Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Kyle McGinn, Regional Development Minister Don Punch, K Farmer Dutjahn Foundation director Katina Law, Sandalwood Advisory Group and owner of Dutjahn Sandalwood Oils Brett Lewis, and Dutjahn Sandalwood Oils chief executive Guy Vincent.
WA’s Cook Government is supporting increased Aboriginal leadership in Western Australia’s wild harvest sandalwood industry through a new three-year program to build capacity and diversify land management practice. Source: Timberbiz
The State Government has contributed $280,000 to the Aboriginal Sandalwood Industry Capability Program, alongside $320,000 funding from the Federal Government’s Future Drought Fund for Farm Business Resilience.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is partnering with Aboriginal-led not-for-profit organisation the K Farmer Dutjahn Foundation to empower current and future sandalwood custodians.
This partnership will deliver tailored tools, materials and capability training to increase supply chain involvement across the sandalwood resource area, which stretches across the Goldfields, Murchison and Central Desert communities of the southern Pilbara.
It will also explore alternative Aboriginal-led business models, sustainable resource management and economic opportunities on Country.
The initiative supports the WA Aboriginal Sandalwood Advisory Group’s mandate to create enduring benefits from this important industry, which has a long history of contributing to the development of these regions.
WA’s sandalwood oil is used worldwide in perfumery, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, while the wood is also exported for processing into a powdered wood blend for incense sticks.
Comments can be attributed to Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
“The Aboriginal Sandalwood Industry Capability Program is key to economic self-sufficiency in the Goldfields and Rangelands for Aboriginal communities,” Minister Punch said.
“I was delighted to tour the Dutjahn Sandalwood Oils distillery and see first-hand the potential of this unique initiative.
“This industry represents a big opportunity for Aboriginal people to build a strong economic future and sustainably manage their resources on Country.”
