ReefTO
QLD Government Department of Environment and Science
About
For Sea Country people, the Great Barrier Reef is more than a natural wonder; it’s an integral part of culture, identity, and ways of life. The 70 Traditional Owner groups that protect and care for the reef have a sacred responsibility to ensure it thrives for future generations and safeguard ancestral knowledge.
ReefTO was envisioned by a group of deeply committed Traditional Custodians from the Reef governance sector to ensure Traditional Owners remain at the heart of Reef stewardship and governance.
The Department of Environment and Science engaged Saltwater People to co-design a bold visual identity, communications strategy and suite of communications products to secure investment and transition ReefTO into an independent Traditional Owner-led alliance.
CLIENT
ARTIST
THE ARTIST
Josie Olbar
Josie Olbar is a Kuku Yalanji/Jalanji woman who creates paintings and stories that represent her heritage. Josie loves painting sea animals and plants that are from her Country. She is experienced in a variety of mediums including acrylic on canvas, acrylic on linen, linocut prints, etching on paper, seed jewellery, silk screen and silk batik.
My work is inspired by the coral reef and ocean that surrounds Wujal Wujal & Bloomfield River areas. This painting is about the Karrangkal (reef), ait is very beautiful and home to many important sea creatures. We must look after our Country and protect the land and sea to make sure that future generations can admire and collect food for many years to come.
WATCH
Reef Story
Traditional Owner Animation Team
Reef Story is written and created by Reef Traditional Owners, including Aunty Chrissy Grant, Talei Elu, Sheree Jacobs, Bernie Singleton Jr., and Tarquin Singleton, and tells the story of how First Nations people have cared for the reef while considering the impact of colonisation on our natural environment.
ILLUSTRATION
Bernard Singleton Jnr
ILLUSTRATION
Tarquin Singleton
ANIMATION
Talei Elu
VOICE
Aunty Chrissy Grant
Our Approach
Understanding that Traditional Owners see the Reef as a living, cultural landscape filled with deep meaning and spiritual significance, Saltwater People partnered with Bana Yirriji Art Centre and Kuku Yalanji artist Josie Olbar to create a vibrant and optimistic visual identity. Josie’s breathtaking artwork, Dulngku (Reef), captures the essence of the Reef, grounding ReefTO’s identity in storytelling and tradition, connected to Sea Country.
Working side by side with ReefTO, we reshaped their communications strategy and digital presence, delivering an engaging and accessible Traditional Owner 2050 Plan, a historical timeline (both print and interactive), a project website, and animation.
This work supported ReefTO to secure a significant investment from the federal government to establish a Sea Country Alliance. The Alliance will continue the work set out in the Plan, and deliver a long-term, coordinated First Nations-led response to protect the Reef and its environmental, economic and cultural values.
IMPACT PRIORITIES
IMPACT PARTNERS
