Sustainability

Environmental sustainability

The natural environment is at the very core of local Aboriginal tradition. The Yugambeh-speaking people displayed important ecological practices and a connection to the land and it is Jellurgal’s responsibility to continue to care and preserve our natural environment in any possible way.

Jellurgal is committed to environmental sustainability and employs the following additional methods with regard to conservation and waste management:

 AREA ACTIVITES OUTCOMES

Waste reduction

 

Jellurgal allows and encourages the use of BYO coffee cups/mugs and reusable water bottles , reducing the consumption of single-use plastics and cardboard. For those customers who still require a takeaway coffee cup, all cups used by Jellurgal are environmentally friendly.

Jellurgal contributes to the reduction in the staggering 60,000 kilograms of plastic waste from coffee cups directed to landfill each year in Australia.

Recycling of plastic and paper is practised by staff and encouraged in customers.

Jellurgal’s recycling efforts result in approximately two 80L bins full of recyclables being kept from landfill each week.

Conservation of environment

Education of guests on the website and by Jellurgal’s Cultural Tour Guides on environmentally-friendly practices in the national park including:

  • leaving all plants and animals undisturbed, please do not feed the wildlife

  • leaving pets at home

  • taking your rubbish away with you

  • staying on the designated tracks.

By educating guests, Jellurgal’s team reduces the environmental impact of our tours by preserving native flora and fauna, keeping animals in the park safe from household pets and reducing waste in the park.

It is estimated that, thanks to the efforts of Jellurgal’s Cultural Officers as well as our guests who find and remove litter while on their tour, 25 kilograms of rubbish is removed from the mountain each year. This is based on each of our guides removing at least 100 grams of plastic/rubbish from the mountain on tours.
 
Commitment and advice to visitors not to purchase merchandise derived from rare and threatened species

Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre commits to not selling merchandise derived from rare and threatened species, and advice is provided to customers to not purchase these items from other sources. 

Social and cultural sustainability

Jellurgal’s commitment to contributing to the sustainability of the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community is clear in our shared vision with Kalwun that “our people live long, healthy, prosperous and happy lives”. The organisation supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, businesses and individuals at every opportunity. This support is outlined in the table below:

CATEGORY SUPPORT OUTCOMES
Individuals Jellurgal only employs Tour Guides who are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. Of Jellurgal’s onsite team of employees, 100% identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Community Jellurgal partners with a range of other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations and initiatives including, but not limited to, the Yugambeh Museum, the Yugambeh Region Aboriginal Corporation Alliance (YRACA), The Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) and Deadly Choices.

Community ties are strong and a consistent, culturally-sensitive message is shared across organisations, further strengthening the understanding across the community of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.
Business Jellurgal contracts local businesses.  Income from services supports local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses.
  Artwork is sourced on consignment from local Indigenous artists.

Jellurgal only supports genuine Indigenous artists and does not endorse the sale of counterfeit Indigenous art. 
  Jellurgal displays items for sale in the gift shop only from authentic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sources. All products based on artwork have their royalties directly benefit the artist and their community. Products feature information on the artist and the artwork on which it is based. Jellurgal only supports genuine Indigenous products and does not endorse the sale of products from overseas claiming to be authentic items. This keeps profit in Australia and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suppliers and communities.

 

Environmental and Social Sustainability Strategy Implementation Plan

Jellurgal is uniquely positioned to lead a comprehensive Environmental and Social Sustainability Strategy that reflects both cultural values and contemporary sustainability standards. Guided by community, Elders, and Country, Jellurgal will ensure that every action taken preserves the integrity of Country while supporting education, cultural connection, and a sustainable future for generations to come.

Our strategy implementation framework includes the key actions that will be taken to achieve the objectives listed in Section 1, Sustainability Objectives of the Jellurgal Environmental and Social Sustainability Strategy. This framework is a working document and may be subject to adaptation dependent upon funding, operational changes or significant weather events.

View Jellurgal's Environmental and Social Sustainability Strategy Implementation Plan

Jellurgal acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands upon which we work – the Kombumerri, Bullongin, Wanggeriburra, Birinburra, Mununjali and Minjungbal peoples and the wider Yugambeh language speaking group. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, past, present, and emerging.

WARNING: Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website may contain images, voices or names of deceased persons in photographs, film, audio recordings or text.