The Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee provides advice to the Marine Park Authority Board through the Reef Authority on the management of the Great Barrier Reef.

Appointments to the Indigenous Reef Advisory Committees is competency-based, and members are appointed taking into consideration their experience, knowledge, skills, relationships and networks with Reef Traditional Owners or relevant groups or sectors.  

All Committee members are expected to adopt a broad perspective on Committee business that is raised.

Purpose

• The Committee's purpose is to provide objective advice, insights and recommendations on:
• matters relating to Marine Park management and the implementation of actions by the Authority to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples keep their heritage strong, safe and healthy, and contribute towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander aspirations for sea country and heritage management into the future.
• ways to facilitate partnerships, enhance engagement with a range of sectors (for example, tourism, natural resource organisations, fisheries) and build capacity and engage with Traditional Owners in the management of marine resources in the Great Barrier Reef.
• ways to strengthen communications between local communities, managers and reef stakeholders and build a better understanding of Traditional Owner issues regarding the management of the Great Barrier Reef.
• the application of the world's best practice principles for sea country planning and implementation and
• the delivery and expansion of the Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement (TUMRA) program across the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
• The Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee is not a decision-making body. Advice and recommendations provided to the Board are non-binding.

Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee Charter of Operation