How the IMW is addressing UN sustainable development goals
In 2015, the United Nations (UN) developed 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
These goals are an urgent call to action for both developed and developing countries to end poverty through strategies addressing health and education, inequalities, economic growth, and environmental preservation.
The SDGs build upon years of work undertaken by the UN and promote global partnerships that aim to strive for peace and prosperity. While the SDGs comprise of 17 individual goals each with their own targets, they have been developed with the intention of complementing each other’s progress and successes.
Read about the 17 different SDGs here.
At Winyama, we are committed to addressing the UN’s SDGs through our delivery of the Indigenous Mapping Workshop Australia (IMW) and the recently launched, IMW Australia - On Demand.
The IMW is an initiative that empowers Australia’s Indigenous people and enhances digital training and capacity in Indigenous communities. Through Indigenous-led training, empowerment and community building, the IMW addresses many of the overlapping SDGs.
Read about the IMW and its vision, mandate and objectives here.
SDGs directly addressed by the IMW
Contributing to quality education is the largest goal addressed by the previous face-to-face IMW, and currently the IMW Australia - On Demand.
As stated by the UN, ‘Inequalities in education are exacerbated by COVID-19, [as] remote learning remains out of reach for at least 500 million students.’
Alongside the global shutting down of schools and training facilities, COVID-19 saw the temporary cancellation of the national IMW Australia, expected to train more than 100 members of the Australian Indigenous community on geospatial tools and technologies.
This turn of events resulted in the rapid build and launch of the IMW Australia - On Demand platform, providing free and nationally accessible training materials for accepted participants to access without encountering the risks of travelling and mass gathering.
The IMW Australia - On Demand addresses the UN identified lack of remote learning during the pandemic as it is fundamentally dedicated to providing culturally appropriate and free geospatial training for Indigenous communities at its core.
Take a look at the current courses available to accepted participants here.
Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
The IMW addresses the SDG of Decent Work and Economic Growth through catering its training toward Indigenous Ranger Groups, Native Title Organisations, and Indigenous Arts, Language and Cultural Centres.
This specialised training ensures IMW graduates are equipped with the skills they need to work in these expanding sectors, and are taught digital skills and best practices to increase their general employability.
The SDG’s Target 8.6 is to, ‘By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.’
While targets for 2020 have been disrupted by the pandemic, the IMW Australia team is dedicated to increasing the proportion of youth in quality employment, education and training, as IMW Australia - On Demand learning materials are currently in the midst of becoming micro credentialed by an Australian University.
Micro credentialed courses will provide IMW graduates with an easier pathway to University and tertiary education, as well as a tangible achievement upon completion that can be added to their professional portfolio.
The IMW is reducing inequalities through empowering Indigenous Australians to participate in the digital economy, as well as providing knowledge and resources about the importance of data sovereignty and data governance.
In 2019, Indigenous Australians scored below the national average in the annual Australian Digital Inclusion Index, in all three metrics - access, affordability and digital ability. This gap between those who have access to technology and digital agency, and those who don’t, is known as the digital divide.
Read more about how we can close the digital divide here.
Geographical disadvantage, device sharing and data collection inconsistencies each contribute to the identified gaps. The IMW Australia - On Demand targets each of these key areas through its wide-spread availability, virtual lab component and IT support, and tailored course content.
The newest addition to the IMW Learning Suite, Deadly Data, teaches participants about the importance of data governance, data ownership, Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property.
Knowledge in this area empowers Australians to act upon the Target 10.3 of this SDG, ‘Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.’
While not directly addressing the SDG of Life on Land, the IMW actively empowers Indigenous Ranger Groups to continue practicing traditional land management, and provides the knowledge and tools to do so in a modern context.
Indigenous fire burning practices provide just one example of how traditional land management aids Life on Land, and contributes to increased levels of sustainability, conservation and biodiversity restoration.
The IMW Australia - On Demand offers specifically tailored courses for Indigenous Ranger Groups and seeks ongoing partnerships between large Indigenous land management organisations.
Do you want to learn more about the IMW and its impact? Head to our Initiatives page to learn more about previous participant experiences and news within the Indigenous mapping community.
Want to join the IMW family? Apply for the IMW Australia - On Demand now!