NAIDOC Week is a time for all Australians to celebrate the rich history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It’s also a moment to reflect on how industries like surveying can acknowledge and respect the deep, enduring connections that First Nations peoples have with Country.
This year’s NAIDOC Week theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy,” invites us to look forward – to support and uplift emerging Indigenous leaders, and to recognise the power of cultural knowledge, connection, and resilience passed down through generations.
Surveying and Country: A Story Thousands of Years in the Making
Surveyors help shape the physical world around us – from defining land boundaries and planning infrastructure to mapping out new developments. But long before GPS, drones, and satellites, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples had their own intricate systems of land knowledge.
Their relationship with Country is based on deep spiritual, cultural, and environmental knowledge – a kind of first surveying that maps not just land, but story, songline, and legacy.
Respect and Responsibility in the Profession
Modern surveying is increasingly recognising the importance of working with respect for Traditional Owners and the cultural significance of land. That includes:
- Acknowledging Country and the custodianship of Indigenous peoples
- Understanding and protecting sacred and heritage sites
- Collaborating with local communities on land management
- Promoting cultural awareness in surveying education and practice
By integrating traditional and contemporary knowledge, surveyors can help ensure that future developments respect the past – and support the next generation in caring for Country.
Encouraging the Next Generation of Surveyors
The 2025 NAIDOC theme also shines a light on the potential of young people – and that includes inspiring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to see surveying as a career that aligns with their connection to land, culture, and community.
With high demand, good pay, and plenty of opportunities to work outdoors and with technology, surveying is a rewarding and future-focused pathway. Programs run by the Surveying Task Force are helping students get hands-on insight into what the industry offers.
Looking Ahead with Strength, Vision & Legacy
As we celebrate NAIDOC Week, it’s important for those in the surveying profession – and those exploring it – to consider how we can support a more inclusive, respectful future. How can we learn from the knowledge that’s come before us? How can we make space for Indigenous voices in shaping the land?
By empowering the next generation with strength, vision, and respect for legacy, we help create a profession that honours the stories of the past and the possibilities of the future.