🎨 Transport NSW Integrates Aboriginal Art, Identity Locally

Transport for NSW is forging ahead with its commitment to embed Aboriginal culture and identity within the state's infrastructure projects, a move that is seeing positive outcomes for communities, including those in the Shoalhaven region.

This initiative goes beyond mere aesthetics, aiming for truly place-based results that echo local identity and context. A key element driving this approach is early and sustained collaboration with Aboriginal stakeholders, guided by frameworks such as the Connecting with Country Framework, Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan, and Aboriginal Art Strategy. These tools are crucial in weaving Aboriginal voices, stories, and perspectives into project outcomes.

A notable example of this integration is the presence of cultural storytelling panels celebrating the area's rich Aboriginal heritage along the Shoalhaven River, a significant local waterway near Nowra. These installations are a testament to the value of meaningful engagement with Aboriginal communities to ensure cultural interpretation is authentic and locally relevant.

The integration of Aboriginal culture into infrastructure has yielded significant social, cultural, and economic benefits across various projects. This success highlights the importance of early engagement, co-design, and enduring partnerships with Aboriginal communities and businesses. Transport for NSW works closely with Aboriginal artists and communities to infuse cultural narratives into infrastructure through diverse mediums like sculpture, murals, language, and interpretive panels, fostering a deeper sense of place and cultural visibility.

Looking ahead, Transport for NSW will continue to utilise its guiding frameworks, extending this commitment beyond major projects to embed culture into everyday practices, ensuring Aboriginal identity and stories are consistently respected at all levels of delivery across New South Wales.