Voicing First Nations Country, community, and culture in urban policy

This research project, funded by AHURI, collaborates with First Nations custodians in major urban centres to learn from and listen to their experience of attempting to engage with urban policymakers intervening on their Country.

Project dates: 2022–2024

The fact that urban places in Australia are Country, the unceded lands and waters of First Nations peoples, has been barely recognised in urban policy practice, and First Nations peoples remain structurally excluded from having a meaningful voice and authority about their own lands and waters. In addition, there is little understanding about the actual experiences and expectations of First Nations peoples attempting to engage with urban policy. Understanding this will help reveal the implications of this for the capacity and readiness of the urban policy professions. This research project, funded by AHURI, collaborates with First Nations custodians in major urban centres to learn from and listen to their experience of attempting to engage with urban policymakers intervening on their Country.

Geographies of Land, Home and Place

Geographies of Land, Home and Place brings together our expertise in understanding the places and land systems on which we live, how we are housed and the social geographies of inclusion and belonging.

Planning and Transport for Healthy Cities

Planning and Transport for Healthy Cities brings together our expertise in understanding how cities are planned and designed to create more just, sustainable and healthy outcomes.

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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Voicing First Nations Country, community, and culture in urban policy