Indigenous ranger programs enable First Nations people across Australia to protect cultural and natural values of land and sea country at the direction of Traditional Owners. Indigenous Rangers utilise traditional ecological knowledge and partnerships with government and non-government organisations to manage country.
Introduced by the Australian Government’s Environment Department in 2007 the Working on Country Program, supports 127 ranger teams at 79 different Indigenous land and sea management organisations nationally. The Program provides funding to First Nations organisations to support the development of careers in the land and sea management sector.
Many rangers deliver land and water management activities within Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) and other parts of Australia.[1]
Background and history
editMany of Australia's threatened species and ecosystems are located on IPAs and/or in remote parts of Australia.[2] The federal Working on Country program was established by the Howard government in 2007,[3] with the aim of creating meaningful employment, training and career pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in managing land and sea areas, as well as maintaining their cultures, and sharing their skills and knowledge with others. In turn, this would generate jobs in the environmental, biosecurity, heritage and other sectors.[1]
The Working on Country Program was expanded and subsequently extended under the Rudd and Gillard Labour Governments, with funding secured from 2013 to 2018.
After the Abbot Government was elected in 2013, the Working on Country and Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) Programs were transferred from the Department of the Environment to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, along with more than 140 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Programs from different portfolio agencies.
In 2018 the Working on Country and IPA Programs transferred to the new National Indigenous Australians Agency. An initial three year extension of funding for Working on Country (2018 to 2021), was followed by a 7 year extension (2021 to 2028) of the renamed ‘Indigenous Rangers Program’.
As of 2023[update] Working on Country had created more than 1900 full-time, part-time and casual jobs for First Nations people across the country, across 127 ranger groups.[4]
Some Indigenous Ranger groups are supported by Country Needs People, an alliance of more than 40 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, The Pew Charitable Trusts, and as of 2018[update] more than 95,000 individuals, campaigning for the growth and security of Indigenous ranger jobs and Indigenous Protected Areas.[5]
Funding
editThe Australian Government, has been funding Indigenous ranger groups since 2007. By 2018 the government was committing A$250 million until 2021, supporting 118 ranger groups.[3] There had been significant advocacy for the increased annual funding for both Indigenous ranger and Indigenous Protected Area programs, the establishment of a long-term target of 5,000 ranger positions nationally, and extension of contract lengths to at least ten years for greater stability.[6] This led to a funding increase of A$359 million, a total of $1.3 billion from 2021 to 2028 to double the number of Indigenous rangers by 2030 from 1,900 to 3,800 by 2030.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- 1 2 Cabinet, Prime Minister and (18 March 2016). "Indigenous Rangers Program". National Indigenous Australians Agency. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ↑ Preece, Noel D. (8 May 2019). "Indigenous rangers don't receive the funding they deserve – here's why". The Conversation. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
- 1 2 Davidson, Helen (27 April 2018). "Indigenous rangers to receive $250m in funding for jobs until 2021". the Guardian. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
- ↑ "Working on Country - National Indigenous Australians Agency". Indigenous Rangers. 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
- ↑ "Who's involved". Country Needs People. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
- ↑ "Indigenous Protected Areas and Indigenous Rangers: Protecting nature, creating jobs, transforming lives" (PDF). 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
The Pew Charitable Trusts 2019 Budget Submission: Securing Australia's Outback Environment - Supporting Indigenous Jobs
- ↑ "Doubling indigenous rangers to help close gap on jobs". Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2024.