Native title and the planning profession: perceptions, challenges and the role of professionals

Legal decisions in the 1990s have dramatically changed the legal rights of Indigenous people in Australia. Many professionals in fields like urban and regional planning must re-tool their knowledge and skills to adapt to these new situations. A survey of professional planners revealed that many understand the basic concept of native title, but are not aware of the range of applicable settings, implications or resolution approaches. These perceptions could lead to missed opportunities for constructive planning processes. However, many respondents expressed a desire for more training and information, and emphasised the importance of native title as part of a broader process of community building.