Dawul Wuru signs MOU

A Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of a strategic partnership between The Cairns Institute at James Cook University and the Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation (DWAC) was signed on the 28th March.

The Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation is an aboriginal Traditional Owner owned, managed, and governed community organisation serving the eastern Far North Queensland area between Cairns and Port Douglas was established to protect, secure, support and promote local Aboriginal Traditional Owners and Custodians. Dawul Wuru signifies “three significant river systems in the wide Cairns region”

Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation currently administers the Yirrganydji Land and Sea Program which operates across coastal land and sea country between Cairns and Port Douglas that is internationally recognised and is partly within the Wet Tropics and the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage listed areas. This particular region encompasses a unique array of habitats, plants, and animals, which are of worldwide conservation significance including marine turtles and dugongs.

Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation website states, “We now face a range of pressures on our people and region. We believe that protecting and conserving the environment, resources, and
heritage is a shared responsibility. We want to continue our rights, responsibilities, identities, and livelihoods as Traditional owner First Peoples as we still have strong cultural and spiritual connection to the coast between Cairns and Port Douglas.”

The Cairns Institute and the Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation already have a great working relationship over the years and have partnered on many programs and events.

They intend to continue to work together in support of their shared vision of stronger communities, undertake collaborative research in support of social innovation, community development and other programs run by the Darul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation. As well as, promoting awareness of community needs and of innovative approaches to community development amongst government, business, education, and other stakeholders.

“We are honoured to have a strategic partnership with The Cairns Institute and to support pathways, linkages, knowledge-sharing, and showcasing community-led initiatives from our local Traditional owners/custodians and Indigenous rangers in our local region. We have had a growing relationship with The Cairns Institute and James Cook University and look forward to our collaboration.”
- Gavin Singleton, Project Manager of Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation.

“One of the highlights of my time at The Cairns Institute has been collaborating with Yirrganydji people, traditional owners of the JCU Nguma-bada campus, on research and arts projects. Deepening that collaboration through the MOU with Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation is a profound honour. I look forward to supporting Dawul Wuru’s leadership in land and sea country management and to exploring new opportunities for education and research.”
- Professor Stewart Lockie, Director of The Cairns Institute.

Below images are from the inaugural Engineers Without Borders Challenge Showcase hosted at The Cairns Institute in December 2022. Credit: Engineers Without Borders.