News

MEDIA RELEASE: Massive Boost for Indigenous Ranger Jobs

Published: 1 Nov 2024

Walbunja Rangers from Batemans Bay NSW are one of the successful funding recipients. Photo: Eva Davis Boermans.

Country Needs People welcome massive boost for Indigenous Ranger jobs and increase in women rangers nationally, resulting from sustained campaign by Traditional Owners network.

National non-profit Country Needs People today welcomed the first new national roll out of new community based Indigenous Ranger positions in over a decade.

“We have worked with our network of over 50 Indigenous-run partner groups across Australia to advocate for growing and securing Indigenous Ranger jobs for many years, and this is a direct outcome of our work together including our equity target for women”, says Patrick O’Leary, CEO of Country Needs People. “We’d like to thank all our Indigenous partners for their consistent efforts pushing for the creation of these new jobs”.

The Labor Party led first with a commitment to doubling federally funded Indigenous Ranger jobs by 2030 in response to Country Needs People’s campaign way back in 2016, the Liberal National Coalition matched that commitment in 2022, and the Greens, Jacqui Lambie Party and many of the crossbench ‘teal’ or independent Senators and House of Reps members also strongly supported this. Good things take time.

“It’s great to see the first stage of rollout of the new Indigenous Ranger positions announced, and the Federal Government delivering on their long-term commitment”, said Patrick O’Leary.  “This won’t be the last funding round and there will need to be further rounds of Ranger job funding following the next Federal Election.”

“Indigenous Rangers manage fire, tackle feral animals, control invasive weeds and protect threatened species on land and sea. As well as delivering nature and biodiversity protection, they are uniquely positioned to deliver improved management of cultural values on land and sea. Combining 65,000 years of ongoing presence, survival and understanding of Country with contemporary science and technology, this an investment that benefits every Australian and that every Australian can be proud of.”

“As a group that works with Indigenous Rangers every day, Country Needs People are really pleased to see the government deliver, including for women.  But we sound a word of caution also for the future.  This work is hard, it needs support for Ranger teams and their host organisations to be their most effective in often really challenging circumstances. That means adequate operational funding and adequate support for on-ground capability.”

“We need to rebuild a dedicated unit of staff in the federal environment department to support the success of these ranger teams.  Over a decade ago we had this and it strengthened our approach and now we need it back more than ever. We are placing a lot of expectation and potential stress and risk of burnout on community-based organisations, they are stepping up, so let’s provide them with support to grow their resilience and capability.”

“We congratulate all those groups that will be creating new local dependable Ranger jobs around Australia today as well as the commitment of Ministers McCarthy and Plibersek to deliver these jobs”, said Patrick O’Leary. “Now we urge the government to recommit to the ongoing success of the work of all Indigenous Rangers into the future, to ensure they can deliver the quality of collaboration and support all Ranger teams deserve.”  

Country Needs People is a national, non-partisan, majority Indigenous governed non-profit with a network of over 50 Indigenous partner groups that champions Indigenous led land and sea management.