'Good medicine': playgroup brings generational joy
But now there's an extra reason she looks forward to these special bonding times - she attends the Marra Elders Playgroup, which started only a few weeks ago but has already won her heart.
"I call it good medicine," Lisa told AAP.
The benefits are multiple.
Her granddaughter, whose great grandparents live some distance away, instead gets to learn from the other Elders in the group but so too does Lisa love the opportunity to yarn with them.
"I didn't grow up around a lot of my own Elders because my Elders were already passed away," she said.
"This has been a great opportunity for myself to be able to learn and listen as well."
Many families don't have access to Elders for various reasons, says Ingrid Coad, manager of the Aboriginal Elders Village in Adelaide, where the playgroup is run.
But the Elders at the village relish being able to pass down stories and language to not only the littlest attendees of the playgroup but the generations between too.
"They're actually teaching the little ones in Pitjantjatjara the heads, shoulders, knees and toes song," Ms Coad said.
"They're also teaching the mums and the grandmothers and the residents who don't speak Pitjantjatjara, they're also learning those words."
Each fortnight at the playgroup, run in collaboration with Aboriginal Community Services, Playgroup SA and local cultural community centre Marra Dreaming, the Elders and the children come together for painting, cooking, storytelling, music and weaving activities.
"For our Elders, this exciting new program brings joy, purpose and connection, reducing isolation and celebrating their vital role in raising strong, culturally connected children," said Graham Aitken, chief executive of Aboriginal Community Services, which runs the village.
"This is a true community approach where young and old come together to support one another, learn from each other and build strong, inclusive communities."
The playgroup has run for about a month but Ms Coad has already noticed the difference it has made to the residents of the only First Nations aged care home in Adelaide.
"We have a lot of residents who have various stages of dementia and when they see the little ones you can see their smiles," she said.
"They laugh with them, they interact with with the little ones, they're less anxious.
"It's as if they're seeing their own grannies so that's one of the benefits, the joy of seeing the little ones playing with them.
"It's so nice."
Lisa loves having "nanna days" on a Friday with her one-year-old granddaughter.
But now there's an extra reason she looks forward to these special bonding times - she attends the Marra Elders Playgroup, which started only a few weeks ago but has already won her heart.
"I call it good medicine," Lisa told AAP.
The benefits are multiple.
Her granddaughter, whose great grandparents live some distance away, instead gets to learn from the other Elders in the group but so too does Lisa love the opportunity to yarn with them.
"I didn't grow up around a lot of my own Elders because my Elders were already passed away," she said.
"This has been a great opportunity for myself to be able to learn and listen as well."
Many families don't have access to Elders for various reasons, says Ingrid Coad, manager of the Aboriginal Elders Village in Adelaide, where the playgroup is run.
But the Elders at the village relish being able to pass down stories and language to not only the littlest attendees of the playgroup but the generations between too.
"They're actually teaching the little ones in Pitjantjatjara the heads, shoulders, knees and toes song," Ms Coad said.
"They're also teaching the mums and the grandmothers and the residents who don't speak Pitjantjatjara, they're also learning those words."
Each fortnight at the playgroup, run in collaboration with Aboriginal Community Services, Playgroup SA and local cultural community centre Marra Dreaming, the Elders and the children come together for painting, cooking, storytelling, music and weaving activities.
"For our Elders, this exciting new program brings joy, purpose and connection, reducing isolation and celebrating their vital role in raising strong, culturally connected children," said Graham Aitken, chief executive of Aboriginal Community Services, which runs the village.
"This is a true community approach where young and old come together to support one another, learn from each other and build strong, inclusive communities."
The playgroup has run for about a month but Ms Coad has already noticed the difference it has made to the residents of the only First Nations aged care home in Adelaide.
"We have a lot of residents who have various stages of dementia and when they see the little ones you can see their smiles," she said.
"They laugh with them, they interact with with the little ones, they're less anxious.
