What FNIA can do for you
If you're in industry or government and need to engage with First Nations communities the right way, we provide culturally grounded pathways — proper risk assessments, relationship mapping to get you talking to the right people, and advice that keeps your projects aligned with Closing the Gap and reconciliation commitments.
If you're a Traditional Owner group looking to be heard in negotiations, we can help you develop clear plans, prepare for complex agreements like ILUAs, and build governance that actually works for your community.
Everything we do is led by First Nations professionals who understand how community decision-making actually happens, not just what the policy documents say. We respect cultural authority and robust governance, and we deliver real outcomes.
Case Study
We pride ourselves on our adaptability and commitment to excellence in every aspect of our service. Explore what we have to offer and how we can contribute to your success.
Boodjamulla National Park
Returning Country to Waanyi Hands
The Challenge
Boodjamulla National Park previously sat under government management. To the Waanyi people, this place holds deep cultural significance — their lore, stories, and responsibilities are woven into every waterhole and sandstone formation. Yet the Traditional Owners had little formal say in how the park was run, and saw minimal economic benefit from the visitors who came from across Australia.
This wasn't just a paperwork problem. Getting Waanyi people properly involved meant navigating government processes, building real trust between QPWS and Traditional Owner representatives, and creating a management framework that respected both conservation needs and cultural authority. And it couldn't just be about governance — it had to deliver genuine economic opportunities for the community, turning cultural stewardship into real livelihoods.
Our Approach
We facilitated the negotiations for the ILUA and Cooperative Management Agreement and set up the Cooperative Management Council (CMC). This joint body brings together QPWS representatives and Waanyi PBC representatives as genuine partners.
Here's how we worked
Elders First
Before any formal talks began, we sat down with Waanyi Elders and lore men. Cultural authority had to guide everything that followed.
Structured but Flexible
We mapped out a four-stage process: first, scoping what the community actually wanted and worried about; then planning workshops with Traditional Owners, QPWS staff, and FNIA facilitating; next, developing the formal management documents and protocols; finally, a structured handover so the Waanyi PBC could keep the governance running independently.
Economics Built In
Throughout the negotiations, we kept focussing on the alignment of strategic plans and goals of the Government and Waanyi People including on how this arrangement could create jobs, training, and business opportunities for Waanyi people. The management plan needed to be about more than conservation — it had to build sustainable community prosperity.
What Happened
The Boodjamulla Management Plan got negotiated and implemented. Governance authority now sits with the Waanyi Traditional Owners through the Cooperative Management Council. In a Queensland first, the ILUA and Management Agreements were signed and the Park handed back to Waanyi People.
The Results:
Governance:
The Waanyi PBC co-chairs management of a major Queensland national park alongside QPWS
Economic:
Framework in place for ranger jobs, cultural tourism development, training pathways and in perpetuity funding.
Cultural:
Traditional Owners now decide how their stories, sites, and obligations are respected and shared within the park
Why This Matters
The Boodjamulla outcome shows what's possible when Traditional Owners come to the table prepared, properly supported, and with their cultural authority genuinely recognised. It also shows how the outcomes aligned with the Queensland Government Policy. It wasn't just a policy win — it was a community taking back stewardship of their Country, with the structures in place to turn that stewardship into economic benefit for generations.
That's the FNIA approach: grounded in culture, alignment with stakeholders plans and goals, rigorous in method, and focused on mutual respect.