Designed for Stage 5 students (Years 9 and 10), the Classrooms on Country™: Healthy Rivers Workshop program combines cultural learning, environmental education and hands-on, place-based learning to build understanding around the connection between healthy waterways and resilient landscapes.
Drought and climate change affect both Country and community. For First Nations peoples, whose wellbeing is deeply connected to the health of Country, these impacts are significant. Reduced water quality, declining river health, habitat loss and reduced access to traditional resources can affect cultural practices, community wellbeing and connection to place.
By bringing together traditional cultural knowledge and contemporary environmental approaches, this project helps young people to understand the challenges facing inland waterways and the important role they have in protecting them.
About the project
Led by River Dreaming Aboriginal Corporation, the Classrooms on Country™: Healthy Rivers Workshop program builds on their successful Junior River Ranger Program™.
With student participation support from the Clontarf Foundation, the program will run across the central and southern Murray-Darling Basin.
With a focus on hands-on, practical and place-based learning, students will be given the opportunity to:
- Explore traditional cultural values and principles associated with looking after Country
- Understand current environmental challenges, including the impacts of drought and climate change on inland rivers
- Be supported to plan and deliver a project that improves the health and resilience of a local waterway
- Establish connections in their communities to provide a platform for involvement in river health projects into the future
The program strengthens understanding of traditional ecological knowledge and cultural land management practices, supports resilience and adaptation across the Murray-Darling Basin, and creates pathways into environmental and land management careers for First Nations youth.
Project achievements
Following initial workshops in Narromine, Dubbo, Lake Cargelligo and Narrandera feedback from the students and the facilitators was overwhelmingly positive.
"The boys had a great time and gained further insight not only into their culture but also into their inherited responsibilities when it comes to land and water management and care on Country."
River Dreaming Aboriginal Corporation and the program's cultural advisor, Larry Towney said about the Dubbo workshops, "It provided an excellent learning experience for both students and staff, promoting environmental understanding, cultural awareness and connection to Country and community.
“Most importantly the students got the opportunity to make a positive impact on river health locally through a hands-on revegetation project on the banks of the Wambuul River”.
Project lead
River Dreaming Aboriginal Corporation is a registered not-for-profit conservation-based charity dedicated to looking after inland rivers. It is based in the heart of Wiradjuri Country at Forbes in the Central West of NSW.
Project partner
Southern NSW Innovation Hub
Project funding
The Classrooms on Country™: Healthy Rivers Workshop project is supported by Southern NSW Innovation Hub, through funding from the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund.
