Connecting with Country with Kamilaroi woman Kerrie Shepherd

Kamilaroi woman Kerrie Shepherd is Principal of Connecting with Country at Aboriginal-owned urban design company Yerrabingin. She offers simple advice to architects and developers looking to connect with Country for the first time.

One of the biggest shifts in the built environment in the last decade has been the embrace of the Aboriginal and First Nations’ concept of Country. 

Australia's First Nations' peoples have an enduring responsibility for caring for land, water and sky, spanning millennia, with contemporary Australia beginning to embrace this valuable ‘living database’ of knowledge and practice. 

Designers and developers now understand that connecting with Country enriches our places and spaces and supports a more sustainable future. 

Image: Kerrie Shepherd and Christian Hampson /Jessica Lindsay

Today, 'indigenising design'1 is integral to architectural education and competency2, whilst the NSW Government's 'Connecting with Country Framework'3 (introduced in 2023) provides a roadmap for culturally and environmentally sensitive design guided by Aboriginal people. 

Kamilaroi woman Kerrie Shepherd is Principal of Connecting with Country at Aboriginal-owned urban design company Yerrabingin, drawing on extensive lived experience with First Nations communities. 

Shepherd is amazed at how quickly architects and developers are adopting the principles of connecting with Country, noting that for some it is their first interaction with Indigenous communities. This can make it hard to know where to start.

"We were working with a developer who, at the start of the project, was really apprehensive. They just didn't know how to engage with First Nations peoples,” Shepherd says. 

“So as part of our workshop planning process, we had one of our community engagement officers talk to them about some protocols. After that, they felt more confident and were more effective in their interactions." 

She says this led to better outcomes for the community and the project. 
"Whilst it's not always easy, having some knowledge of the local First Nations culture can help proceed in a positive and successful manner,” Shepherd says.
"People don't know what they don't know.”

She offers simple advice to architects and developers looking to connect with Country for the first time. 

"The first step is to take the time to research the area where your project is located. Contact the local Aboriginal Land Council or First Nations organisations/community. If you are still concerned, Indigenous consultants like Yerrabingin can assist in arranging the visit and attend with you to support the process."

When meeting with the community for the first time, Shepherd suggests the following. 

•    Start by introducing yourself. 
•    Explain why you want to engage with the community. 
•    Explain why it is important that their voices are heard in the design and development of the project. 
•    Explain the process and the timeframe for project development and implementation.
•    Be clear that the opportunity for engagement is an open, collaborative process, and that it is important for the community to engage so that the outcomes will be culturally and spiritually significant to them. 
•    Remember, in all your dealings, that the land and waters on which the project will be undertaken was, is, and always will be Aboriginal land.
Shepherd emphasises that engagement with First Nations communities is not just one way. It presents a unique opportunity for architects and developers to immerse themselves in one of the oldest cultures on Earth whilst also sharing knowledge about how good design and development can result in a culturally and community significant build.

Before reaching out, Shepherd suggests project teams undertake cultural awareness training, noting that training programs differ. 

"Check that the program is not just about history but will help you in your day-to-day community interactions,” she says.

According to her, in New South Wales, another challenge is understanding the nuances of the NSW Government's 'Connecting with Country Framework'.
"Experienced Indigenous consultants are uniquely placed to provide advice and guidance on complying with the obligations contained in the Framework,” Shepherd says.

Image: Kamilaroi woman Kerrie Shepherd is Principal of Connecting with Country at Aboriginal-owned urban design company Yerrabingin / Jessica Lindsay