"It's as if they're seeing their own grannies so that's one of the benefits, the joy of seeing the little ones playing with them.
"It's so nice."
Lisa loves having "nanna days" on a Friday with her one-year-old granddaughter.
But now there's an extra reason she looks forward to these special bonding times - she attends the Marra Elders Playgroup, which started only a few weeks ago but has already won her heart.
"I call it good medicine," Lisa told AAP.
The benefits are multiple.
Her granddaughter, whose great grandparents live some distance away, instead gets to learn from the other Elders in the group but so too does Lisa love the opportunity to yarn with them.
"I didn't grow up around a lot of my own Elders because my Elders were already passed away," she said.
"This has been a great opportunity for myself to be able to learn and listen as well."
Many families don't have access to Elders for various reasons, says Ingrid Coad, manager of the Aboriginal Elders Village in Adelaide, where the playgroup is run.
But the Elders at the village relish being able to pass down stories and language to not only the littlest attendees of the playgroup but the generations between too.
"They're actually teaching the little ones in Pitjantjatjara the heads, shoulders, knees and toes song," Ms Coad said.
"They're also teaching the mums and the grandmothers and the residents who don't speak Pitjantjatjara, they're also learning those words."
Each fortnight at the playgroup, run in collaboration with Aboriginal Community Services, Playgroup SA and local cultural community centre Marra Dreaming, the Elders and the children come together for painting, cooking, storytelling, music and weaving activities.
"For our Elders, this exciting new program brings joy, purpose and connection, reducing isolation and celebrating their vital role in raising strong, culturally connected children," said Graham Aitken, chief executive of Aboriginal Community Services, which runs the village.
"This is a true community approach where young and old come together to support one another, learn from each other and build strong, inclusive communities."
The playgroup has run for about a month but Ms Coad has already noticed the difference it has made to the residents of the only First Nations aged care home in Adelaide.
"We have a lot of residents who have various stages of dementia and when they see the little ones you can see their smiles," she said.
"They laugh with them, they interact with with the little ones, they're less anxious.
"It's as if they're seeing their own grannies so that's one of the benefits, the joy of seeing the little ones playing with them.
"It's so nice."
Lisa loves having "nanna days" on a Friday with her one-year-old granddaughter.
But now there's an extra reason she looks forward to these special bonding times - she attends the Marra Elders Playgroup, which started only a few weeks ago but has already won her heart.
"I call it good medicine," Lisa told AAP.
The benefits are multiple.
Her granddaughter, whose great grandparents live some distance away, instead gets to learn from the other Elders in the group but so too does Lisa love the opportunity to yarn with them.
"I didn't grow up around a lot of my own Elders because my Elders were already passed away," she said.
"This has been a great opportunity for myself to be able to learn and listen as well."
Many families don't have access to Elders for various reasons, says Ingrid Coad, manager of the Aboriginal Elders Village in Adelaide, where the playgroup is run.
But the Elders at the village relish being able to pass down stories and language to not only the littlest attendees of the playgroup but the generations between too.
"They're actually teaching the little ones in Pitjantjatjara the heads, shoulders, knees and toes song," Ms Coad said.
"They're also teaching the mums and the grandmothers and the residents who don't speak Pitjantjatjara, they're also learning those words."
Each fortnight at the playgroup, run in collaboration with Aboriginal Community Services, Playgroup SA and local cultural community centre Marra Dreaming, the Elders and the children come together for painting, cooking, storytelling, music and weaving activities.
"For our Elders, this exciting new program brings joy, purpose and connection, reducing isolation and celebrating their vital role in raising strong, culturally connected children," said Graham Aitken, chief executive of Aboriginal Community Services, which runs the village.
"This is a true community approach where young and old come together to support one another, learn from each other and build strong, inclusive communities."
The playgroup has run for about a month but Ms Coad has already noticed the difference it has made to the residents of the only First Nations aged care home in Adelaide.
"We have a lot of residents who have various stages of dementia and when they see the little ones you can see their smiles," she said.
