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Land and culture

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders have long histories of strong kinship, strength and pride in culture. Their special relationship with place, land, waters and sea has endured for thousands of years. It continues to be important in the every day lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

These relationships are widely regarded as central to the positive maintenance of all aspects of health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

The Queensland Government acknowledges that to 'Close the Gap' in Indigenous life outcomes its actions must recognise of the importance of land, culture and history must inform all other areas of action.

The Queensland Government endeavours to:

  • promote and affirm Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures
  • create access to and management of land and sea as a base for wellbeing and cultural affirmation
  • encourage stronger involvement in and influence on natural resource management planning and policy

Targets, strategies and progress measures

There are no Council of Australian Governments (COAG) or Tomorrow's Queensland Q2 targets that directly address this strategic action area.

However, improvements in this area may have long-term impacts on a number of COAG targets, for example:

  • increased acknowledgement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land and sea use and care practices may lead to employment opportunities
  • increased opportunities in the arts may result in enhanced employment opportunities, personal income earning potential and greater community sustainability

Progress measures

The measures that the Queensland Government will use to monitor progress in governance and leadership are under development.

Strategic directions

The Queensland Government will support land and culture ties in the communities with the following strategies:

  • promote and affirm Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts, culture and language
  • support access to, and management of, land and sea
  • support and enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to protect and strengthen their cultures and to record and manage their cultural heritage and language

More information

Download detailed information about the Queensland Government's actions to support land and cultural ties within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities:

*Note: For clarification, the Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing and Export Agency (QIAMEA) is an export service of Trade Queensland, and is not part of the Department of Education, Training and the Arts as may be implied by the reference to QIAMEA on page 75 of the report.

Related information

Last reviewed: 21 January 2009