This research documents an evaluation of preventive health resources developed for Aboriginal people in the west Kimberley region. The project was a collaboration between The Jean Hailes Foundation for Women and Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal health workers, educators and artists from Looma, Pandanus Park, Derby and Mowanjum. Traditional art and language provided a basis for cultural identity and imparting modern health knowledge. Two health booklets and a video (Aminina Nud Mulumuluna – “You Gotta Look After Yourself” and Wungai Ngunga – “Women's Business”) were produced. Qualitative research suggests that the resources were well accepted, fostered health discussions and contributed to the pride and self‐esteem of local people. Collaboration and the integration of traditional and modern health knowledge contributed to a contemporary view of Aboriginal health.

This timely collation of case studies, written by and with Traditional Owners of diverse Australian offshore islands, offers direct insights into benefits arising from strategic and participatory action planning for biocultural island conservation and monitoring. We pay respect to the Old People and Elders whose dedicated care of their island homelands means we today can still experience their cultural and natural diversity. We extend greetings to our Pacifika neighbours, and to carers of islands around Earth. Our paper scopes socio-economic benefits arising from planning for islands, for Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders, and more generally. Global, national, state and local co-investments support place-specific planning for some islands by Traditional Owners as a starting point toward shared governance and caring for Country. Case studies describe Country planning for Mayala Country in Australia’s northwest, Woppaburra experiences within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and integrated biocultural health monitoring arising from remote island Indigenous Protected Area planning in Torres Strait. New institutional initiatives are also seeking to create solid foundations for more substantive island research collaborations. Across Australia, novel relationships grounded in culturally assured, holistically integrated approaches to island governance and caring for Country involving Traditional Owners and island resource users/managers are creating equity in livelihoods and stronger wellbeing. Australia’s innovative Sea Country collaborations, with priorities initiated and led by island Traditional Owners, carry real value for sustained island conservation and provide positive inspirations for global humanity in the accelerating Anthropocene.