"They laugh with them, they interact with with the little ones, they're less anxious.
"It's as if they're seeing their own grannies so that's one of the benefits, the joy of seeing the little ones playing with them.
"It's so nice."
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SBS Australia
a day ago
- SBS Australia
Rising rates of homelessness among First Nations families spurs calls for intervention
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts . Without a home address, you can't open a bank account. Without a bank account, you can't get a job or even apply for government income support. Without any of those, you can't apply for, let alone rent, a property. While finding secure and affordable housing feels increasingly difficult for many Australians, getting out of homelessness is even harder. Housing organisations are sounding the alarm over the increasing number of First Nations families with children turning to homelessness services. "There's more people just deeply affected by the housing crisis. So rents just keep rising and rising and vacancy rates are really low. So it's really hard for people to find a home they can afford in the rental market. And homelessness services are overwhelmed by all the increasing number of people who need help." That was Kate Colvin, the CEO of Homelessness Australia. According to their latest report, done in conjunction with the The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Association, the number of families with children accessing homelessness services rose by five per cent between the 2022-23 financial year and the 2023-24 financial year. Of that five per cent increase, 31 per cent were Indigenous, with homelessness services assisting over 24,000 Indigenous children over that period. Darren Smith is the CEO of Aboriginal Housing Victoria and the Chair of the Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Forum in Victoria. "I think the first thing to recognise is that there's a history of exclusion, which includes exclusion from housing for Aboriginal people that's gone on for generations in this country. Aboriginal people are 15 times more likely to experience homelessness in Victoria, which really relates to that legacy of colonisation, dispossession, and decades of policy failure." Without adequate resourcing, homelessness organisations are being forced to turn away families in need. Over the two years, data shows a 12 per cent increase in the number of First Nations families already homeless when they first asked for support, and those still homeless at the end of support rose by 8 per cent. Kate Colvin says children are particularly vulnerable in unstable housing. "We know that when children are homeless, often they have to move from place to place. There might only be temporary accommodation available for a very short time, and then they have to move somewhere else. Or oftentimes there's not temporary accommodation available at all and people end up couch surfing, sleeping cars, sometimes even on the street." The Yoorrook Justice Commission was Victoria's and Australia's first formal truth-telling inquiry led by First Peoples, into historic and ongoing systemic injustices perpetrated against First Peoples through colonisation. One focus area in the inquiry was child protection. In Victoria, First Nations children are 21.7 times more likely to be in out-of-home care. First Nations youth in Victoria are also incarcerated at a rate of 10.4 times the rate of non-Indigenous youth. Darren Smith says homelessness is just one consequence of these systemic injustices. "We know that there's a high proportion of Aboriginal children that are in out of home care and involved with a child protection system who are turning up into homelessness services to access housing support. And we should be able to actually do something that can resolve those issues for those young people. And it's part of preventing the next generation of child removals." For kids, not having a stable address often means being unable to attend school. Kate Colvin says that when housing instability starts in youth, it's more likely to persist into adulthood. "It's very difficult for children to stay connected to their education in that circumstance. Even if they're going to school, they might really struggle to fully participate in the classroom. So it has then often a long-term impact with adults who are homeless, particularly rough sleeping, often having had their first experience of homelessness as a child. So huge impacts. And we think that this is such a huge priority for government. We shouldn't have children homeless in Australia, and we really hope that this goes to the top of their priority list." Homelessness comes in different forms, with those sleeping rough making up just over 5 per cent of people experiencing homelessness in 2021. While First Nations people account for under 4 per cent of the total population, they account for 28 per cent of all homeless people in Australia. Darren Smith says generations of disadvantage mean many First Nations families don't have intergenerational wealth to fall back on. "Without safe, secure and affordable housing, people don't have the stability to support themselves. So we understand, and we know