Bringing together Indigenous and western science and knowledge in Gathaagudu, Shark Bay, WA: Lessons learnt.

October 9, 2026

The Climate System Hub undertook a joint project with Malgana Traditional Owners, one of the three Traditional Owner groups in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area. The Shark Bay World Heritage Area (WHA), on the most westerly point of the Australian continent and approximately 800km north of Perth, covers 2,197,300 ha, nearly 70% of which is marine environment.

Gathaagudu – Shark Bay is an inherent part of the Malgana descendants’ culture and their heritage, with relationships that stretch back to 30,000 years (Sutton & Shaw, 2020). Climate change stressors will have multiple impacts on Shark Bay — those with the most significant impact are increases in temperature, storm frequency and intensity and extreme marine heat events (Sutton & Shaw, 2020).

The goal of our project was to pilot knowledge-sharing tools to explore and make explicit the climate-related risks of significance to the Malgana People and to develop strategies that address these risks. More broadly, it aimed to improve the participation of Indigenous peoples in understanding and using climate information for adaptation planning.

This project was co-designed with Malgana People and utilised a strength-based approach. A strength-based approach includes the following principles (Prehn, J. 2024, p. 5):

1. Celebrate diversity: Honour the vibrant strengths within Indigenous communities—cultural wisdom, deep connections to Country, resilience, storytelling, kinship, and art;
2. Embrace growth: Acknowledge the inherent strength, resilience, and growth potential in the face of adversity, turning challenges into opportunities for profound development;
3. Empower aspirations: Fuel personal and collective growth in the Indigenous context. Support self-determination. Value the aspirations, goals, and visions of Indigenous individuals, families, and communities;
4. Foster self-determination & collaboration: Boost self-determination with resources and valued Indigenous voices. Collaboration is key—recognise expertise, knowledge, decision-making authority, and empower through meaningful partnerships;
5. Utilise resources: Tap into the wealth of Indigenous resources—cultural knowledge, traditional practices, land, networks, support systems, and cultural strengths—to address challenges collaboratively; and
6. Cultural grounding: Root the strengths-based approach in Indigenous culture, care, and context. Respect world views, including knowledge systems, cultural protocols, values, and ways of being. Engage in culturally appropriate ways for interventions aligned with values and cultural safety.