Cultural Burning for Resilience is an Aboriginal-led community project, supported by the University of Wollongong's Global Challenges Program and the Milton-based Treading Lightly Incorporated.

The action research project brings together Aboriginal high school students with Yuin Elders and cultural land management practitioners from the South Coast to learn about good fire, bad fire, and connection to Country.

It is a "beautifully edited and compelling short film" that demonstrates the power of hands-on enquiry-based learning that celebrates cultural fire knowledge.

"I'm pretty sure this is the best thing I've watched all year! God I loved it," Jaymee Beveridge from tyhe Woolyungah Indigenous Centre said.

The project was a collaboration between Yuin Indigenous Elders and community - Ulladulla Local Aboriginal Land Council and local Yuin cultural fire practitioners; students from Nowra, Bomaderry, Ulladulla and Batemans High Schools; researchers from the University of Wollongong, Treading Lightly Inc and and Mane Collective Video Production.

Many students involved in the project experienced the 2019/2020 bushfires firsthand.

In response to the bushfires, and followed by COVID, the Cultural Burning for Resilience project was supported by the UOW Global Challenges program as part of its 'Disaster and Crisis' initiative, dedicating funding for interdisciplinary projects addressing disaster response in our region.

Matched funding was also provided by the South Coast-based NGO Treading Lightly Inc., which fund projects that build resilient communities and make positive changes for a sustainable future.

The project team invite you to join us for the first live screening of the film.

Register you interest here.