Oceania Regional Summit: Establishing Collective Action to Defend and Protect Local Waterways
By: Mary Beth Postman
Over three days, from October 13 to 15, 2025, Waterkeepers from across Oceania gathered at Western Sydney University’s Hawkesbury campus to share knowledge, deepen relationships, and strengthen their collective voice for clean, healthy waterways. It was the first summit held exclusively for the Oceania region, creating space for Waterkeepers to focus on shared local challenges, celebrate regional leadership, and strengthen collaboration across Australia.
Hosted by Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper, the summit brought together Waterkeepers and their teams from New South Wales and Victoria, alongside First Nations leaders, scientists, and community partners. It was a rare opportunity for those working across Australia’s diverse catchments to meet in person, share challenges, and explore what unites their work.
“Meeting everyone in person, getting to chat about what they do and how their group works, was the most valuable part,” reflected Dr. Michelle Ryan, Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper. “You realize how much we have in common and how much stronger we are when we connect.”
That sense of unity ran through the entire gathering. Waterkeepers described feeling inspired by the collaboration and strategy sessions that are helping to shape a shared direction for the Oceania region. “Our grassroots movement may feel like a small operation,” said Sophia Bagatsing, Environmental Engagement Coordinator, Werribee Riverkeeper/Werribee River Association, “but coming together is encouraging. [It’s] a great reminder that our collective effort makes a difference for the health of our waterways, people, and wildlife.”
Workshops on riparian restoration, erosion control, and wildlife corridors provided participants with practical skills, while open discussions encouraged them to think long-term about how to share data, coordinate research, and expand citizen science across catchments. Several Waterkeepers emphasized the importance of maintaining these connections beyond the summit, suggesting digital tools or shared spaces to continue idea exchange and project planning.
A highlight of the week was the Barduu Ngaadjung Men’s Panel, part of the First Nations Water Forum, which explored the cultural and environmental importance of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River catchment. The summit discussions delved into First Laws, the Rights of Nature movement, and First Nations governance, grounding the summit in the understanding that caring for water is inseparable from caring for Country. The conversation led us to reflect on how closely our work aligns with these principles: the rights of water, our shared responsibility to protect it, and the need to truly listen to the river itself.
Throughout the summit, Waterkeepers from both New South Wales and Victoria spoke about the role of citizen science in connecting people to their local waterways. “Building relationships is what makes the work real,” said Tyler King, Impact Team Leader for Port Phillip Baykeeper and the EcoCentre. “When we collaborate, even on small projects, it changes how people see the river. It becomes theirs, too.” Others echoed the value of engaging with universities and community partners to build long-term monitoring programs and strengthen shared responsibility within each catchment.
The summit concluded with a canoe excursion on the Hawkesbury-Nepean River. Participants stopped at Mulago Creek to learn about ongoing platypus research and visited Glenbrook Creek/Sandbank for a mini beach clean-up. As the canoes drifted past sandstone-lined vistas, with white-bellied sea eagles perched in trees and water serpents sunning on rocks, participants reflected on the river’s beauty and resilience, and on the work still ahead to protect it. Being on the water reminded us what we’re fighting for: the enduring connection between people and place that gives our work meaning.
As the summit came to a close, there was a shared sense of renewal and belonging. Waterkeepers left feeling more connected to one another and to Waterkeeper Alliance, carrying forward a deeper understanding of what it means to be part of a global movement. For all of us, the time together offered space to listen, reflect, and imagine, allowing us to see how individual efforts can flow into something larger than any single river or organization. That sense of unity, trust, and shared purpose is what strengthens our movement and keeps it flowing forward.