Over 20% of Australia is held in Indigenous ownership. On this land lies some of Australia’s most exceptional natural environments. These lands are rich with native plants and animals, including many threatened species, and require ongoing care to survive. They also have some of the oldest artistic and cultural sites in the world.
Indigenous rangers work on these lands and beyond to combat a variety of environmental and cultural threats.
Indigenous rangers are funded through a few different mechanisms but the most significant is the Australian federal government’s Working on Country program. This program combines Indigenous traditional knowledge with modern techniques to protect and care for the land and sea.
The Working on Country program supports over 120 ranger groups across Australia and funds over over 800 full-time equivalent jobs – that’s more than 2500 jobs when broken down into casual, part-time and full-time positions.
Aside from the many environmental benefits of Indigenous rangers, the ranger jobs also have many social and economic benefits.
Indigenous ranger jobs are at the frontline of nature protection Australia-wide and are delivering transformational benefits for people at the same time.
Attending the presentation of Certificate 3 certificates today to six Walbunja rangers from Batemans Bay Aboriginal Land Council (BBALC) the Federal Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips said:
"This is a true Batemans Bay Indigenous Rangers Success story…. congratulations to the Walbunja Rangers who today graduated with a Certificate 3 in Indigenous Land Management.
"What an amazing collaboration, which sees Walbunja Rangers working with council, National Parks, Local Land Services, the RFS and private landowners from the Eurobodalla.
Walbunja Rangers undertake cultural burning, weed eradication, re-vegetation, monitoring threatened species, plus looking after the Batemans Bay Aboriginal Land Council’s 1,000 hectare property at Nelligen.
"Thanks to everyone supporting the Walbunja Rangers. What a terrific program. I look forward to growing Indigenous Ranger programs across our region".
Above: Members of Eurobodalla Council, National Parks, the RFS and the Federal Member for Gilmore joined the certificate presentations today (October 20th, 2022) that saw six Walbunja rangers from Batemans Bay Aboriginal Land Council (BBALC) achieve their Certificate III in Indigenous Land Management. Photo: Fiona Phillips MP
