Traditional Owner organisations across Queensland to share in 46 new ranger positions

46 new Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger positions are being funded by the Queensland Government to be employed across 15 Traditional Owner organisations.

The newest rangers will be employed by organisations based in a range of communities including Yeppoon, Murgon, Croydon, the Sunshine Coast, and Ayton in Cape York.

Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers are combining Traditional knowledge with new technologies to protect and conserve Country, based on Traditional Owner and community priorities.

The rangers undertake fire management, biodiversity surveys, marine debris removal from beaches and estuaries, feral animal control, weed treatment and cultural site management.

QLD Environment Minister Leanne Linard announced the allocation of the new positions noting “The Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger program is not just an investment in jobs and our environment, it’s also an investment in rebuilding Indigenous knowledge and empowering Queensland’s Traditional Owners to care for country.

“These rangers are also playing a key role in their communities. They are delivering junior ranger and youth engagement services, including in-class talks at Queensland schools and on-country camps.

“The program has a strong emphasis on training, with many rangers achieving qualifications in Conservation and Land Management and completing leadership development.

“31 rangers are currently completing a tailored Indigenous Ranger Leadership Program which is helping to foster a new generation of leaders in the care of Country.

“The Leadership Program provides rangers with the skills, tools and confidence to pursue leadership roles.

The new positions deliver on a Queensland Government commitment to double the number of funded Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger positions, from 100 to 200, by 2023-24 and reaffirms the government’s commitment to recognising Indigenous knowledge and connection to Country.

Chairperson of the Wakka Wakka Native Title Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, Gary Cobbo added ‘Working with the Bunya People’s Aboriginal Corporation, as an auspice, will lead to an increased capacity for our community in caring for country across the Wakka Wakka estate.

“The new ranger team will be based out of Murgon and play a key role in strengthening connections across the many tribal groups in the South Burnett region.

“A real focus will be ‘rightfire’ or cultural burning, to reduce invasive weeds and restore native vegetation.

“Funding for this new ranger team will be of significant benefit to the Wakka Wakka community.”

Traditional Owner organisations receiving their first allocation of rangers:

• Dabu Jajikal Aboriginal Corporation, Cape York 4

• Kabi Kabi Peoples Aboriginal Corporation, Sunshine Coast 4

• Tagalaka Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, Gulf of Carpentaria 4

• Nguddaboolgan Native Title Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, Gulf of Carpentaria 4

• Darumbal People Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, Yeppoon 4

• Jinibara People Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, North-west of Brisbane 4

• Bunya Peoples Aboriginal Corporation on behalf of Budjiburra and the Wakka Wakka peoples South Burnett 4

• Juunjuwarra Aboriginal Corporation North-east of Hopevale 4

• Woppaburra TUMRA Aboriginal Corporation, Keppel Islands 4

Traditional Owner organisations receiving funding to add rangers to existing teams:

• Wuthathi Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, Northeast Cape York 2

• Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Burketown 1

• Olkola Aboriginal Corporation, Central-west Cape York 2

• South Cape York Catchments on behalf of Normanby Aboriginal Corporation, West of Cooktown 2

• Buda-dji Aboriginal Development Association Aboriginal Corporation Kuranda 2

• Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC K’Gari 1

Over the past year, Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers have:

• carried out fire management over more than 665,000 hectares of land;

• completed more than 920 biodiversity surveys;

• removed more than 9,000 kilograms of marine debris from Queensland foreshores; and

• recorded and monitored 570 culturally significant sites.

Image. Credit: Bunya Peoples Aboriginal Corporation