Held in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) on Arrernte Country, Voices from the Bush 2024 created a space for vulnerability, inclusivity and honest discussions about the continued disparity in water services experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Developed under the leadership of Conference Committee Chair Kiara Rogers, a proud Aboriginal woman from regional South Australia, Voices 2024 was hosted by the Australian Water Association (AWA) and the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA).
Bringing together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, water custodians and professionals from across the country, the event invited courageous dialogue on water equity, cultural leadership and shared responsibility.
Here, we are sharing Kiara Rogers' keynote address, a powerful call to action, urging collaboration, accountability and genuine co-design to close the water gap.
Kiara Rogers is the owner and founder of three businesses: KSJ Consulting, Platinum Civil and Argyle Recruitment. Kiara is a Peter Cullen Trust Fellow, a 2023 Vicki Cullen Scholarship recipient, the Leith Bulley Award recipient, as well as the winner of the 2024 40 Under 40 Social Impact Award. Kiara is the first Aboriginal woman in South Australia to own and manage a civil construction company.
With strength, vulnerability and pride, Kiara reflected on her journey and challenged all Australians to act decisively to ensure access to clean, safe water for every community.
Welcome all to the second Voices from the Bush Conference. I would like to acknowledge the Arrernte people as the Traditional Owners of Mparntwe on whose land we gather today. I pay respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the room today, particularly those Elders of mine who have guided me, counselled me and given me a what for when I need it.
Uncle Bill Wilson, Uncle Alan McKenzie, Rob Singleton and Sharon Platt: I sincerely thank you all. I would not be standing here today without you.
Your continued work and advocacy for the basic human rights of Aboriginal people is inspirational. Please, everyone in the room, take some time today to have a yarn with these people. They've come here with generosity to have difficult conversations, so I encourage you all to speak to my Elders.
Thank you. To my children and my partner, with the privilege of being here today in the room and taking this journey with me, the sacrifice my children make, sharing their mum with their community, I am forever grateful. To Eric, my mentor, my friend, my colleague, thank you for reaching out and supporting me to stand before you all today in the honour of opening such an important conference.
Thank you for being such an important ally to all of our mobs around Australia. We appreciate it. To WSAA and AWA, Adam and Corinne, thank you for allowing our working group to stretch the comfort zones and challenge the norms. It shows incredible leadership to being vulnerable and putting your trust in us.
Thank you to all the working group members, the volunteers and all those that are attending today with the purpose of education, cultural learning and preparation to open your minds.
It is time – it is time for a call to action.
We are not simply here for our corporate and social responsibilities. We are here because each and every one of you has a responsibility to ensure every Australian, no matter their geographical location or socio-economic status, has access to clean water every day.
Voices from the Bush is a call to action, a rally cry for us to all come together to have difficult and uncomfortable conversations, to finally bridge the gap in the stark water disparities that exist within our country. This conference aims to tackle the challenges facing regional and remote communities across Australia, opening a platform for diverse voices to collaborate and contribute to meaningful, lasting change.
Everyone is here with generosity and vulnerability to listen. Let's have those difficult conversations. The next couple of days serve as a dedicated forum for open discussion on key issues impacting regional and remote Australian communities.
Let's focus on fostering connection, sharing insights and promoting through our leadership. I stand before you today to discuss an issue that is essential to life as the air we breathe – water. But I promise I won't get too deep in the details.
That's for the Knowledge Holders and the scientists. Though this topic is one that runs strong and steady through the hearts of all Australians, should Australians all know the current situation facing our remote communities, where our babies get sick because of poor governance and policy, could you imagine the outcry?
Because ladies and gentlemen, fundamentally that is what it is. To begin with, I would like you to consider the following questions I have for you over the next few days. How many of you, when having a glass of water or a cup of tea, stop and think about the water you drink?
How many of you have experienced ongoing boiled water alerts and notices from the Department of Health? How does it feel to constantly wonder if the water flowing out of your taps is safe for your family to drink, to cook, to bathe in? Have you ever thought about the communities that don't have the luxury of turning on a tap to get clean water?
Communities where the supply of safe drinking water is a daily concern? Finally, what are you going to do about it? What are you going to take away from the next two days?
It's not just First Peoples or regional and remote Australians' responsibility. It's a collective responsibility. If we all work together, we can get it right.
Water security and water management aren't new concepts for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In fact, they've been practiced for over 65,000 years, long before the rest of the world even knew what a kettle was. For us, this isn't just about water resource management. It's about caring for Country, a way of life passed down through thousands of generations, woven into our very culture.
Now, when we hear the term ‘remote’, it often comes with the unspoken, the unfair, understanding that these areas are ‘out of sight, out of mind’. It is as if the further you are from the city, the less money you have, the less likely you are to have basic infrastructure, and you're right for your voice to be heard. And that's where the challenge lies.
