KIMBERLEY LAND COUNCIL STRATEGIC OUTLOOK
2025-2075
FOREWORD
This Strategic Outlook sets out a long‑term vision for the Kimberley Land Council and for Kimberley Aboriginal people over the next 50 years, grounded in deep respect for those who have carried us this far. It reflects where we have come from, the leadership and sacrifices that shaped our path, and the responsibilities we carry today as custodians of a future still being forged for generations to come.
For nearly five decades, Kimberley Aboriginal leaders, supported by the Kimberley Land Council, have stood firm to get back Country, protect culture and assert our right to determine our own futures. Their perseverance, courage and unity laid the foundations to make all our achievements possible. They are the giants on whose shoulders we stand. This Outlook honours those Elders, advocates and community leaders who fought for recognition, justice and self‑determination, while recognising that their work was never meant to be the end of the story. It was a beginning.
Looking ahead 50 years invites us to think towards the futures we are creating for our children and their children. This Outlook is grounded in the enduring truth that Country, law and culture are inseparable, and that Traditional Owners must always remain at the heart of decisions about lands, waters and heritage. It affirms our ongoing commitment to free, prior and informed consent, truth‑telling, and the protection and advancement of Kimberley Aboriginal rights and interests, knowing there is still much to be achieved.
On behalf of the KLC Board, I acknowledge the generations of leadership and collective effort that have informed this Strategic Outlook. This is a statement of continuity as much as ambition, a commitment to honouring the work of those who came before us, and a promise to future generations that we will continue to stand strong, pursue justice, and work together towards a culturally strong, united and thriving Kimberley led by Aboriginal people.
We are not alone in this vision, and we hope it will be embraced by all as we move forward together, with this shared purpose firmly in mind.
Anthony Watson, KLC Chairman
Our vision is a culturally strong, united and thriving region led by Kimberley Aboriginal people for generations to come.
Our mission is to work with Kimberley Aboriginal people to get back Country, look after Country and get control of the future.
Our values are grounded in culture, respect, integrity and empowerment.
EMPOWERING OUR FUTURE
Drive and support nation building initiatives which deliver social, cultural and economic benefits to Kimberley Aboriginal people.
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Work with Traditional Owners in evolving their PBCs and supporting appropriate governance, capacity and long-term sustainability.
Drive and support best practice models and frameworks, embedded in United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) principles, that facilitate engagement and inclusion opportunities with Kimberley Aboriginal people.
Identify and lead development in projects that embrace innovative thinking for social, cultural and economic development.
Map and develop where necessary, opportunities for PBCs to be involved in regional industry which drive self-determination and lasting prosperity.
Provide support mechanisms for Traditional Owners to address dispute resolution through an appropriate cultural lens.
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Invest in initiatives that empower and build governance, operational capacity, collaborative networks, and communication systems of PBCs.
Hold biennial (every 2 yrs) forums that strengthen PBC governance, enhance communication and collaboration, keep informed on key Kimberley issues, and amplify a united voice to government and other decision-makers.
Establish Natural Capital projects.
Deliver best practice framework for involvement in renewable energy projects in the Kimberley.
Embed climate change data and disaster resilience research with an Indigenous focus into projects and programs.
RIGHTS, RECOGNITION & JUSTICE
Protect and elevate Kimberley Aboriginal rights and interests guided by cultural values and truth-telling.
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Identify and drive opportunities that ensure the Kimberley is under Aboriginal management and ownership.
Represent Traditional Owners in pursuing strong and successful litigation and legal precedent on native title, future acts, cultural heritage, water, compensation and key issues impacting Kimberley Aboriginal people.
Provide support for Traditional Owner decision making with integrity to cultural protocols and the principles of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC).
Advocate for reform of legal and policy frameworks that strengthen ownership, stewardship and decision-making authority over Country for Traditional Owners.
Provide leadership and support in land and sea management initiatives that uphold and advance Traditional Owner rights, knowledge and heritage values.
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Strengthen and expand ranger network functions including sourcing long term funding to ensure sustainability.
