Desert Knowledge

Desert Knowledge is the knowledge about living well in the desert, in Australia and in arid lands around the world. In central Australia the Desert Knowledge 'movement' in the coming together of a number of leaders, Indigenous and non Indigenous, in various but discrete forums to address issues such as Indigenous peoples education and training, building thriving desert economies and scoping economic development for Alice Springs.

From the meetings of the Indigenous Boards of Indigenous education organisations emerged the Desert Peoples Centre (DPC). The DPC is currently a consortium of CAT and the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education (BIITE).

Out of the meetings about building thriving desert economies emerged work towards a bid to establish the Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre (DKCRC). The DKCRC was established in 2003. Through the Desert Peoples Centre, CAT is a core partner of the DKCRC and is involved in a range of research and other activities, including leading one of the DKCRC Core Projects - Desert Services that work. 

From the meetings about economic development in central Australia emerged the Alice in Ten strategy and later the establishment by the Northern Territory Government of Desert Knowledge Australia (DKA).

Research Papers from DKCRC projects that CAT has been involved in can be found by following the link to research.