There is a persisting and ongoing need to provide for continued planning and implementation of targeted and effective RD&E activities that address priorities for the Indigenous sectors. This was clearly identified as the first NFARDES was being developed and has again been highlighted as part of the development of the latest Strategy.
The FRDC has provided support to assist in addressing this by supporting and resourcing the IRG through a series of projects, and most recently with the development of an Indigenous RD&E Sub Program.
This project provides the support and resourcing for the IRG to manage and oversee the Sub Program on behalf of the FRDC to ensure there is greater Indigenous input, engagement and inclusivity in the development of the revised NFARDES and FRDC's RD&E plan and to address identified Indigenous priorities.
There are synergies and efficiencies to be achieved by more closely linking the FRDC Indigenous development scholarships program with the Sub Program.
Final report
This report outlines the role that the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) Indigenous Reference Group (IRG) has had in providing high level and strategic advice to the FRDC on its Indigenous Research Development and Extension (RD&E) investment and also the IRG’s role in managing the FRDC Indigenous Subprogram.
The IRG has made significant progress in broadening stakeholders’ understanding of the Indigenous sector and its place in the broader fishing and seafood industry. The IRG continues to receive positive feedback and strong support from most sectors and has allowed greater engagement and input from an Indigenous perspective with the Australian fishing and seafood industry. This project has been exceptionally successful and the previously identified gap in articulating priorities for the Indigenous sector and as a means for formal engagement at a national level has started to be addressed in a very short period.
Thanks to the work of the IRG there has been increased investment in RD&E in the fishing and seafood industry that acknowledges and engages with Indigenous Australians. Ten projects are currently underway, and additional projects are anticipated to be in place in late 2017/early 2018 to address areas of Capacity Building and Data Collection. In addition, via the involvement of the IRG, the views of the Indigenous sector are now being incorporated in the many forums that consider RD&E, policy and fishing and seafood governance.
