Exploring sustainable drinking water management with discrete Indigenous communities through intercultural collaboration

Graphical Abstract

Figure 1. Graphical Abstract of Research Project: Exploring sustainable drinking water management with discrete Indigenous communities through intercultural collaboration

Research Summary

Research problem

The current drinking water service delivery in Australian Indigenous communities does not meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6) for safe and reliable water. This is impacting health, well-being, social, cultural, and economic development outcomes in Indigenous communities. Current water management practices and decision-making largely exclude Indigenous Knowledge and culture, thus perpetuating the one-way, and often inappropriate, technical approaches in water services. It is therefore critical, especially with the changing climate, to address this drinking water inequality between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and advance genuine self-determination and reconciliation through two-way, meaningful engagement with Indigenous water knowledge, systems, and science.

Research objective and question

The primary research question is: how can water systems and services engage in Indigenous-Western two-way knowledge exchange with discrete Indigenous communities? The objective is to explore leading practices of two-way Indigenous and Western knowledge exchange in supporting climate-resilient water use and management. To do so, the key steps are:

• Review existing frameworks, principles, and case studies for two-way knowledge exchange applicable to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities
• Analyse the outcomes of knowledge exchange processes for climate-resilient water use and management
• Propose a practical and culturally sensitive framework for applying two-way knowledge exchange appropriate for climate-resilient water management planning with remote Indigenous communities.

Benefit to water sector

This research will equip the water sector with a framework to guide water management practices with remote Indigenous communities. Local insights can be incorporated into decision-making through improved collaboration and community engagement to ensure culturally aligned, sustainable solutions. Solutions grounded in diverse knowledge can enhance sustainability and cost-effectiveness. This research contributes to a water sector that is more equitable, inclusive, and capable of addressing the unique needs of remote Indigenous communities.

Findings to date

Findings highlight that sustainable community-scale water systems require more than token inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge — they demand early and meaningful engagement with Traditional Owners and knowledge holders. While two-way knowledge exchange is gaining recognition, it remains poorly understood. Local water stories and early collaboration are crucial to fostering community buy-in and building fit-for-purpose, climate-resilient systems.

Author

Student: Samantha Guy, Griffith University School of Engineering and Built Environment. PhD Research Project 2024 – 2026.

Supervisors: Prof. Cara Beal, Dr. Melissa Jackson, Prof. Kerry Bodle and Dr. Jim Turnour