about intergenerational wealth as well. So, the fact that people don't have the security so that they can get the kind of opportunities in terms of employment, kids not going to school, all those things contribute in the longer term to the ability to create wealth over a lifetime and intergenerational wealth and without that passing of intergenerational wealth from parents to their children, they're behind the market, behind the ball in terms of being able to actually access the housing market themselves in the future." There are many reasons for homelessness, including poverty, lack of housing supply, domestic and family violence and relationship breakdowns. Kate Colvin says that when people access homelessness services before the point of crisis, they are far less likely to become homeless. "So what we know is that if someone comes to a homeless service and can get that early intervention support, so they come to a homelessness service, they're at risk of homelessness, in 80 per cent of circumstances, they don't become homeless. So the homeless service can help negotiate issues that may have arisen with the landlord, might be able to help assist with some arrears if that's the issue. Or sometimes if it's family breakdown, often we have young people who are experiencing homelessness because of conflict or difficulties at home. And a homelessness service might be able to assist that young person to return safely home if that's possible, or to stay safely perhaps with another family member." The problem, she says, is that with surging demand for these services, those not yet in crisis can't be prioritised. "But the problem is that when people come to a homelessness service, they've got so many people who just don't have accommodation that evening that they're triaging the support that's available. And so it does end up going to someone who is in that more immediate and desperate circumstance, but then down the track, the problem is, is that it's much harder to rehouse people than it is to stop the tenancy breakdown." With nationwide housing supply issues, even those with secure employment are finding it increasingly difficult to find affordable, appropriate housing. Dr Erika Martino is a VicHealth Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre of Health Policy at the University of Melbourne. She says that racism can also be a barrier to getting rentals. "Our work and also more broad evidence in the sector suggests that racism in the rental market is widespread, but it's often under-reported and also extremely hard to prove. And this can include being ignored by agents offered fewer inspections, asked to pay more rent or much more rent upfront to secure the properties. We heard that a lot, that people had to cough up to six months rent to secure a place. And these practices are essentially, I would say, facilitated by an unequal power dynamic within the rental system that preferences housing provider rights over tenant rights." Darren Smith says that some landlords and real estate agents make assumptions about potential renters and sometimes prioritise non-Indigenous applicants. "We certainly see that Aboriginal people don't have the same opportunities that everyone else has. So if there's a choice, Aboriginal people are at the bottom of it. We do hear stories, particularly for regional areas about families being knocked back for properties. Assumptions being made about who the renters are or potential renters are based on their surnames. And even we see discrimination from time to time where people are working for Aboriginal organisations that there's an assumption around Aboriginality where they don't get the same kind of opportunities to access private rental markets." Homelessness is not only an issue of housing, but of health. Dr Martino says if rising rates aren't dealt with, Australia's health system will also be impacted. "There is a large body of evidence both generated from within my research group and internationally that shows that homelessness and housing insecurity are strongly linked to poor, physical and also poor mental health outcomes. So for example, people experiencing homelessness face higher rates of chronic illness, injury, disability, and also premature mortality. And mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and trauma are both causes and consequences of housing instability. " If the rate of Indigenous people accessing homelessness services in Victoria were scaled up to the general population of Victoria, it would be around 1.2 million people. If 1.2 million Victorians were accessing homelessness services, it would likely be declared a national emergency. Kate Colvin says the longer this crisis goes unaddressed, the more investment will be needed down the line. "So the main issue with federal and state interventions in homelessness is that there's just simply not enough resourcing. So for example, when we have a health crisis like COVID , there was a huge surge in investment into hospitals because there was a recognition that more people would need that emergency intervention. But we have had a growing and growing and growing housing crisis in this country, and the governments just haven't responded by increasing investment in homelessness