CULTURAL PERMISSIONS
Seeking permission on Wardandi Boodja
Wardandi Boodja is matriarchal Country. Nala Boodja guides cultural permissions across the region, from Busselton to Margaret River and inland to Nannup, for developments, events, filming, Welcomes to Country and smoking ceremonies
Busselton to Augusta, inland to Lake Jasper
HOW IT WORKS
Permission begins with a conversation
Every place on Wardandi Boodja carries its own story. Seeking permission the right way means starting early and talking with the people who hold that story.
-
01
Reach out
Tell us what you're planning, where it will happen and when. The earlier, the better.
-
02
Sit down together
We consider the place, its story and what your plans mean for Country and community.
-
03
Guidance and permission
You receive clear guidance, any conditions, and permission given the right way.
BEGIN AN ENQUIRY
Tell us about your plans
Share what you can and we'll be in touch. If your plans are still taking shape, that's fine, early conversations are the best ones.
Prefer to talk?
Some things are better as a yarn. Reach out directly and we'll find a time.
Planning a development or major works? Contact us as early as possible, well before approvals are sought.
FAQs
How far ahead should I get in touch?
1
As early as you can. For events, filming or a Welcome to Country, a few months' notice is ideal. For developments or major works, reach out at the planning stage, well before approvals are sought. Late is still better than never, so if your timeline is tight, get in touch anyway and we'll be straight with you about what's possible.
Do I need permission for a small or private event?
2
If you're unsure, the answer is to ask. A quiet gathering on the beach is a different thing to a ticketed event on a significant site, and the difference isn't always visible to visitors. A quick conversation costs nothing and means you can go ahead with confidence.
What's the difference between a Welcome to Country and an Acknowledgement of Country?
3
A Welcome to Country can only be given by a Traditional Custodian of the Country you're on, and it's a cultural practice that welcomes visitors to that place. An Acknowledgement of Country can be offered by anyone as a mark of respect. If you'd like a Welcome on Wardandi Boodja, that's something we can arrange with you.
How much does a Welcome to Country cost?
4
It depends on what you're asking. A conversation and general guidance cost nothing. Cultural services like a Welcome to Country, site visits or ongoing consultation are professional cultural work, and fees reflect the knowledge and time involved. We'll always confirm any costs with you upfront, and what you pay goes directly to caring for Country and community.
I'm going through heritage approvals for my project. Do I still need cultural permission?
5
They're two different things, and doing a project properly means respecting both. Heritage approvals under the Aboriginal Heritage Act are a legal process that happens on paper. Cultural permission happens in person, sitting down with the family who carries the stories of the place you're working on and understanding what your plans mean for Country and community. A heritage survey can tell you what's on the ground. It can't give you a welcome. Proponents who reach out early, before approvals are finalised, always find the process smoother, so if you're at the planning stage, now is the right time to get in touch.
Nala Boodja means Our Land. Caring for it, and for the people who walk it, is what we do.
Permission on Wardandi Boodja flows through family, story and Country. When you seek it the right way, you become part of that care.