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.

Reference

O’Dea K, White NG & Sinclair AJ (1988). An investigation of nutrition-related risk factors in an isolated Aboriginal community in northern Australia: advantages of a traditionally-orientated life-style. Medical Journal of Australia 148(4):177–180.

Burgess CP, Johnston FH, Bowman DMJS & Whitehead PJ (2005). Healthy country – healthy people? Exploring the health benefits of Indigenous natural resource management. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 29(2):117–122.

Johnston FH, Jacups SP, Vickery AJ & Bowman DMJS (2007). Ecohealth and Aboriginal testimony of the nexus between human health and place. EcoHealth 4(4):489–499.

Rowley KG, O’Dea K, Anderson I, McDermott R, Saraswati K, Tilmouth R, Roberts I, Fitz J, Wang Z, Jenkins A, Best JD, Wang Z & Brown A (2008). Lower than expected morbidity and mortality for an Australian Aboriginal population: 10-year follow up in a decdentralised community. Medical Journal of Australia 188(5):283–287.

Burgess CP, Johnston FH, Berry HL, McDonnell J, Yibarbuk D, Gunabarra C, Mileran A & Bailie RS (2009). Healthy country, healthy people: the relationship between Indigenous health status and ‘Caring for Country’. Medical Journal of Australia 190(10):567–572.

Ryan R, Wilczynski A, Watkins SR & Rose J (2012). Assessment of the social outcomes of the Working on Country program, prepared by Urbis for the Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Canberra.