First Nations Better Practice Community Engagement

A place where First Nations-led thought leaders share knowledge and engagement ideas across the energy and water sectors.

This First Nations Better Practice Community Engagement Community of Practice brings together better practice community engagement experts, case studies and practical experience from across the energy and water sectors to explore what worked well, what was learned and what outcomes were achieved along the way.

It aims to support the energy and water sectors to improve the way we work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander customers and communities through three stages of engagement.

This Community of Practice is a collaboration between The Energy Charter and Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA).

Join the Community of Practice

These sessions are open to anyone who would like to come along and learn. Join our Community of Practice and receive notification of upcoming sessions and the opportunity to tell us what you’d like to learn in future sessions.

First Nations Better Practice Community Engagement Toolkit

The First Nations Better Practice Community Engagement Toolkit is designed to help energy and water organisations strengthen the way they work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander customers and communities, guiding engagement across three key stages:

  1. The Foundations: Cultural Training and Awareness
    This stage prioritises cultural training and awareness as the first step of the better practice journey.
  2. Building Blocks: Towards Better First Nations Engagement
    This stage develops practice recognising that engagement with First Nations communities is different to other engagement.
  3. Ongoing Steps: Strategic Partnering
    This stage helps organisations move away from opportunistic engagement towards long-term trusting relationships.

All presentations, artifacts and video recordings are drawn from Community of Practice sessions. 

Access the First Nations Better Practice Community Engagement Toolkit

Meet the hosts

Nina Braid
Aboriginal Partnerships Manager, Yarra Valley Water


Nina is an Aboriginal woman from far-north South Australia. She has over ten years’ experience working in and with communities for conservation and environmental purposes as a project manager at the Indigenous Land Corporation.

Nina is currently working as the Aboriginal Partnerships Manager with Yarra Valley Water and the 2022 Victorian Water Professional of the Year. Nina is also a board member of Trust for Nature.

Graeme Gardner

Aboriginal Community Engagement Advisor, TasNetworks

Graeme is a Palawa man, descending from the Trawlwoolway people of North East Tasmania (lutruwita).

Graeme has a long held passion for working to address critical issues affecting the Aboriginal community, particularly in relation to Aboriginal health and wellbeing, social justice and the recognition of our cultural identity.


This Community of Practice aligns with:
Principle 1: We will put customers + communities at the centre of our business and the energy system

Learn more

Speak to Bec Jolly, Director, Energy Equity to learn more about the First Nations Better Practice Community Engagement Community of Practice.