Landmark guide supports First Nations community engagement

(Posted on 26/06/22)

A new guide to support industry and organisations to engage with First Nations communities across Australia is now available, thanks to a Central Queensland University (CQUniversity) Australia and BHP partnership.

Launched today, the First Nations Community Engagement: Industry Guide Phase I is an important document helping to cultivate positive outcomes for First Nations communities and the organisations with whom they engage.

The Phase I Guide is the result of the combined efforts of the Office of Indigenous Engagement at CQUniversity, BHP, BMA and collaborating BHP and BMA partners.

CQUniversity Deputy Vice-President of Indigenous Engagement Professor Adrian Miller co-authored the guide and said he was proud to launch it to the wider community.

“The guide bridges gaps in current culturally appropriate community engagement practices while sharing learnings about best practice industry engagement with First Nations communities,” Professor Miller said.

Like BHP, CQUniversity is committed to working in partnership with First Nations people to develop beneficial outcomes.

Hay Point Coal Terminal General Manager Linda Murry said she was pleased that BMA could draw on the knowledge it had acquired from its long history of partnering with First Nations communities to contribute to this significant resource.

“This is a landmark publication and we are honoured to play a role,” Linda said.

“The culmination of 18 months of consultation, workshops, engagement and co-design, this framework supports organisations engagement with First Nations communities in mutually beneficial and respectful ways, ultimately providing meaningful outcomes for First Nations people and our company.”