As Australia celebrates NAIDOC Week, Gold Coast First Nations tourism business Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre has achieved Ecotourism Australia’s prestigious ECO Certification, recognising its commitment to delivering authentic Aboriginal cultural experiences while protecting Country, supporting community and demonstrating global best practice in sustainable tourism.
The announcement comes during this year’s NAIDOC Week celebrations and highlights the growing role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tourism businesses play in delivering experiences that protect culture, strengthen communities and inspire visitors through meaningful connection to Country.
Located at the base of Burleigh Head National Park, on Kombumerri Country in the Yugambeh Language Speaking Region, Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre is the Gold Coast’s only dedicated Aboriginal cultural centre and is proudly owned and operated by the local Aboriginal community through Kalwun Development Corporation.
Visitors can experience guided cultural walks through Burleigh Head National Park, cultural cruises, educational programs, Welcome to Country ceremonies and immersive experiences that share the stories, traditions and living culture of the Yugambeh language-speaking peoples.
Ecotourism Australia Chief Executive Ms Elissa Keenan said the certification was particularly significant during NAIDOC Week.
“NAIDOC Week reminds us that culture is not simply something to be celebrated – it is something to be respected, protected and shared for future generations.
“First Nations peoples have cared for Country for tens of thousands of years. Their knowledge, connection and custodianship are fundamental to what sustainability truly means.
“First Nations tourism is one of Australia’s greatest competitive strengths. It offers visitors experiences that are authentic, deeply connected to place and found nowhere else in the world.
“When Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people lead the sharing of their own stories, tourism becomes far more than a visitor experience – it becomes a powerful way to strengthen culture, create economic opportunities for communities and build greater understanding between Australians and international visitors.
“We are delighted to award Jellurgal their ECO Certification during NAIDOC Week and recognise their leadership in delivering authentic cultural experiences that benefit both visitors and community.
Tourism experiences led by First Nations communities not only safeguard cultural knowledge but also create employment, strengthen community pride and encourage visitors to develop a deeper appreciation for Country and its custodians.
“Achieving ECO Certification is a proud milestone for our team because it recognises not only our commitment to sustainability, but also the value of sharing the stories, culture and traditions of First Nations peoples in ways that deepen understanding and respect,” shared Kieran Chilcott, CEO Kalwun Development Corporation Ltd and Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre.
“Every experience we deliver is grounded in Country, culture and community, inviting visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the world’s oldest continuing living culture and a genuine connection to this place.
“Achieving ECO Certification reflects the care we take to protect our culture, our environment and our community while delivering authentic experiences that create lasting memories for our visitors. We’re incredibly proud to receive this recognition during NAIDOC Week.”
Announced during NAIDOC Week 2026, Jellugal’s ECO Certification achievement aligns with this year’s theme, “50 Years of Deadly,” which celebrates five decades of recognising the strength, resilience, leadership and cultural richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It also highlights the important role First Nations-led tourism plays in sharing living culture, creating economic opportunities for communities and fostering deeper understanding of Australia’s First Peoples.
At Ecotourism Australia, culture sits alongside environmental, social and economic sustainability as a core pillar of our certification programs. We believe tourism should help protect living cultures, strengthen communities and create meaningful opportunities for cultural exchange, while ensuring visitors leave with a deeper understanding of Australia’s First Nations heritage.
Achieving global best-practice ECO Certification is a meticulous process, involving more than 200 key criteria across four pillars of sustainability. Ecotourism Australia’s certification programs involve an initial third-party audit to award certification followed by periodic independent audits to maintain certification and demonstrate ongoing commitment to responsible practices.
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Media contacts:
Ecotourism Australia – Myv Costelloe, Stakeholder Engagement Manager
e: myv@ecotourism.org.au
ph: (07) 3256 6777
Kalwun Development Corporation Ltd – Michelle Reid, Executive Lead – Corporate Affairs and Strategic Projects
e: michelle.reid@kalwun.com.au
ph: 0429 639 314
About Ecotourism Australia
Ecotourism Australia is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation, established in 1991, that promotes and supports Australia’s visitor economy through building capacity and actively promoting sustainable tourism operations and systems. Our legacy program – ECO Certification – was the world’s first national ecotourism certification program and the Sustainable Tourism Certification, launched in 2022 supports non-nature based businesses achieve global best-practice. Today there are some 2500 accommodation, tours and attractions certified by Ecotourism Australia. Ecotourism Australia is also a founding member of the Tourism Sustainability Certifications Alliance (TSCA), a global association for sustainable tourism established in January 2025. TSCA members are responsible for certifying more than 19,000 travel and tourism enterprises, organisations, and destinations across the globe – representing the largest cohort of certified operators worldwide.