NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Park and Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council (DLALC) are set to join forces to offer Indigenous tourism and cultural experiences to guests.
The two have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), effective until December 31, 2025, detailing the plan.
The agreement’s broader context is to increase Aboriginal cultural education and tourism, employment and cultural capability at Ocean Beach.
The Central Coast has one of the nation’s highest concentrations of Aboriginal cultural heritage sites, with the partnership set to create a cultural landscape and a series of events and that will benefit both parties.
As part of the agreement, guests at Ocean Beach will have a chance to enjoy: Welcome to Country ceremonies; smoking ceremonies and dance group performances (where appropriate); a celebration of Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC Week and other events; culturally educational signage in the natural environment; cultural tours at the site or at selected sites across the Central Coast; storytelling and education; and a connection to other cultural events led by DLALC.
In turn, NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Park will provide employment opportunities for Aboriginal people through traineeships and recruitment and actively seek procurement opportunities for local Aboriginal organisations and service providers.
DLALC Chief Operating Officer, Brendan Moyle, said the signed MoU was the result of balanced negotiations and a real willingness to work together on behalf of both parties.
“We’re thrilled to have signed the MoU with the great team at Ocean Beach and look forward to working together and sharing our Aboriginal culture with the guests,” he said.
NRMA Parks and Resorts Chief Operating Officer, Paul Davies, said the MoU was an important achievement for the local community and more broadly for the organisation’s 2019 Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which detailed its commitment to First Nations cultural heritage and enabling opportunities for employment.
“In 2022, NRMA’s focus is on fostering education and employment pathways as well as economic prosperity for First Nations peoples, while offering opportunities for our guests to learn more about local Aboriginal culture and make a personal connection with the local community,” Davies said.
Source: Media release, Jun 20, 2022 NRMA