A Gomeroi (Kamilaroi) woman from Moree in New South Wales, Queensland-based Melanie has spent two decades helping corporates and governments to weave the knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples into our ways of working.
In her new role with the global professional services firm, Melanie will apply a First Nations cultural lens across Arup’s project portfolio, and will lead Indigenous procurement, engagement and Designing with Country activities.
Melanie says that, while inward facing business actions such as Reconciliation Action Plans have fostered cultural awareness among Australia’s built environment sector, the focus must now shift to the external.
“The great thing about my role is that it is entirely focused on applying First Nations thinking to projects that are shaping the world around us,” Melanie says.
“In a project setting, getting involved early can make a huge difference, because the first step isn’t always going to be about facilitating engagement or a consultation process.
“Wherever possible, projects should start with a strong grounding of understanding whose Country we are on, what significance this holds for First Nations people, and acknowledging any cultural practices that are still being maintained.
“There’s a lot to be learned from First Nations thinking. Communities have existed in harmony with the land for thousands of years, so incorporating this wealth of knowledge to projects across the region has valuable benefits in solving industry challenges and promoting sustainable design.”
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture is developing a stronger presence in our built environment, especially as Designing with Country approaches take hold.
‘Country’ – importantly with a capital C – is central to Indigenous Australian culture, and extends beyond geography to encompass spiritual beliefs, law, language, custom, ancestral wisdom, traditions and kinship. Connection to Country forms the essence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity and is a precious inheritance, passed from one generation to the next through story, song and ceremonial practices. Embracing the principles of codesign can help project teams to nurture, respect and design with Country, Melanie says.
“First Nations thinking really goes beyond the aesthetic, and I’m excited to see more recognition of that from designers and builders. Genuine codesign is about actively involving and collaborating with Indigenous people from the very beginning of a project, from the initial plans to the development phase.”
How do you build trust with First Nations people?
“Before even approaching community groups, take a moment to think about your intentions, priorities, and what you already know about the use of a site. Come to the conversation from an informed standpoint and with a real desire to learn,” Melanie suggests.
“Showing that you’re coming from an informed place, as opposed to expecting an organisation to do all the teaching and make you more enlightened, is going to go a long way.”
Practical applications of First Nations thinking are vast and varied and will differ for each project or procurement activity. But there are some “ achievable ways for teams to recognise the importance and impact of First Nations knowledge to projects”.
“For a start, it could be the simple act of acknowledging an awareness of everything that’s come before us, and an understanding of how this site was used. This can be taken further by a team seeking to regenerate or restore the land or maintain access to a site to allow First Nations people to continue traditional practices.
“From project conception to building design, to environmental management practices, there is a real breadth of opportunities for incorporating genuine connection with and recognition of First Nations people.”