Australia Awards South and West Asia

Lasata Joshi, a Research Officer at Policy Entrepreneurs Incorporated (a policy research centre based in Kathmandu), completed a Regional Short Course on Indigenous Environmental Knowledge Management in June 2025. Following her return to Nepal after the completion of the Short Course, Lasata recorded a podcast with Dr Robert Fisher, the co-leader of the Short Course, inspired by the knowledge she gained from Australia.

Access the podcast via this link. (Podcast Courtesy – PODS by PEI)

The Short Course offered participants from Nepal, Bangladesh and Mongolia the opportunity to explore Australian Indigenous people’s approaches to environmental management and conservation. Six other participants from Nepal (including Sushil Subedi) completed the Short Course alongside Lasata. During their time in Australia, participants engaged directly with Indigenous knowledge holders and community leaders, gaining deeper insights into Indigenous perspectives on environmental stewardship. They observed traditional landowners utilising art, dance, writing and other forms of expression to convey their stories. This experience inspired Lasata to explore storytelling as a way to honour, document and share the knowledge she had acquired through the course.

Lasata (fifth from right, back row) pictured with fellow Short Course participants during their visit to Kakadu National Park in Australia.

Dr Fisher is an anthropologist and human geographer with decades of experience in the social dimensions of natural resource management. His longstanding association with community forestry began in Nepal, where he worked on the Nepal–Australia Forestry Project in the late 1980s. Since then, he has served in various roles across Asia, Africa and the Pacific, focusing on land tenure, conservation and local livelihoods. Currently, he is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney and a Senior Research Fellow at University of the Sunshine Coast.

After the conclusion of the Short Course, Lasata and Dr Fisher collaborated on an episode for Policy Entrepreneurs Incorporated’s podcast initiative. Lasata hosted the episode, titled ‘Community Forestry in Nepal: What Worked, What Didn’t’, with Dr Fisher as a guest speaker. Talking about the podcast, Lasata says, “The episode not only captures history and Dr Fisher’s reflections from the 1980s, but also offers a unique perspective shaped by his experiences in Nepal. The podcast explores the critical role of community involvement in sustainable forestry practices, highlighting successful case studies and innovative strategies that have emerged from collaborative efforts.”

Lasata (far left) networking with fellow Short Course participants during her time in Australia.

Reflecting on her experience from the Short Course, Lasata says, “Participating in the Short Course on Indigenous Environmental Knowledge Management was a truly enriching experience that broadened my understanding of Indigenous perspectives across different lands and cultures—not only through the facilitators but also from my fellow cohort members. We were separated by borders yet connected by culture in various ways.” Lasata intends to continue her learning by producing additional podcast episodes or researching and writing about topics that elevate indigenous voices and environmental knowledge from Nepal. “The knowledge and motivation I gained from the course and my fellow cohort members have empowered me to start this work,” she says. “Overall, the Short Course opened up avenues for both my professional and personal growth.”

Lasata (far left, standing) pictured together with other Nepali participants after witnessing an Indigenous cultural experience during their time in Australia.

Australia Awards Short Courses are short-term training opportunities funded by the Australian Government.

Cover photo: Lasata (seventh from the left, back row) poses with fellow participants of the Short Course at the University of the Sunshine Coast with Dr Fisher (eight from the left, back row behind Lasata) and other presenters. Photo courtesy of University of the Sunshine Coast’s Centre for International Development, Social Entrepreneurship and Leadership.