services. " While the Australian government has committed to building more homes, not all forms of housing are appropriate for everyone. Dr Martino says problems often arise when social housing models are treated as one size fits all. "There are in particular certain housing forms that are, or models that don't work particularly well. So for example, shared or high density settings, housing can often retraumatise women who have been experienced abuse or violence. And some of my research, having spoken to some women who've been through say, the crisis accommodation system because there's not enough crisis accommodation available, often women will end up in motels due to insufficient supply, and this is actually placed or places women at further risk. And this will sometimes mean that women end up returning to unsafe family homes. So they're essentially forced to choose between homelessness and violence." The Australian Government's Closing the Gap Target aims to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in appropriately sized housing to 88 per cent by 2031. While improvements have been made, the government is not on track to meet those targets. Darren Smith says that to provide culturally safe and appropriate housing for Aboriginal people, there needs to be more investment in the Aboriginal community controlled sector. "The first thing you need to do when you need to address homelessness is you need to be able to provide people with a home. And we have 7,000 Aboriginal people across Victoria at the moment that are seeking social housing, and we need to make sure that the Aboriginal community controlled sector is supported so that they can actually provide that housing." Kate Colvin says if the government wants to see serious improvements, it must put First Nations-led organisations in charge of leading the efforts. "Homelessness Australia is seeking to resolve that by really calling for a change in direction from the government. So we want to see a dedicated First Nations led housing and homelessness plan to really put Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in charge of what the solutions are and delivering those resources. Because what we can see is that it hasn't worked when governments have just made decisions for First Nations communities and delivered resources in ways that haven't been successful."
Perth Now
30-07-2025
- Perth Now
Clandestine US submarine flexes muscle at Aussie port
A small emblem on the control panel of the USS Ohio reminds navy personnel how and why they operate. "Silence is victory," it reads. The US submarine arrived in Brisbane waters on the weekend before docking at the city's port, a first ever visit to the city by a vessel in its class. The Ohio - a nuclear-powered guided missile submarine - is visiting Brisbane to coincide with the upcoming 80th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific on August 15 - which marks the end of World War II in the region. Brisbane hosted over 70 US submarines and three submarine tenders during the War. But this kind of firepower in Queensland waters is a rare sight as the 170 metre long, 13 metre wide vessel rests adjacent to the USS Frank Cable. Captain Eric Hunter describes the submarine as a "deterrent and geopolitical force" as media are escorted in to see the ship's internal machinery. The control station boasts screens, buttons, and steering instruments enabling officers to plunge the submarine in excess of 200m underwater. The 165 total people aboard operate in hushed voices. Silence is victory and remaining undetected is always the goal. One of the vessel's navigational officers uses an Xbox remote when showing how external cameras scan around the boat. "Complete independence," he says, when describing what makes his job 'incredible'. Living away from family, friends and natural light isn't easy. Navy personnel sometimes go 90 days without seeing the sun. Living quarters host eight or nine people in tiny bunks. The 24-hour cycle aboard offers eight hours of work, eight of sleep, and eight to study, upskill or play cards, board games or watch movies with other staff. Taco Tuesday is a favourite of the three allocated meals per day. Across the four decks, other operational areas include a torpedo room, a dedicated team to the vessel's auxiliary and engine function and missile function deck. The Ohio has 12 sailors responsible for 22 missile tubes, each carrying seven each. Aboard are 154 guided missiles ready to launch at any moment. Throughout the tour, two things are constant for the ship's captain: pride and accomplishment. "Watching them( sailors) refine their skills and accomplishments is eye watering," the 48-year-old skipper tells AAP. "We have a very competent crew." The Ohio's arrival follows that of the USS America a fortnight ago when the amphibious assault ship docked at the port and a trilateral agreement was signed between the United States, Japan and Australia. Ohio-class submarines are 18,750 tons submerged and the largest submarines ever built for the US The United States Chargé d'Affaires Erika Olsen and Australian Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AO will mark the 80-year anniversary of victory in the Pacific aboard the USS Frank Cable on Wednesday.
