Twenty-four council staff from across Greater Western Sydney benefited from an intensive Caring for Country Council Grants Seminar on Wednesday, 25 February.

The Caring for Country Council Grants Program is a NSW government-funded initiative delivered jointly by Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) and the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.

The grants program, open to nine councils within or adjacent to the Cumberland Plain region, is designed to support councils in increasing their capacity to engage and collaborate with Traditional Custodians and local Aboriginal communities.

The aim is to deliver meaningful on-ground Caring for Country Initiatives in partnership with the communities.

Held at the beautiful Nurrangingy Reserve facilities in Doonside, the recent seminar attracted some 24 enthusiastic participants.

A major focus of the one-day event was strengthening relationships and shared accountability, including relationship building and collaboration, ‘lessons learned’, and strategic vision

Participants also took part in a Strategic Planning workshop, among other activities.

The seminar was facilitated by Thirriwirri, the Aboriginal-owned and led organisation that provides in-depth expertise in areas such as economic participation, community communications and engagement, governance, cultural heritage, land management, community safety and wellbeing, environmental health, and service accountability, among others.

A warm Welcome to Country was given by Aunty Julie Clarke Jones.