The research project was designed by a cross-disciplinary research team, and was divided into eight components:

Component One

Describe Indigenous cultural values and needs across Australia.

Component one was a desktop research project that provided a systematic and comprehensive reference of what is currently known about Indigenous uses and values of water. It looked at existing literature from across Australia as well as internationally.

 

Component Two

Component two involved developing and using methodologies to describe and measure the cultural water uses, values and needs of particular Australian Aboriginal communities, with a focus on the Murray Darling Basin.

Through participatory research methods, Component two looked at the historical and contemporary cultural uses and values of water in selected case study areas. It provided an authoritative basis from which quantitative cultural flow requirements could be determined.

 

Component Three

Quantify water volumes to meet cultural values and needs and scientific assessment of trial flows.

Component three was undertaken alongside component two in the selected case study areas, and quantified the volumes, flow and timing of water required to meet the identified water uses and values. First Nations research teams worked with hydrologists, ecologists and social scientists to develop modelling methodologies and watering strategies that would have the potential for delivering future cultural flow needs. Through this component indicators and baseline information for measuring the wellbeing, health, cultural and economic impacts of cultural flows were developed.

 

Component Four

Develop and implement a monitoring methodology of the ecological and socio-economic, health and wellbeing outcomes of Cultural Flows and analyse how they compare with environmental flow outcomes.

Component four built on the previous components to develop a framework for assessing what impacts cultural flows are having on the spiritual, cultural, environmental, social and economic objectives determined by the Aboriginal communities in the case study areas, and provided a step-by-step methodology for assessing First Nations' cultural flow needs. It identified implications of the field work for achieving broader cultural flow outcomes across Australia.

 

Component Five

Recommend policy, legal and institutional changes that will enable the implementation of Cultural Flows for the economic, social and cultural benefit of Indigenous communities.

Taking the findings from the earlier research efforts and undertaking a comprehensive review of past research, component five researchers will look across the range of relevant policies, legislation and governance arrangements to identify options for institutional changes that could entrench cultural flows in Australia's water allocation framework. Looking across national, state and local jurisdictions, component five identifies pathways for First Nations to effect change.

 

Component Six

Build the capacity of Indigenous communities to articulate their water needs and advocate for cultural water allocations for the economic, social and cultural benefit of Indigenous communities

Component six focused on strengthening the capacity of Aboriginal people and organisations to take an active part in water management and make a strong case for claiming cultural water provisions. 

 

Component Seven

Inform First Nations communities of the process and activities related to the research program

The aim of component seven was to share information about the processes and activities related to the research program, and create an ongoing dialogue with First Nations communities, government agencies and water planners about the research findings. MLDRIN and NBAN delegates were involved in every stage of the research project and the conversation will continue as the results of the National Cultural Flows Research Project are used to influence changes in the water management framework.

 

Component Eight

Support the Research Committee in its objectives and provide executive and administration assistance.

Component eight involved the executive and administrative assistance to support the Research Committee in achieving the goals of the project. The secretariat’s primary function was to ensure that the each component of the research program is completed on time, within budget and to a high standard, and in a way that met the needs of First Nations across Australia.