Overview
The Australian Government is working with Murray—Darling Basin (Basin) First Nations peoples to co-design enduring water holding arrangements in the Basin. These arrangements will enable water purchased through the $100 million Basin Aboriginal Water Entitlements Program (AWEP) to be owned and managed by Basin First Nations peoples.
Since 2023, Basin First Nations peoples have helped shape the future of water purchased through AWEP. Participants explored different options for holding and managing this water through surveys, workshops and Basin-wide co-design.
A charitable trust was identified as the proposed model for further development. We are now seeking feedback on key features of the proposed charitable trust.
This next phase of co-design will explore how the charitable trust could work in practice. Basin First Nations peoples will help shape a model that reflects Basin First Nations aspirations, supports self-determination, and delivers lasting Cultural, social, spiritual, environmental and economic benefits.
The outcomes of this phase will provide a clear basis for future decisions by Government. To build on those outcomes, future co-design work may focus on how the model will run and on drafting key charitable trust documents, including the trust deed and constitution.
You can share your views through this survey, or by attending a face-to-face or online workshop.
Have your say
Join the next phase of co-design
We invite Basin First Nations peoples to take part in the next phase of co-design for the proposed charitable trust model.
You can share your views by:
attending one of 10 face-to-face workshops across the Basin
joining one of 2 online workshops
completing this online survey.
The workshops will be facilitated by independent First Nations-led consultancy Cox Inall Ridgeway.
Together, Basin First Nations peoples will help shape:
the purpose of the charitable trust
who the charitable trust could benefit
how decisions could be made
how the charitable trust could be governed
how the charitable trust could operate over the long term.
If you have further questions or would like to discuss your feedback, please contact firstnationswater@dcceew.gov.au.
Workshop dates
Face-to-face workshops will be held on the following locations and dates
Dubbo – 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 19 August 2026
Cowra – 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 20 August 2026
Moree – 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 24 August 2026
Bourke – 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM, 25 August 2026
Toowoomba – 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 1 September 2026
St George – 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 2 September 2026
Leeton – 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 10 September 2026
Deniliquin – 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 11 September 2026
Shepparton – 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 14 September 2026
Renmark – 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 15 September 2026
Online workshops:
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 4 September 2026
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM, 17 September 2026
How to register
Register here: 2026 Murray-Darling Basin AWEP Charitable Trust Co-Design Workshops Registration Form.
You can also register or ask for help by emailing firstnationswater@dcceew.gov.au.
Complete the survey
You can also share your views by completing the online survey on this page.
The survey is open to all Basin First Nations peoples. You can take the survey and attend one of the face-to-face or online workshops.
Submit your response by 11:59pm AEST, Sunday, 27 September 2026.
Before you start
Before completing this survey, please read the supporting materials, including the Charitable Trust Fact Sheet and Engagement Slides.
