Participants who completed the new Connecting to Land and Sea Program, celebrated their journey at the Material Institute in Bridgewater recently.

The pilot program supported eight Aboriginal participants to gain valuable training and certifications in land management, while also strengthening cultural knowledge and connections to Country. Delivered by the Derwent Catchment Project in partnership with Luke Mabb and the Southcentral Workforce Network, the eight-week program was supported by the Tasmanian Government through the Department of State Growth.

Luke, a proud Aboriginal man and advocate for cultural connection and youth empowerment, worked with the Derwent Catchment Project’s John Chaplin to mentor participants and teach Healthy Country principles. Training covered a wide range of skills, including cultural awareness, chainsaw and brush-cutter use, first aid, chemical handling, white card accreditation, and communication, alongside practical fieldwork.

For some participants, the ex­perience was transformative. “I came into it with a fair bit of anxiety,” one graduate said. “But by the end, the experience opened my eyes. I’m back on my path, and the journey’s only begun.” Another added: “I hope there are more oppor­tunities for people to experi­ence what I’ve experienced over the last weeks.”

The program is part of the Brighton Council’s Natural Resource Management (NRM) Strategy, which recognises the importance of cultural landscapes and supporting Aboriginal participation in land management, as well as the important role people play in the landscape.

Congratulations to the graduates and a big thank you to everyone who has supported the program.