Michelle Rogers
Across the Northern Rivers, First Nations peoples have cared for Country for thousands of years, drawing on deep cultural knowledge that continues to guide how communities live, connect and thrive.
Today, that knowledge is helping shape a stronger and more resilient future for the region.
Launched on Gullibul Country in Kyogle, the Northern Rivers Connecting with Country Framework was developed by the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) in partnership with Jagun Alliance Aboriginal Corporation and local Aboriginal community representatives.
The Framework provides guidance and practical tools for RA staff to build respectful and meaningful relationships when working on Country and with First Nations communities. The Framework guides RA staff towards a Country-centred approach in their work.
Grounded in the voices of First Nations communities across the Northern Rivers, the Framework offers a starting point on how the RA can improve its disaster prevention, preparedness, recovery and reconstruction work by grounding its decisions in Country, Culture and with Community.
Jagun Alliance
A different way of thinking
At the heart of the framework is a simple but powerful philosophy:
"If we care for Country, Country will care for us."
Rather than viewing Country simply as land, the framework recognises Country as a living system that connects people, waterways, plants, animals, culture and community.
By embedding this knowledge into local projects, the framework aims to create places that are not only more resilient to future disasters, but also healthier, more culturally connected and better for everyone who lives in the Northern Rivers.
Jagun Alliance
Shaped by community
The framework created space for community to share their knowledge and experiences and help shape a stronger future.
Between October 2024 and May 2025, the RA worked in collaboration with Jagun Alliance alongside Local Aboriginal Land Councils, Registered Native Title Body Corporates, Cultural Knowledge Holders and community members through yarning sessions, workshops and community gatherings held across the Northern Rivers.
The Framework offers a tool to help the RA better understand knowledge, priorities and cultural values of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Northern Rivers region.
“We heard from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the region that there is no single voice and no one-size-fits-all way of working on Country, Executive Director Jagun Alliance, Oliver Costello
“This framework is a starting point - a living document for NSW Reconstruction Authority staff to recognise diversity within communities,” Oliver said.
What does it mean for the community?
The framework will guide how the RA plans and delivers projects across the Northern Rivers.
That means taking the time to listen first, understand the cultural significance of places, protect Aboriginal cultural heritage and work alongside First Nations communities from the beginning not just during consultation, but throughout the life of a project.
It also supports stronger environmental outcomes by recognising that traditional knowledge and sustainable land management practices can help build healthier landscapes and more resilient communities.
Building a stronger future together
The Northern Rivers has always been shaped by the strength of its communities.
The Northern Rivers Connecting with Country Framework is another step towards ensuring future recovery and resilience projects are shaped not only by engineering and planning, but also by thousands of years of knowledge, lived experience and deep connection to Country.
By working together, the NSW Reconstruction Authority and First Nations communities can create places that honour the past, strengthen the present and leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
Find out more
To learn more, download a copy of the Northern Rivers Connecting with Country Framework.