Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre

1. Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre www.desertknowledgecrc.com.au MCATSIA Meeting August 2007

2. The DKCRC is committed to creating economic opportunities for desert people and a demonstrable difference for remote Indigenous communities, through the application of excellent research and training. Our vision • Four outcomes • Sustainable livelihoods for desert people • Viable remote desert settlements • Thriving desert regional economies • Increased human and social capital of desert people

3. Australia’s largest regionally based social, economic, and environmental research collaboration. Major regional nodes include Alice Springs, Port Augusta and Mt Isa. Network includes researchers in Canberra, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Brisbane, and Melbourne. Approximately 250 researchers across 28 partner agencies working toward developing sustainable livelihoods for desert people. Desert Knowledge CRC

4. Sustainable livelihoods for desert people that are based on natural resource and service enterprise opportunities that are environmentally and socially appropriate Sustainable remote desert settlements that support the presence of desert people, particularly remote Aboriginal communities, as a result of improved governance and access to services Thriving desert regional economies that are based on desert competitive advantages, bringing together Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities, government and industry. We work toward….

5. Where we work

6. Desert Knowledge Precinct

7. 457 discrete Aboriginal communities and 72% of these have LESS THAN 50 people Feedback form coastal based partner: “The most important thing is to understand that deserts are different.” One third of respondents to a recent survey of more than 200 Victorian 4WD enthusiasts said they would rather travel in the desert than in any other environment – OnTrackTM:4WD Tourism Project. Deserts are different – and in demand

8. Research that challenges assumptions • Relative poverty does not correlate with distance from larger urban centres

9. Mobility in and out of Town camps • The survey data shows three main types of movement of people as follows: • In and out of the town camps, to communities and other housing or camping in Alice Springs • Inter-camp mobility: between town camps • Intra-camp mobility: between houses in town camps Population estimates following three surveys of Alice Springs Town Camps

10. Occupancy rates • 10.8—16.1 people per house in the town camps • 20% of houses surveyed having 10 people or more living in the house • Community facilities and ablution blocks become potential dwellings • In Survey 1 there were 35 people living in the 5 community facilities surveyed • Six ablution blocks were occupied during the survey.

11. Aboriginal Livelihoods Diversifying bush products Industry opportunities for bush foods harvesters & wholesalers Bush foods Participatory domestication of bush tomato Market research and industry development, including branding and policy-related matters

12. The DKCRC project team works with: Aboriginal people and organisations Aboriginal communities Interdisciplinary research teams Aboriginal trainees The team works: across desert Australia Bush foods methodology

13. SANDS Project (Sparse Ad-hoc Networks for Deserts) Improved communications for Aboriginal community outstations Wireless network solutions based upon UHF radio infrastructure Potential for a variety of network applications in desert and remote Australia. Remote telecommunications

14. Cattle and Country Project. Building stronger Aboriginal pastoral enterprises. Participatory evaluation of State Govt. Aboriginal pastoral development programs across northern and central Australia. Indigenous Pastoral Employment Review analysing Aboriginal involvement in the pastoral industry from the perspective of both employers and employees, and studying Aboriginal employment initiatives. 21st Century Pastoralism Project

16. Feedback from Communities Overwhelmed by complexity of the environment they are forced to work in Feel not this is not appreciated or listened to Action research SRAs, RPAs, Local Government Reform Focus on Governance Services and Housing Services Desert Services that Work

17. 6 Aboriginal PhD students 20% of students are Aboriginal 1 Aboriginal honours student 4 Aboriginal trainees Deadly Desert research Polly Farmer project NCVER Aboriginal case studies DKCRC Aboriginal Education

18. 43% of desert Aboriginal population 15+ in the labour force. ½ is CDEP 12% have never attended school 4% have Certificate qualifications 170 completed apprenticeships or traineeships (2003) Most desert VET participation is in subject only & mixed field courses & at Certificate I & II levels. Vocational and employment pathways

19. Aboriginal IP protocol protects traditional knowledge Simple guides to Aboriginal IP Aboriginal IP workshops Aboriginal organisations partner with DKCRC because of Aboriginal IP Aboriginal IP

20. The DKCRC works with communities by focussing on Livelihoods Intergenerational research Multidisciplinary teams Inter-jurisdictional context Collaborative partnering Understanding IP in a cross-cultural context Understanding communities

21. Centre Partners

22. Associate Partners

23. Affiliate Partners