The Advertiser
24-07-2025
- The Advertiser
Water quality continues to plague largest river system
Ecosystems along Australia's biggest waterway continue to struggle despite a plan to return water to the environment showing positive signs. Murray Darling Basin Authority reports on river health have found declining native fish populations, ongoing water-quality issues and insufficient flood-plain watering despite the recovery of 2135 gigalitres of annual water entitlements to the system over 13 years. Balancing the needs of basin's environment with its 2.4 million residents, more than 50 Indigenous nations and the communities, farms and businesses that depended on it was no easy task, authority chief executive Andrew McConville said. "It's clear from the results that the Basin Plan is working, but there is more to be done," he said. "What we do next will determine the long-term health of the basin." Full implementation of the plan and its ultimate goal of returning 3200 gigalitres to the environment was a long and costly way off, with the most cost-effective approaches to water efficiency already exhausted, the report found. Hydrology reports found the basin had become hotter and drier in recent years, as increased rainfall and climate variability had produced years with strong floods or droughts but little in between. While government schemes and water management strategies had helped reduce salinity, water quality issues such as blue green algae, black water, and hypoxic water events were on the rise, in many cases leading to mass fish deaths. Native fish populations were under continued pressure, even in areas where environmental water had been returned, according to Matthew Coleman, the authority general manager who led the evaluation. "There's a lot of other drivers of native fish health," Mr Coleman told AAP. "So, barriers that don't allow fish to move up and down the river, water quality events and importantly, invasive species like carp - all of these effects are driving native fish health to be poor." Waterbird populations had improved, but were still recovering from the long-term decline recorded before the Basin Plan was adopted. As for communities along the river system, the audit found the Basin's economy and its agricultural turnover rose from $35 billion to $54 billion since 2022, but some smaller, less economically diverse towns had faced shrinking populations as their water access dried up. The evaluation report conceded more must to be done to include Traditional Owners in water management and decision-making, and noted only up to 0.2 per cent of total water allocation by volume was held by First Nations interests. The authority will hold its annual River Reflections conference in Murray Bridge, South Australia, on July 29 and 30. Ecosystems along Australia's biggest waterway continue to struggle despite a plan to return water to the environment showing positive signs. Murray Darling Basin Authority reports on river health have found declining native fish populations, ongoing water-quality issues and insufficient flood-plain watering despite the recovery of 2135 gigalitres of annual water entitlements to the system over 13 years. Balancing the needs of basin's environment with its 2.4 million residents, more than 50 Indigenous nations and the communities, farms and businesses that depended on it was no easy task, authority chief executive Andrew McConville said. "It's clear from the results that the Basin Plan is working, but there is more to be done," he said. "What we do next will determine the long-term health of the basin." Full implementation of the plan and its ultimate goal of returning 3200 gigalitres to the environment was a long and costly way off, with the most cost-effective approaches to water efficiency already exhausted, the report found. Hydrology reports found the basin had become hotter and drier in recent years, as increased rainfall and climate variability had produced years with strong floods or droughts but little in between. While government schemes and water management strategies had helped reduce salinity, water quality issues such as blue green algae, black water, and hypoxic water events were on the rise, in many cases leading to mass fish deaths. Native fish populations were under continued pressure, even in areas where environmental water had been returned, according to Matthew Coleman, the authority general manager who led the evaluation. "There's a lot of other drivers of native fish health," Mr Coleman told AAP. "So, barriers that don't allow fish to move up and down the river, water quality events and importantly, invasive species like carp - all of these effects are driving native fish health to be poor." Waterbird populations had improved, but were still recovering from the long-term decline recorded before the Basin Plan was adopted. As for communities along the river system, the audit found the Basin's economy and its agricultural turnover rose from $35 billion to $54 billion since 2022, but some smaller, less economically diverse towns had faced shrinking populations as their water access dried up. The evaluation report conceded more must to be done to include Traditional Owners in water management and decision-making, and noted only up to 0.2 per cent of total water allocation by volume was held by First Nations interests. The authority will hold its annual River Reflections conference in