Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (DDWCAC), trading as DJAARA, actively works to progress the aspirations of the Dja Dja Wurrung People. It is incorporated under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act). Established in 2004, the principal objectives and responsibilities of the corporation are to:• Promote the health and wellbeing of the Dja Dja Wurrung People.• Protect and promote the laws, culture, property rights and human rights of the Dja Dja Wurrung People.• Exercise rights under the Recognition and Settlement Agreement on behalf of the Dja Dja Wurrung People.In 2013, Dja Dja Wurrung People entered a Recognition and Settlement Agreement (RSA) with the State of Victoria, which formally recognises the Dja Dja Wurrung People as the Traditional Owners for part of central Victoria. Dja Dja Wurrung People nominated DDWCAC as the ‘Traditional Owner Group Entity’ to hold and manage the settlement on behalf of Dja Dja Wurrung People.DJAARA is also a Registered Aboriginal Party under the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006. Primary Purpose of the PositionThe Policy & Partnerships Manager leads two teams, Galkangu (Joint Management) and Dhelkunya Dja Policy, to deliver on key business priorities and initiatives. Involved in award-winning work with Parks Victoria, DELWP, other state government agencies, Local Government Authorities, stakeholders, and communities, leaving a valuable legacy for the future.The role manages partnerships and lead the development of agreements with local and state government authorities, through business and cultural change, driving our aspirations and future for Dja Dja Wurrung People, as articulated in the Dhelkunya Dja (Healing Country) Country Plan and Schedule 6 – Local Government Engagement Strategy of the Recognition and Settlement Agreement (RSA).

Our vision is to grow inspiring, capable servant leaders to deliver a wave of change for our region, influencing systemic change that values self-determined communities.LEAD Loddon Murray builds the capacity of local communities to drive change. Large-scale social change requires broad cross-sector collaboration that is place based and builds the capability of the people it seeks to serve. LEAD Loddon Murray is maturing into a purpose driven, closely networked community of practice, supporting and amplifying the work of community leaders to drive change. Our efforts span organisational and sectoral boundaries, taking in participants and partnering with clients across business and industry, government and the for-purpose sector.

Provide place-based leadership for the planning and delivery of priorities relating to climate change, energy, local government and communities. Includes management of agreements with Traditional Owners, administration of grant programs, planning and delivery of climate change adaptation programs and support to regional partnerships and new and emerging opportunities. Service also provides media and communications and Aboriginal self-determination support to the Regional Directorate and Forest and Fire Operations Division in the region.

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has been asked to lead a whole-of-Victorian Government response to the recovering groundwater in mine shafts beneath Bendigo. As the Project Manager, I will be working closely with the Community Reference Group, as well as the State and Local Government Advisory Group to identify and implement short-term immediate actions while also developing longer term, sustainable water management approach to managing the impacts of groundwater discharge from old mine shafts.

• Lead the implementation of solution to the management of groundwater in mine voids beneath Bendigo. • Effectively liaise with state and local government authorities to seek and negotiate appropriate approvals. • Project manage the approvals process including the preparation of tender documents for external contracts involving construction activities and technical consultancies. • Confidently lead procurement and contract management processes. • Liaise with and provide advice, information and reports to DELWPs management and businesses, land and resource managers and industry, other government departments and agencies, and the community with respect to the management of water in mine voids beneath Bendigo.• Deliver the project in the context of the broader service delivery team to ensure a multi-disciplinary approach to the delivery of natural resource management programs in North West Victoria and the “Greening Bendigo” whole of water cycle management project.• Contribute to the corporate responsibilities of DELWP including emergency response.

Manage a team of staff delivering both services to improve agricultural productivity and increase the productive use of soils and water; and regulation and compliance operations to improve biosecurity and protect market access. Responsible for providing a one stop shop extension and regulatory services to the agriculture sector and for the preparedness, response and recovery for agriculture and biosecurity emergency incidents. This position was part of the core leadership group across the region and the overall Regional Services Group.

Manage the Land Management Program within the Grains Services Branch of Farm Services Victoria. In this role I lead a state wide program of regionally based technical project teams focusing on providing best practice production information and on farm land management services to the Victorian Grains sector, either directly and/or in partnership with regional partners.

coordinate the delivery of the Living with Less Water: Adaptation Strategies for the ‘New Dryland’ project. The project focused on the emergence of dewatered agricultural land or ‘new dryland’ caused by farmers adapting to climate change, water reform policy and water recovery projects. Manage the delivery of the Living with Less Water: Adaptation Strategies for the ‘New Dryland’ project on behalf of the North Central CMA. Final product was a regionally endorsed Implementation Plan.

I coordinated the regional investment program, lead the review and contributed to the renewal of the regional catchment strategy and managed a project within the Innovative Farming Program. Other roles included managing the Catchment Information Team and Executive Officer for the Natural Resource Management Committee, an advisory committee to the Board.