As the National Health and Medical Research Council put it, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are considered to be the most researched people in the world. Despite this, we have received very little perceivable benefit.
We've seen millions of words in scientific journals, newspaper articles, reports, and billions spent trying to solve the closing of the gap issues and the water supply problem in remote and regional areas. Yet here we are, we're still facing the same issues.
In 1985, the then Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, the Honourable Clyde Holding MP, called for an inquiry into the Aboriginal Homeland Centres. This resulting in the Blanchard Report, tabled in 1987, made 58 recommendations aimed at improving the economic security and viability of communities and homelands. Here we are, 40 years later, and those recommendations still remain as relevant as ever. Yet progress has been painfully slow.
As of 2024, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities continue to face significant challenges in accessing adequate and safe drinking water. Over 500 communities lack consistent water quality testing. They are supplied with water containing uranium, arsenic, fluoride, nitrate, iron, that exceeds the threshold set by the Australian Water Drinking Guidelines.
Let's turn the tide. It's time for continuous and meaningful collaboration between government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in closing the water gap.
To create effective policies, it is critical that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and our communities are not only involved but lead the process. Their insights and leadership are vital in crafting solutions that address long-term needs. Let's not wait another 40 years.
The time for action is now, and it's up to each and every one of us to make sure that the water flowing in our communities is safe, reliable and reflective of the cultural and environmental needs that has sustained our people for tens of thousands of years.
Today, we are gathered to discuss the steps being taken in the right direction. One such step is the Australian Government's initiative through the National Water Grid funding to support First Peoples water infrastructure.
This initiative plays a vital role in ensuring reliable water for regional and remote communities, contributing to achievements of Closing the Gap Outcomes 1, 8 and 9, which focus on improving the health, socio-economic wellbeing and essential services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. But this is not enough, and it's painfully slow. I still struggle to see where our collective voice is.
We've seen so many non-Aboriginal organisations jump to our rescue, even going as far as providing advice to governments on our behalf, on topics they're far from experts on. I ask you to stick to your lane. Use the fact that you are not facing unconscious and conscious bias, as we Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and businesses are.
Decision makers in this room, before you award contracts to non-Aboriginal organisations, with minimal reinvestment in Aboriginal organisations and businesses, consider where your morals and values really sit.
Water resource management isn't just about pipes and pumps. It's about people. To truly close the gap on access to safe and reliable water, we must prioritise respectful engagement with First Peoples and communities in every decision-making process.
Not once the scope has been defined or the Boards have made their decisions. We must be a party to those initial recommendations. Only that is what true co-design looks like.
And I don't just mean ticking the box. We need to be at that table.
We need legislative, regulatory measures that mandate active listening and empowerment. This means really hearing the perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and integrating them effectively into the policies and projects that affect our communities.
My mission and the mission of my colleagues is action orientated, aiming for tangible results that enhance lives and transform communities. We work endlessly to create economic opportunities, jobs and career pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians through relentless advocacy and collaboration. Our vision bridges health, social, spiritual and economic disparities, paving a brighter and more inclusive future.
Driving parity in health, housing and economic outcomes is critical to closing the gap. I was born into a system of racism and sexism. I confronted adversity head on.
My path was not paved with accolades, intergenerational wealth, bureaucratical and political networks and connections. It was marked by determination and unyielding spirit. Breaking through the confines and prejudice, my life's work is dedicated to dismantling those barriers and enjoying the fundamental human rights of things like clean drinking water, to be involved and to be heard.
I strive to inspire and mentor women, children and emerging leaders, particularly those in regional and remote Australia, sharing my knowledge to nurture the next generation. I hope that my contributions will elevate opportunities for change for years to come. We must seek to redefine corporate and social responsibility.
What does that simply mean without outcomes? Not RAPs or goodwill statements. It is through environmental, ethical, philanthropic, economic commitments and accountability.
We in this room must recognise the urgent need to protect our planet. We must lead by example in addressing issues such as climate change. As leaders, we are here and focused on creating positive change, spearheading initiatives like diversity and ethical business practices and sustainability.
These efforts have already benefited our environment, created economic opportunities and fostered social impact. But much more needs to be done. This is your opportunity to learn how.
See the best practice, network with your peers and colleagues and take back the knowledge to your communities to make a real difference. This is a part of your journey now, which symbolises your fight against systematic discrimination. And it is up to each and every one of you to make a change for our country, for our communities and our most disadvantaged people.
It's a call to challenge the norms and create long-term opportunities. Together, we can change this narrative. We can ensure we open the doors for generations to come.
Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.
Learn more about the upcoming 2026 Voices from the Bush conference here.