Support Traditional Owners to explore World Heritage listing opportunities.
Provide leadership for a united position for best practice cultural heritage protection laws and water rights that provide control to Traditional Owners.
Facilitate and run a successful compensation claim that sets precedents to benefit Kimberley Aboriginal people.
PARTNERSHIPS & RELATIONSHIPS
Drive and support nation building initiatives which deliver social, cultural and economic benefits to Kimberley Aboriginal people.
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Work with Traditional Owners in evolving their PBCs and supporting appropriate governance, capacity and long-term sustainability.
Drive and support best practice models and frameworks, embedded in United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) principles, that facilitate engagement and inclusion opportunities with Kimberley Aboriginal people.
Identify and lead development in projects that embrace innovative thinking for social, cultural and economic development.
Map and develop where necessary, opportunities for PBCs to be involved in regional industry which drive self-determination and lasting prosperity.
Provide support mechanisms for Traditional Owners to address dispute resolution through an appropriate cultural lens.
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Invest in initiatives that empower and build governance, operational capacity, collaborative networks, and communication systems of PBCs.
Hold biennial (every 2 yrs) forums that strengthen PBC governance, enhance communication and collaboration, keep informed on key Kimberley issues, and amplify a united voice to government and other decision-makers.
Establish Natural Capital projects.
Deliver best practice framework for involvement in renewable energy projects in the Kimberley.
Embed climate change data and disaster resilience research with an Indigenous focus into projects and programs.
SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS
Foster and sustain a resilient, high-performing organisation that empowers and supports the Kimberley region for the long term.
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Pursue and support initiatives around diversification of funding by developing and leveraging self-generating opportunities which enable independent pursuit of social, cultural and regional priorities.
Evolve and implement programs, systems, structures for efficient and effective organisational operations.
Continue to attract, develop and retain a highly skilled workforce reflective of the Kimberley community and fostering Aboriginal leadership.
Uphold our commitment to accountability through best practice governance and compliance standards.
Continue to assert a strong strategic voice to guide policy, legislative reform, and regional advocacy on current and emerging issues impacting Kimberley Aboriginal people.
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Establish and successfully run an alternative entity which enables sustainable and diverse funding options.
Strengthen organisational culture, capacity and capability.
Enhance communication and governance frameworks to ensure effective, and culturally respectful decision-making with integrity.
AFTERWORD
This Strategic Outlook is not only a statement of where we aspire to be in another 50 years’ time; it is a call to action for the work that must begin and be continued. While it is grounded in the legacy and leadership that have brought us to this point, its real value will be measured in how we translate vision into sustained outcomes for Kimberley Aboriginalpeople, Country and future generations.
Over the coming decades, the Kimberley Land Council must continue to strengthen its role as a capable, trusted and accountable organisation, able to support Traditional Owners to exercise their rights and responsibilities in an increasingly complex environment. This will require strong governance, a skilled and supported workforce, and systems that enable us to respond effectively to opportunities and challenges across land tenure, native title, heritage, water, development and environmental stewardship. It also demands that we remain adaptable, innovative and disciplined in how we deliver our work.
Central to this Outlook is the recognition that long-term change is built through consistent effort, partnership and investment. Achieving the aspirations set out here will require collaboration with Traditional Owners, PBCs, communities, governments, industry and allies – always guided by cultural authority and the principles of free, prior and informed consent. It will also require us to build economic and organisational foundations that allow Aboriginal leadership and decision-making to endure well beyond funding cycles and political terms.
As CEO, I am committed to ensuring that this Strategic Outlook is embedded into the way KLC plans, prioritises and measures its work. It will inform our strategies, operational plans and performance over time, providing a clear line of sight between long-term vision and day-to-day action. The journey ahead is significant, and there is no single endpoint. But with clarity of purpose, collective effort and an unwavering focus on strengthening Aboriginal control over Country and futures, this Outlook provides a framework for the work that must be done, and the responsibility we carry to do it well.
Tyronne Garstone, KLC CEO