By Dongyun Kwon
A Healesville-based First Nations corporation welcomed two federal politicians who brought a great announcement for the First Nations communities on Thursday 31 October.
Federal Indigenous Australians minister senator Malarndirri McCarthy and federal Victoria senator Jana Stewart announced more than 1000 new Indigenous ranger jobs will be created across the country, with the Federal Government investing $355 million over four years to expand the Indigenous Rangers Program, at the property of Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation (WWCHAC), which was named one of the recipients of this funding.
Through this investment, First Nations women will make up the vast majority of the new full-time, part-time and casual roles, with up to 770 Indigenous ranger positions.
Yanyuwa woman senator McCarthy said expanding the Indigenous Rangers Program will provide more opportunities for First Nations people to share their knowledge and benefit from the social and economic outcomes that come from meaningful employment.
“This expansion delivers on the government’s commitment to increase the footprint of the Indigenous Rangers Program and bolster activity in existing locations,” she said.
“I’m particularly pleased to see so many new opportunities for women Indigenous rangers who play a unique role in caring for Country.
“I acknowledge the work of all rangers and the care and strength they demonstrate in looking after Country.”
For more than 65,000 years, First Nations people have been caretakers of Australia’s land, rivers, seas, flora and fauna.
Indigenous rangers continue this legacy today, managing Country according to Traditional Owners’ objectives combined with modern conservation training.
They use traditional knowledge and cultural practices, and western science, to manage land, river and sea Country and deliver environmental, cultural, social and economic development outcomes for First Nations communities.
Wurundjeri elder Uncle Bill Nicholson Jnr welcomed the visitors and led the smoking ceremony.
Mr Nicholson said the health of the environment is a key part of Wurundjeri culture.
“It’s probably the underlying heart of what Wurundjeri culture is all about because children were brought up here for generations and two key things they were taught was the health of the land related to their health and the actions that you incorporate within the land, how that will benefit future generations and also playing your role in society with the knowledge that was taught by your extended family,” he said.
“Everyone takes their responsibility, and it works. The tribal system worked like a team.”
After the smoking ceremony, the two visitors toured the on-site Indigenous plant nursery, the depot and the adjoining property where the Narrap Rangers undertake land management activities for the area.
Narrap Rangers from WWCHAC undertake a range of natural resource management activities on Country at the request of clients, including the maintenance of firebreaks in accordance with local council by-laws.
Narrap Ranger crew leader Damien Nicholson, who is Uncle Bill Nicholson Jnr’s son, said there has been a lot of progress since he started working for the Narrap team eight years ago.
“What we mainly do is conservation land management, which is pretty much taking care of the invasive weed species,” he said.
“We’ll go out and spray, hand weed or even put the fire back on Country to get rid of all that stuff and bring back all the good stuff like the native grasses and plants.
“We do a lot of different things from fencing and burning to surveys to help this Country get back the way it was.”
115 projects will receive funding including 35 in Queensland, 23 in Western Australia, 21 in New South Wales, 12 in Northern Territory, 11 in South Australia, nine in Victoria and four in Tasmania.
This marks the first time in more than a decade that new ranger groups have been able to apply to join the Commonwealth Indigenous Rangers Program.
This expansion round also includes grants of up to $50,000 per year over four years to strengthen ranger groups and support their long-term sustainability.
The Albanese Government is investing a total of $1.3 billion to 2028 in the Indigenous Rangers Program with aims to double the number of Indigenous rangers by the end of the decade.
Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wamba woman senator Jana Stewart said First Nations people have been custodians of Australia’s land and waters for tens of thousands of years.
“Expanding the Indigenous Rangers Program honours this legacy and provides sustainable and meaningful employment opportunities for mob,” she said.
“Traditional Owner groups in Victoria are strong and mighty. I am thrilled to see over $23.6 million invested in Victoria, and eight groups in the state receive Indigenous Ranger Program funding for the very first time.
“The economic and social contribution of Traditional Owner groups like Gunaikurnai, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung Clans cannot be understated. I am so pleased to see the significance of their work recognised in this way.”
