What we do
Culture to Country provides specialist consulting and advisory services to organisations working with Aboriginal people, communities and Country. Our work is scoped to the specific requirements of each client and engagement — we do not offer off-the-shelf programs.
Each engagement is different. We work with clients to understand their specific context, requirements and constraints, and scope our work accordingly. This means the advice and support we provide is practical, relevant and grounded in the realities of working in and with Aboriginal communities and organisations in the Northern Territory and across Australia.
Aboriginal Engagement & Partnership
Strategic advice on how to engage effectively and ethically with Aboriginal people, communities and organisations.
We help clients design engagement approaches that are grounded in respect, reciprocity and genuine partnership. This includes advice on how to initiate and structure engagement, how to work with community governance structures, how to manage expectations and communication, and how to build relationships that support long-term outcomes. We also provide advice on engagement frameworks, protocols and documentation.
Suited to
- Government agencies developing engagement strategies
- Organisations entering new regions or communities
- Projects requiring free, prior and informed consent
- Organisations reviewing existing engagement approaches
Indigenous Governance & Decision-Making
Advice on Indigenous governance frameworks, decision-making structures and working within Aboriginal community governance contexts.
Effective work with Aboriginal communities requires an understanding of how governance and decision-making actually work — which is often different from formal structures. We provide advice on community governance, the role of traditional authority, how decisions are made and communicated, and how organisations can work within these structures rather than around them. We also advise on governance capacity building and the design of governance frameworks for Aboriginal organisations.
Suited to
- Researchers and project teams working in communities
- Organisations designing partnership agreements
- Government agencies working on land and sea management
- Organisations supporting Aboriginal governance capacity
Research Ethics & Indigenous Data Governance
Specialist advice for researchers and research organisations on ethical research practice, Indigenous data sovereignty and knowledge governance.
We provide specialist advice to universities, research institutions and scientific organisations on research ethics in Aboriginal contexts, Indigenous data sovereignty, the governance of Indigenous knowledge, and compliance with Indigenous research protocols and guidelines. This includes advice on research design, ethics applications, data management plans, knowledge agreements and the practical requirements of conducting ethical research with Aboriginal communities.
Suited to
- University researchers and HDR students
- Research institutions and scientific organisations
- Environmental and conservation research projects
- Organisations developing Indigenous data governance frameworks
Cultural Capability & Professional Training
Tailored professional development and cultural capability programs designed for specific professional contexts.
Our training programs are designed for the specific professional context of each client — not generic cultural awareness sessions. We work with organisations to understand what their staff actually need to know and be able to do, and design training accordingly. Programs can be delivered as workshops, intensive sessions or ongoing professional development, and can be tailored for specific teams, roles or project contexts.
Suited to
- Government agencies and departments
- Research and scientific organisations
- Environmental and conservation organisations
- Corporations working in regional and remote Australia
Policy, Strategy & Organisational Review
Development and review of policies, frameworks, strategies and engagement approaches relating to Aboriginal participation and organisational practice.
We assist organisations to develop, review and strengthen policies, strategies and frameworks relating to Aboriginal engagement, participation, procurement and organisational practice. This includes Indigenous procurement policies, reconciliation action plans, engagement frameworks, partnership agreements and organisational reviews. Our advice is practical and grounded in what actually works in the Northern Territory and Australian context.
Suited to
- Organisations developing Reconciliation Action Plans
- Government agencies reviewing engagement frameworks
- Corporations developing Indigenous procurement policies
- Organisations undertaking organisational review processes
Environmental & Natural Resource Management
Advisory services for environmental, conservation and natural resource management projects involving Aboriginal communities, Country and Indigenous ecological knowledge.
We provide specialist advisory services for environmental, conservation and natural resource management projects that involve Aboriginal communities, Country and Indigenous ecological knowledge. This includes advice on how to work with Aboriginal land managers and rangers, how to incorporate Indigenous ecological knowledge into environmental assessments and management plans, and how to design projects that deliver genuine outcomes for Country and community.
Suited to
- Environmental and conservation organisations
- Natural resource management bodies
- Scientific organisations conducting field research
- Government agencies managing land and sea country
How we work
Every engagement begins with a conversation about what you are trying to achieve, your existing relationships and context, and the constraints you are working within. From there we scope the work together and agree on what is realistic and useful. We do not offer fixed packages — the scope, format and duration of each engagement is determined by what is actually needed.
Discuss a project
If you would like to discuss a potential engagement, contact us to arrange an initial conversation. There is no obligation — we are happy to talk through your requirements and advise on whether and how we can help.