Geoscience Australia Strategy 2026–2036 Commitment to First Nations peoples
Page last updated:24 March 2026
We are committed to strengthening our cultural capability and deepening engagement with First Nations peoples to share knowledge and perspectives on geoscience.
Through respectful and meaningful engagement, we will learn from First Nations knowledge systems and foster understanding of geoscience to support informed decision-making.
Our approach to engagement includes partnership and co-design models and knowledge-building across our geoscience and geospatial programs and activities.
Our goals contribute to the Priority Reforms under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and Australia’s National Science and Research Priorities, including elevating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have thousands of years of continued connection to Country, bringing unique perspectives, knowledge and skills to Western scientific frameworks.
Geoscience Australia: A Journey of Connection, Artwork by Lani Balzan
Priority reform alignment
Our goals align with the 4 priority reforms from National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Priority reform |
1. Formal partnerships and shared decision-making |
Our goal |
| Strengthen engagement and ways of working that support empowerment of First Nations peoples’ self-determination and continued responsible management of Land and Sea Country through opportunities in shared decision-making and formal partnerships. |
Priority reform |
2. Building the community-controlled sector |
Our goal |
| Work with First Nations community-controlled organisations to build geoscience and geospatial expertise and deliver services that contribute to social and economic outcomes. |
Priority reform |
3. Transforming government organisations |
Our goal |
| Transform Geoscience Australia to work better with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. |
Priority reform |
4. Shared access to data and information at a regional level |
Our goal |
| Improve access to geoscience and geospatial data, information and technology to empower First Nations communities to make informed decisions. |
Goals into action
With First Nations peoples and communities
- Ensure our priority projects and programs deliver purposeful and effective outcomes for First Nations communities.
- Engage transparently and collaboratively, respecting governance and decision-making processes.
- Implement the Framework for Governance of Indigenous Data.
- Partner with First Nations-led organisations and education and training providers, to create career pathways.
Within our organisation
- Advance culturally safe and responsive strategies and coordination for enterprise commitments, engagement and partnerships.
- Uplift organisational cultural awareness and competence to develop and sustain cultural safety.
- Equip our leaders and staff to engage in genuine and respectful partnerships.
- Deliver on our enterprise commitments to reconciliation.
- Support career pathways for First Nations peoples.
We will create opportunities through our governance forums, such as the First Nations Advisory Group, to provide culturally-informed perspectives and advice to support impactful delivery of our geoscience and geospatial activities.
Implementing our strategy
Through our Corporate Plan, annual business planning cycle and individual performance plans, we will put the strategy into action.
Our strategy and planning cycle.
Downloads
Index and glossary
Visit our Index and glossary for publication-wide endnotes, glossary, government priorities and image index.
Focus areas explored
Resource potential
Unlocking Australia’s minerals, energy and groundwater resource potential through expert geoscience knowledge and analysis.
Positioning and navigation services
Measuring Australia’s land movement and delivering accurate, reliable and resilient positioning and navigation across Australia’s land and maritime areas.
Earth analysis
Transforming Earth observation data into Earth insights by monitoring, analysing and predicting change across Australia’s dynamic land, water and coastal environment over time.
National land, marine and coastal mapping
Providing trusted national location information on Australia’s land, marine and Antarctic geography (natural and built environment).
Hazards and impacts
Monitoring and modelling natural and human-induced disaster risks and assessing impacts on Australia’s communities and infrastructure.
