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The Long Campaign for Indigenous Rangers to Care for Country

Published: 1 Dec 2023

At Nantawarrina IPA C. 1997 L to R Ivan Haskovec IPA Project Officer Environment Australia, Paul Matthewson Project Officer Indigenous Land Corp & Denis Rose IPA Project Officer Environment Australia. Photo: Supplied.

Country Needs People's Chair Denis Rose and CEO Paddy O'Leary went into studio with Phillip Adams this week for Late Night Live to have a yarn about the long campaign for Indigenous Rangers caring for Country.

Gunditjmara man Denis Rose (pictured far right) was part of the original team that worked to develop and implement the Indigenous Protected Areas program in the 1990s. The challenge: could public servants work with Traditional Owners and ensure government could support Traditional Owners' aspirations for managing Country?

In this in-depth interview Denis and Paddy look back at the history of the program, its legacy and the challenges that the future holds. Denis also discusses the incredible cultural heritage of his Country, on the lava flow at Budj Bim Indigenous Protected Area, which has just been honoured with a UNESCO award. 

Listen here