A word from the Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator (August 2026)
Last week I had the privilege of joining Mawambul Co-Management, Hay Public School, Aboriginal artists, Rangers and community members to deliver a full day of NAIDOC Week cultural education activities for approximately 200 students.
The event provided students with opportunities to learn about Aboriginal culture, cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and connection to Country through a range of hands-on activities.
As part of the day, I introduced students to Riverina Local Land Services and my role as a Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator. We explored the importance of Aboriginal cultural heritage within agricultural and natural landscapes, focusing on cultural sites that can still be found across our region today, including scarred trees, ring trees, grinding stones and Aboriginal mounds. Students learnt how these sites help tell the story of Aboriginal occupation and connection to Country and why they must be protected for future generations.
To support learning, students participated in age-appropriate educational activities developed specifically for the event. Years 5 and 6 students completed reading and comprehension exercises, years 3 and 4 students explored the cultural sites through guided discussions and colouring activities, while younger students learnt through colouring sheets and simple cultural heritage stories. The enthusiasm was incredible, with many students asking to continue the activities in the classroom after the event. Copies of the worksheets were left with teachers, and I look forward to reviewing the completed work and exploring opportunities to develop the resources further into a cultural heritage education publication.
Students also enjoyed weaving activities facilitated by Jenny Dwyer from Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc., art workshops led by Wiradjuri artists Emma Johnston and Dion Wait, traditional cooking experiences, artefacts learning sessions delivered by Nari Nari Tribal Council Rangers and Mawambul Co-Management and Aboriginal sports delivered by the Hay High School students. Working together, students contributed to a collaborative weaving piece that will remain on display at Hay Public School as a lasting reminder of the day’s learning and cultural connections.
Events such as these demonstrate the value of partnerships between schools, Aboriginal organisations, Landcare and Local Land Services. By helping young people understand culture, Country and environmental stewardship, we are supporting the next generation of landholders, community leaders and custodians of our landscapes.
This event was supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program and delivered by the NSW Government’s Riverina Local Land Services, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.
This article was written by Jade Auldist. Jade is the Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator for the Riverina region. Her role supports farmers, industry and community groups (including Landcare Groups) to adopt new and innovative sustainable agriculture practices.
For further information on this article, please contact Jade at jade.auldist@lls.nsw.gov.au.