About Conservation Collaborators
We are a team of accomplished land, environment, water, fire and cultural heritage management professionals, with many years’ experience in the public and private sector.
We possess broad leadership, management and field experience, enabling us to manage projects and programs with complex disciplines.
Our team has a strong connection and passion to living and working with land and sea; so, assisting Traditional Owners with management of Country is a natural extension of our work and the personal interests of our team.
We understand the importance of building effective relationships based on trust, respect and rapport in order to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
We are passionate about bringing people together to achieve conservation outcomes
CAPABILITY AND EXPERIENCE
Track Record and Relevant Experience
Our team brings a unique blend of skills, experience and local knowledge required to successfully deliver quality services for you. Led by Ty Caling, we are highly experienced and well-regarded experts in the fields of:
Traditional Owner and First Nation communities’ engagement.
Strategic land and natural resource management.
Protected Area Management planning and strategy.
Operational management and on-ground delivery.
Project coordination and management.
Problem-solving and issues resolution.
Community development and stakeholder engagement.
Ty Caling, Managing Director
Ty Caling has been successful in planning, program and project management, facilitation, engagement, and senior leadership and management over the past 25+ years in a range of fields, including land and protected area management (e.g. Traditional Owner engagement, Aboriginal cultural heritage management and historic heritage management; environment, land and water conservation; marine management, pest plant and animal control; erosion control; riparian and river restoration; asset management; visitor experience management), emergency management (e.g. avalanche, bushfire and flood planning, preparation, response and recovery) and community development and engagement. During his career with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Parks Victoria, Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning (DELWP), Country Fire Authority; and as a private consultant and Managing Director of Conservation Collaborators, Ty Caling has developed a range of experience.
Aboriginal and Cultural Recovery and Resilience Strengthening Program
Description: Preparation of Community Emergency Management Plans and Lessons Learnt Report
Client: East Gippsland Shire Council
Completion date: 2024 - present
Aboriginal Water Officer
Description: Coordination of the Aboriginal Water Officer Program for NE Victoria
Client: North East Catchment Management Authority
Completion date: October 2024
Forest Management Planning – Traditional Owner engagement
Description: Traditional Owner engagement for Strategic Forest Management Planning
Client: DEECA
Completion date: Current
King River Fishway construction
Description: Project management of King River Fishway construction
Client: NECMA
Completion date: Current
Victorian Alps Traditional Owner Gathering
Description: Planning and facilitation of the third Australian Alps Traditional Owner Gathering (Dinner Plain)
Client: Australian Alps National Parks Program
Completion date: April 2023
Feral Horse Rehoming Review
Description: Review of Parks Victoria’s feral horse rehoming program
Client: Parks Victoria
Completion date: January 2023
Victorian High Country Huts Association Manual
Description: Review and updating of the Parks Victoria High Country Huts Association Maintenance Manual
Client: Parks Victoria
Completion date: June 2022
Traditional Owner Engagement - Regional Forest Agreement Major Event Review
Description: Assisting the independent panel to the Regional Forest Agreement Major Event Review to engage with Traditional Owners
Client: DEECA
Completion date: November 2021
District Manager
Description: Leadership and management of District program of projects, including Traditional Owner engagement
Client: Parks Victoria
Completion date: 2013 - 2020
Ty wrote and led the preparation of various terrestrial and marine protected area management plans for Parks Victoria, including:
Beware Reef Marine Sanctuary
Bunurong Marine National Park and Marine and Coastal Parks
Cape Howe Marine National Park
Corner Inlet Marine National Park
Corner Inlet and Nooramunga Marine and Coastal Parks
Macleod Morass and Jones Bay Wildlife Reserves
Ninety Mile Beach Marine National Park
Point Hicks Marine National Park
Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park, Marine Park and Marine Reserve
Ty was also actively involved in the preparation of the Greater Alpine National Parks Management Plan (Parks Victoria). Whilst District Manager for 8-years with Parks Victoria, Ty was responsible for the leadership and management of a range of protected areas (including the Alpine NP) and over 30 employees.
“Nurturing strategic alliances with our partners helps achieve our vision of delivering accessible outcomes for Country and the environment.”
Ty Caling, Managing Director
Experience and capability in collaboration with Victorian Traditional Owners including strong knowledge and understanding of cultural diversity and cultural heritage
Conservation Collaborators staff have worked closely with and supported the empowerment of Traditional Owners across Victoria and interstate in a culturally sensitive manner on various topics and projects, including:
Land acquisition and business development.
Land / sea use change (eg. proclamation of National Parks, Marine National Parks).
Significant management changes and challenges (eg. Protected Area Management Plans).
Operational and emergency works (eg. bushfire operations, conservation management programs, roading, visitor management, cultural heritage, fire recovery, etc.).
Current and recent experience includes:
Traditional Owner and ACCHO engagement for East Gippsland Shire Council to support evaluation of the 2019/20 bushfires and Community Emergency Management Planning.
Traditional Owner engagement for DEECA Hume and Gippsland Region Forest Management Planning processes.
Facilitating a gathering of multiple Traditional Owner groups in the Victorian Alps (Dinner Plain) (Australian Alps Cooperative Management Program).
Traditional Owner engagement for the Regional Forest Agreement Major Event Review (Commonwealth and Victorian Governments).
Supporting cultural heritage survey.
Feasibility analysis investigation.
Grant application and delivery.
We provide details of two examples below:
Aboriginal and Cultural Recovery and Resilience Strengthening Program
Conservation Collaborators were recently engaged to support East Gippsland Shire Council with Traditional Owner engagement following the 2019/20 Bushfires, including:
Preparing a Lessons Acknowledged and Learnt Report.
Preparing Community Emergency Management Plans for ten (10) Aboriginal Community Organisations.
This project required working collaboratively in a culturally safe manner with various Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHO’s), Traditional Owner Corporations and First Nations Communities.
Regional Forest Agreement Major Event Review
Ty was recently engaged to deliver Traditional Owner engagement and evaluation services across Victoria in support of the independent panel Major Event Review of Regional Forest Agreements (RFA’s) (2019/20 bushfires). In this role Ty engaged Traditional Owners across Victoria in a culturally safe manner and ensured the summary of their concerns, rights and aspirations were accurately reflected in a succinct report to the Independent Panel. This project required taking direction from the Independent Panel, as well as from the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments.
Ty’s experience has enabled Conservation Collaborators to develop a thorough understanding of the importance of working collaboratively with Traditional Owners to achieve their aspirations, heal and plan for Country, and to bridge the nexus between traditional culture, lore and management of Country with contemporary land management practices and government regulation.
