We recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the sovereign Traditional Owners of Australia and thank them for their stewardship of this Country, its lands, waters and skies. We respectfully acknowledge their culture and customary practices, and pay respect to their Ancestors, Elders and future leaders.

For the first time, the State of the Environment report includes a strong Indigenous narrative across all 12 thematic chapters, a narrative crafted through recognising the leadership, collaboration and authorship of Indigenous Australians who continue their connection as Traditional Owners to their lands, waters and skies.

Click to view the State of the Environment report

On 28 March 2025 the government assumed a Caretaker role. Information on websites maintained by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water will be published in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions until after the conclusion of the caretaker period.

Due to technical issues, graphs, maps and tables are currently not displaying within the main content, however, are available via the chapter resources navigation bar. We are working on a solution to resolve the issue.

References

F

Fagan A (2020). WA’s AHA ‘Reform’: mining agreements masquerade as an Aboriginal Heritage Act, inquiry into the destruction of 46,000 year old caves at the Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, Submission 44 & Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia, Canberra.

FCA (1998). Bulun Bulun and another v R&T Textiles Pty Ltd, Federal Court of Australia, Canberra.

Ferguson M, Brown C, Georga C, Miles E, Wilson A & Brimblecomb J (2017). Traditional food availability and consumption in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, Australia. Obesity and Food Availability 41(3):294–298.

First Languages Australia (2019). Notes to assist reporting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, Australian Government Department of Indigenous Languages and Arts, Canberra.

First Peoples – State Relations (2021). Treaty in Victoria, Victorian Government, Melbourne, https://www.firstpeoplesrelations.vic.gov.au/treaty.

Fletcher M-S (2020a). This rainforest was once a grassland savanna maintained by Aboriginal people – until colonisation, The Conversation, Melbourne, https://theconversation.com/this-rainforest-was-once-a-grassland-savanna-maintained-by-aboriginal-people-until-colonisation-138289.

Fletcher M-S (2020b). Our Country, our way, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/our-country-our-way.

Fletcher M-S on behalf of the Cultural Burning Research Group (2020). Submission to the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, Australian Government, Canberra.

Fletcher M-S, Romano A, Connor S, Mariani M & Maezumi SY (2021). Catastrophic bushfires, Indigenous fire knowledge and reframing science in south-east Australia. Fire 4:61.

FNBBAA (First Nations Bushfood & Botanicals Alliance Australia) (2020). Welcome to First Nations Bushfood & Botanicals Alliance Australia, FNBBAA, Sydney, https://www.fnbbaa.com.au/.

Fogarty W, Lovell M, Langenberg J & Heron M-J (2018). Deficit discourse and strengths-based approaches: changing the narrative of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing, The Lowitja Institute, Melbourne.

Ford L, Woodward E, Hill R, Tengö M & Harkness P (2020). Actions towards best practice to support Our Knowledge Our Way. In: Woodward E, Hill R, Harkness P & Archer R (eds), Our Knowledge Our Way in caring for Country: Indigenous-led approaches to strengthening and sharing our knowledge for land and sea management – best practice guidelines from Australian experiences, North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance & Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Cairns.

Foster S (2018). Seasons and stars in the Torres Strait Islands, Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority, Brisbane, https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/about/k-12-policies/aboriginal-torres-strait-islander-perspectives/resources/seasons-stars.

FPAV (First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria) (2021). Truth-telling, FPAV, Melbourne, https://www.firstpeoplesvic.org/our-work/truth-telling/.

FPCWA (Forest Products Commission Western Australia) (2017). Native Sandalwood Industry Strategy for Western Australia: six steps for a valuable, sustainable industry in regional WA, FPCWA, Perth.

Funk J & Guthadjaka K (2020). Indigenous authorship on open and digital platforms: social justice processes and potential. Journal of Interactive Media in Education 1(6):1–13.

FVTOC (Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations) (2021). Victorian Traditional Owner native food and botanicals strategy, Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, Melbourne.