Murray Bridge, South Australia, on July 29 and 30. Ecosystems along Australia's biggest waterway continue to struggle despite a plan to return water to the environment showing positive signs. Murray Darling Basin Authority reports on river health have found declining native fish populations, ongoing water-quality issues and insufficient flood-plain watering despite the recovery of 2135 gigalitres of annual water entitlements to the system over 13 years. Balancing the needs of basin's environment with its 2.4 million residents, more than 50 Indigenous nations and the communities, farms and businesses that depended on it was no easy task, authority chief executive Andrew McConville said. "It's clear from the results that the Basin Plan is working, but there is more to be done," he said. "What we do next will determine the long-term health of the basin." Full implementation of the plan and its ultimate goal of returning 3200 gigalitres to the environment was a long and costly way off, with the most cost-effective approaches to water efficiency already exhausted, the report found. Hydrology reports found the basin had become hotter and drier in recent years, as increased rainfall and climate variability had produced years with strong floods or droughts but little in between. While government schemes and water management strategies had helped reduce salinity, water quality issues such as blue green algae, black water, and hypoxic water events were on the rise, in many cases leading to mass fish deaths. Native fish populations were under continued pressure, even in areas where environmental water had been returned, according to Matthew Coleman, the authority general manager who led the evaluation. "There's a lot of other drivers of native fish health," Mr Coleman told AAP. "So, barriers that don't allow fish to move up and down the river, water quality events and importantly, invasive species like carp - all of these effects are driving native fish health to be poor." Waterbird populations had improved, but were still recovering from the long-term decline recorded before the Basin Plan was adopted. As for communities along the river system, the audit found the Basin's economy and its agricultural turnover rose from $35 billion to $54 billion since 2022, but some smaller, less economically diverse towns had faced shrinking populations as their water access dried up. The evaluation report conceded more must to be done to include Traditional Owners in water management and decision-making, and noted only up to 0.2 per cent of total water allocation by volume was held by First Nations interests. The authority will hold its annual River Reflections conference in Murray Bridge, South Australia, on July 29 and 30. Ecosystems along Australia's biggest waterway continue to struggle despite a plan to return water to the environment showing positive signs. Murray Darling Basin Authority reports on river health have found declining native fish populations, ongoing water-quality issues and insufficient flood-plain watering despite the recovery of 2135 gigalitres of annual water entitlements to the system over 13 years. Balancing the needs of basin's environment with its 2.4 million residents, more than 50 Indigenous nations and the communities, farms and businesses that depended on it was no easy task, authority chief executive Andrew McConville said. "It's clear from the results that the Basin Plan is working, but there is more to be done," he said. "What we do next will determine the long-term health of the basin." Full implementation of the plan and its ultimate goal of returning 3200 gigalitres to the environment was a long and costly way off, with the most cost-effective approaches to water efficiency already exhausted, the report found. Hydrology reports found the basin had become hotter and drier in recent years, as increased rainfall and climate variability had produced years with strong floods or droughts but little in between. While government schemes and water management strategies had helped reduce salinity, water quality issues such as blue green algae, black water, and hypoxic water events were on the rise, in many cases leading to mass fish deaths. Native fish populations were under continued pressure, even in areas where environmental water had been returned, according to Matthew Coleman, the authority general manager who led the evaluation. "There's a lot of other drivers of native fish health," Mr Coleman told AAP. "So, barriers that don't allow fish to move up and down the river, water quality events and importantly, invasive species like carp - all of these effects are driving native fish health to be poor." Waterbird populations had improved, but were still recovering from the long-term decline recorded before the Basin Plan was adopted. As for communities along the river system, the audit found the Basin's economy and its agricultural turnover rose from $35 billion to $54 billion since 2022, but some smaller, less economically diverse towns had faced shrinking populations as their water access dried up. The evaluation report conceded more must to be done to include Traditional Owners in water management and decision-making, and noted only up to 0.2 per cent of total water allocation by volume was held by First Nations interests. The authority will hold its annual River Reflections conference in Murray Bridge, South Australia, on July 29 and 30.
