The symposium will cover the industry-based themes of Desert Knowledge, as outlined below. Research and innovation, education and training, and sustainable employment for Indigenous people are all integral components of these themes.

Doing Business in the Desert
This theme showcases national and international examples of desert-specific business activities and networks. The program includes presentations on mining, sustainable housing and bush produce, as well as a separate section focusing on desert tourism. These presentations will be linked to the businesses displayed in the accompanying ‘Business Showcase’.

Building the Sustainability of Desert Communities
This theme examines the factors that have an impact on the sustainability of desert communities. It considers approaches to delivering services to remote communities, cost-reduction and increasing efficiencies, as well as models for business and institutional structures.

Natural Resource Management in the Desert
Key projects in the areas of land management, including water, fire and wind control, the impact of introduced species and biodiversity will be presented. The emphasis is on how these projects are helping to create economic opportunities for desert people.

Land and Desert Culture
This theme explores the importance of the relationship between the land and culture in the desert and the impact it has on sustainabilty. Cultural values in land management, and intellectual property are among the subjects included in this section.

Education and the Knowledge Economy
Current research, education and knowledge-based activities across desert communities are highlighted, and linked to the education and training and development organisations displaying their products and services in the concurrent ‘Business Showcase’.

Water and Energy Solutions for Desert People
Presentations on the latest thinking about water and energy use in desert communities include Aboriginal community perspectives and considerations of wastewater technologies in a desert environment.