Talking Country webinar series
Join us for a deep dive into the Government Architect NSW Connecting with Country Framework, through a webinar series. Gain the knowledge and insights to implement the framework in your own projects.
You’ll hear from those who shaped the framework, including the design and project teams behind the accompanying case study projects. We will look at practical applications of the framework and explore the opportunities and challenges of implementation.
One hour of formal Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is available to registered architects attending these webinars.
Webinar 1 – Case studies: Koorie Heritage Trust and Gosford Waterfront Park
Koorie Heritage Trust
Designed for interaction and exchange, the Koorie Heritage Trust visitor centre invites people to see, touch, and discuss collection items, offering an interactive and educational experience. With its galleries and exhibition space, the centre displays a rich collection of Koorie art and artefacts. Designed by Kulin Nation descendants in collaboration with Lyons Architecture, the space celebrates Aboriginal culture, heritage and connections to Birrarung (the Yarra River).
Read the Koorie Heritage Trust case study (PDF, 898 KB).
Gosford Waterfront Park
The creation of Gosford Waterfront Park has transformed sports fields into a nature inspired, playful public space reflecting local culture and history and referencing features and narratives from the Darkinjung landscape.
This creative co-design process between Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC) working with Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council has ensured the park reflects local Indigenous landscape, culture and history.
Jefa Greenaway
Koorie Heritage Trust
As a proud Wailwan/Kamilaroi man (shared with German heritage) and a registered architect in private practice in both NSW and Victoria, Jefa seeks to reveal layers of history and memory through connections to place, demonstrating the value of people centred design which interrogates one’s own philosophical or ethical underpinning and design responsibilities.
This approach is evident in the Koorie Heritage Trust project. Over two decades he’s also championed Indigenous led design thinking, particularly through the International Indigenous Design Charter, as Regional Ambassador (Oceania) of INDIGO (International Indigenous Design Alliance) and sits on numerous boards that intersect with art, architecture and cultural heritage.
Uncle Kevin (Gavi) Duncan
Gosford Waterfront Park
An elder from the Darkinjung community, Uncle Gavi was a key collaborator on the Gosford Waterfront Park with Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council. He received the Good Design Awards Indigenous 2021 Designers of the Year, in conjunction with Turf Design Studio.
Over the years Uncle Gavi has been involved in a broad array of cultural roles including cultural education at Bara Barang and youth work at Youth Connections. He brings a focus on cultural heritage, cultural values, and working partnerships to achieve good outcomes for Country.
Mike Horne
Gosford Waterfront Park
Mike is the founder and director of Turf Design Studio and has 30 years local and international experience; working across masterplan, civic, residential, education, infrastructure and open space projects – for both private and government sectors.
He was project lead for the NSW Government’s new waterfront city park at Gosford; working in collaboration with Hunter Central Coast Development Corporation, the Central Coast Council and Darkinjung Aboriginal Land Council.
- Which part of the framework did you learn most about?
- What were some lessons learnt from the presenters about ways to overcome challenges to implementing the framework?
- What did you learn that changed your understanding of Country?
- How did the design of the Koorie Heritage Trust protect Aboriginal cultural heritage?
- How did the Koorie Heritage Trust build cultural competency for those involved?
- How did the Gosford Waterfront Park contribute to Healthy Country?
- How has Gosford Waterfront Park project responded to and respected the original land and water form?
Continuing Professional Development
Each webinar qualifies for one hour of formal CPD for registered architects. The webinar series includes content relevant to the 2021 National Standard of Competency for Architects across the capabilities, competencies and performance criteria relating to Understanding Country (including Performance Criteria 3, 8, 12, 15, 17, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 34, 36, 41, 45 and 50).
Please keep a record of your responses as evidence of attendance and completion (CPD certificates will not be issued). Questions will be provided before each event.