A free online course is helping clean energy professionals work more effectively and respectfully with First Nations communities. Developed by the Clean Energy Council in partnership with the First Nations Clean Energy Network, the course supports people working in the energy sector to improve how they engage with First Nations peoples throughout the life of a clean energy project.
Titled Leading practice: First Nations engagement, it is part of the Powering Up: Clean energy on Country program. It reflects a growing awareness that clean energy projects need to be built in partnership with First Nations communities, not just on their land.
The program is supported by the Australian Government’s Local Jobs Program and is free to all Clean Energy Council members. Available since 2024, it is designed to be completed online, on-demand, and takes around three hours.
The course draws on two well-established resources: the Clean Energy Council’s Leading Practice Principles: First Nations and Renewable Energy Projects and the First Nations Clean Energy Network’s Best Practice Principles for Clean Energy Projects. These frameworks guide participants in building the knowledge and confidence needed to form lasting, respectful partnerships with First Nations people.
Participants are introduced to the 10 Best Practice Principles developed by the First Nations Clean Energy Network. These cover practical approaches to engagement, benefit-sharing, and cultural protection. The course includes real-world guidance on:
- building cultural competency in project teams;
- engaging early and openly with local and neighbouring communities;
- embedding respect for Country and culture into project planning; and
- creating agreements that share social and economic benefits.
The program highlights how early, respectful engagement can support stronger social licence, project stability and long-term success.
Professionals who complete the course will gain an understanding of how to apply Free, Prior and Informed Consent, and how to support First Nations communities to participate in clean energy decision-making. The training also explores how energy companies can uplift current practices by adopting more transparent and culturally aware approaches.
One of the key messages is that clean energy projects work best when they’re built with people, not just infrastructure. As the course explains: “When communities and groups give consent and co-design and co-own projects, project support, social licence and reputation is vastly increased.”
By making the course free and widely available, the Clean Energy Council and the First Nations Clean Energy Network are encouraging all clean energy professionals—whether they work in consultation, development, engineering or community engagement—to improve how they approach their work with First Nations people.
In a rapidly expanding sector with projects often located on or near Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land, having this kind of understanding is not only respectful—it’s essential. The course is available until September 2025.
