Owner priorities to fruition.
Monitoring Indigenous Heritage within the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program

Indigenous Heritage Expert Group

The Indigenous Heritage Expert Group (IHEG) was created to advise on the design of the Indigenous heritage theme of the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program (RIMReP) in a context where it has been recognised that the most striking gap in socio- economic monitoring was the absence of monitoring pertaining to Traditional Owner (TO) use, dependency and wellbeing. The IHEG reviewed a series of Traditional Owner-driven monitoring frameworks implemented throughout Australia. The review is summarised in this report.
Reef Blueprint - Great Barrier Reef Blueprint for Resilience

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

This blueprint signals a change in the future management of the Great Barrier Reef.
Like all reefs globally, accumulated pressures, in particular those related to climate change, are impacting the Reef’s resilience and we are witnessing dramatic system-wide declines in its condition.
These changes, combined with future climate projections, compel us to refocus our management efforts and adopt new approaches to secure the future of this irreplaceable icon.
Traditional Owners and Sea Country in the Southern Great Barrier Reef – Which Way Forward?

Allan Dale, Melissa George, Rosemary Hill and Duane Fraser

This project aims to detail a coordinated Indigenous framework and show how indigenous participation in sea country management can be increased to address these gaps. The project has facilitated consultations with Traditional Owners and their key partners to analyse, further develop and support the parallel development and subsequent implementation of a sector specific (Indigenous) implementation plan under Reef 2050 (Department of the Environment, 2015). An earlier draft of this paper was used to stimulate a conversation among Traditional Owners about the key issues and needs that should inform such an implementation plan.
Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan - Indigenous Implementation Plan
The Reef 2050 Plan sets out the way in which the Australian and Queensland governments will manage, protect and improve the condition of the Great Barrier Reeffor current and future generations. A collaborative effort with Traditional Owners, local government, industry and the community is crucial for the Plan's successful delivery and to ensure that the best available knowledge and expertise underpins decision making. This is part of a long term processto make improvements to the health of the Reef and will be a very challenging and difficult task.
Traditional Owners and Sea Country in the Southern Great Barrier Reef – Which Way Forward?

Allan Dale, Melissa George, Rosemary Hill and Duane Fraser

This project aims to detail a coordinated Indigenous framework and show how indigenous participation in sea country management can be increased to address these gaps. The project has facilitated consultations with Traditional Owners and their key partners to analyse, further develop and support the parallel development and subsequent implementation of a sector specific (Indigenous) implementation plan under Reef 2050 (Department of the Environment, 2015). An earlier draft of this paper was used to stimulate a conversation among Traditional Owners about the key issues and needs that should inform such an implementation plan.

Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan - Indigenous Implementation Plan
The Reef 2050 Plan sets out the way in which the Australian and Queensland governments will manage, protect and improve the condition of the Great Barrier Reeffor current and future generations. A collaborative effort with Traditional Owners, local government, industry and the community is crucial for the Plan's successful delivery and to ensure that the best available knowledge and expertise underpins decision making. This is part of a long term processto make improvements to the health of the Reef and will be a very challenging and difficult task.
Long Term Sustainability Plan Indigenous Targets Project Report

Indigenous Sea Country Police Group and the Cape York Turtle and Dugong Taskforce Steering Committee

This report captures the key outcomes of the project established to develop LTSP Indigenous targets. The project capitalised on the work done by TOs, over a significant time period, in sea country planning and management. As such, the project has a responsibility to those people to ensure that they are informed about the way in which the product of the effort has been utilised. Furthermore, the should also have easy access to that information, provided in a format that is unambiguous in its documentation of the project, the processes and approaches used in its management, and the deliverables produced. This is the primary purpose of this report.
Long Term Sustainability Plan Indigenous Targets Project Report

Indigenous Sea Country Police Group and the Cape York Turtle and Dugong Taskforce Steering Committee

This report captures the key outcomes of the project established to develop LTSP Indigenous targets. The project capitalised on the work done by TOs, over a significant time period, in sea country planning and management. As such, the project has a responsibility to those people to ensure that they are informed about the way in which the product of the effort has been utilised. Furthermore, the should also have easy access to that information, provided in a format that is unambiguous in its documentation of the project, the processes and approaches used in its management, and the deliverables produced. This is the primary purpose of this report.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live, and recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay respects to Elders past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website may contain images or names of people who have since passed away.

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