Bardi Jawi Oorany Rangers. Photo by DBCA

The current Western Australian Aboriginal Ranger Program is a $66.5 million investment over five years from 2021–26 to help Aboriginal organisations manage country and protect the environment across the State, in partnership with the public and private sectors. Funding is available for jobs for Aboriginal rangers, training, and community development.

The program is led by Aboriginal people and administered by the Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

The program began in 2017, with $20 million invested into 35 ranger programs. By the end of 2021, it had delivered more than 800 jobs for Aboriginal people, as well as significant land and sea management outcomes. In 2021, the McGowan Government acknowledged the importance and success of the program and committed an additional $50 million to continue the project to 2025. Another $16.5 million was later added, bringing the total ‘phase 2’ commitment to $66.5 million over five years.

The Aboriginal Ranger Program sought to build on the existing work of Aboriginal ranger groups throughout the State, in recognition of the social, cultural and environmental benefits these programs were already producing.

The program helps Aboriginal organisations employ and train Aboriginal people as rangers, coordinators and other management and support staff to undertake land and sea management activities including:

biodiversity monitoring and research
traditional knowledge transfer
fire management
cultural site management
feral animal and weed management
cultural awareness for visitors
guided welcome to country tours and/or talks for visitors
management of visitors or tourists and tourism assets education programs and mentoring.

Funding Opportunities

ARP Innovation Fund 

Round 6 of the Aboriginal Ranger Program (ARP) Innovation Fund is now open.

In this round, up to $11 million is available for eligible Aboriginal organisations to submit applications that explore innovative ways of doing ranger business to maximise outcomes and benefits to Aboriginal ranger programs. Projects must align with at least one of the three themes: Empowerment; Protecting Country or Collaboration.  

Information about this round is available in the Round 6 Innovation Fund Funding Guidelines and the Round 6 Addendum 1. Please read these guidelines carefully before starting an application.

Applications must be submitted via DBCA’s SmartyGrants portal no later than 11:59pm Friday 9 June 2023. Applications will not be accepted by email or post.

If you have any questions about this round, please email the ARP at aboriginalrangerprogram@dbca.wa.gov.au.

Round 6 application form supporting documents

ARP Development Fund

The Development Fund was created to provide support to new and emerging ranger programs, empowering Aboriginal organisations to build strong foundations for long term success. 

Up to $13 million will be available via Round 7 – Development Fund, later in 2023 for projects starting in 2024.

To be notified when this and other rounds are opened, please register your interest here: https://forms.office.com/r/wetftK9AzT 

Expansion Fund 

The Expansion Fund was created to support established ranger programs as they grow their activities and develop longer-term career pathways for rangers.

The Expansion Fund was fully allocated in 2022. $22.8 million was distributed to 14 Aboriginal organisations, supporting over 100 ranger jobs for up to four years.

Grant writing workshop

To support ranger teams in the process of writing grant applications, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions offered a Grant Writing Essentials webinar via Zoom. Hosted by Tara Whitney from Whitney Consulting, the webinar was held on 3 August 2022 and gave participants an overview of best practise grant writing. You can watch the webinar here: https://youtu.be/YlL-dPvWlXg

Recipients

In December 2022, $10 million was allocated under Round 5 of the Aboriginal Ranger Program, as part of the Development Fund. This funding was awarded in two categories:

Small grants for planning and development
Large grants for ranger operations

Round 5 recipients are listed below and shown on this map

Applicant	Project Title	Region	Category	Funding allocated
Parna Ngururrpa Aboriginal Corporation	Ngururrpa Ranger Program	Central Desert	Large grant	$1,180,000 over three years
Malgana Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC	Pathway to a Malgana Country land and sea management program (Phase 3)	Geraldton	Large grant	$455,000 over one year
Tjiwarl Aboriginal Corporation	Tjiwarl Healthy Country Ranger Program	Goldfields	Large grant	$565,000 over one year
Kimberley Land Council	Kija Rangers	Kimberley	Large grant	$1,360,000 over three years
Balanggarra Ventures Limited	Balanggarra Rangers	Kimberley	Large grant	$940,000 over two years
Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation	Nyiyaparli Rangers	Pilbara	Large grant	$670,000 over three years
Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation Ranger Program	Caring for Country for 59,000 years	Pilbara	Large grant	$1,075,500 over three years
Nyamal Aboriginal Corporation (NAC)	Karuwayinya Cultural and Environmental Management Program	Pilbara	Large grant	$725,000 over three years
Maarli Services Pty Ltd	Eastern Wheatbelt Rangers	South West	Large grant	$740,000 over two years
Winjan Aboriginal Corporation	Winjan Bindjareb Boodja Ranger Program	South West	Large grant	$800,000 over two years
Binalup Aboriginal Corporation	Binalup Rangers	South West	Large grant	$950,000 over two years
Kulyakartu Aboriginal Corporation	Kulyakartu Ranger Team	Central Desert	Small grant	$97,600 over 10 months
Yugunga-Nya Native Title Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC	Yugunga-Nya Ranger Program Development Project	Geraldton	Small grant	$92,527 over 9 months
Robe River Kuruma Aboriginal Corporation	Jajiwurra Rangers – planning and development	Pilbara	Small grant	$100,000 over one year
Ngarlawangga Aboriginal Corporation	Ngarlawangga Healthy Country Plan	Pilbara	Small grant	$99,400 over one year
PKKP Aboriginal Corporation	PKKP Ranger Program	Pilbara	Small grant	$100,000 over one year
Wajarri Yamaji Aboriginal Corporation	Wajarri Byro Ranger Program	Geraldton	Small grant	$100,000 over one year

Recipients of rounds 1 to 3 can be viewed on this map.

Recipients of round 4 can be viewed on this map.

Reference Group

An expert Reference Group has been established to assist DBCA on an ongoing basis to shape the design and roll-out of the second phase of the Aboriginal Ranger Program. The group’s Terms of Reference can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.

Members of the Reference Group were invited on the basis of their skills and practical knowledge of Aboriginal ranger programs, and were selected from across all regions of WA. Aboriginal and gender representation were also key considerations in forming the membership, and the group has committed to improving female representation in its membership over the next 12 months. Members of the Reference Group are listed below.

Rhonda Murphy	Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions	Chair
Julie Melbourne	Nyamba Buru Yawuru Ltd	Kimberley
Talbot Muir	Tjiwarl Aborignal Corporation	Goldfields
Kevin Walley	Bundundea / Yulella	Mid-west
Les O'Neil	Malgana Aboriginal Corporation	Mid-west
Lindsey Langford	Indigenous Desert Alliance	Western Desert
Julie Hayden	Badgebup Aboriginal Corporation	Wheatbelt
Nerida Haynes	Terra Rosa Consulting/ Jidi Jidi Aboriginal Corporation	Pilbara
Oscar Colbung	Southern Aboriginal Corporation	South coast
Helen Langley	Ngadju Conservation Aboriginal Corporation	Goldfields/Esperance
Francis Khan	Woolkabunning Kiaka Aboriginal Corporation	Southwest
Phoebe Martin	Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation	Kimberley
Brian Wall	Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation	Pilbara
Kane Watson	Northern Agricultural Catchments Council	Mid-west
Clinton Farmer	K Farmer Dutjahn Foundation Ltd	Central Desert
Stephen van Leeuwen	Curtin University	Stakeholder advisor
Peter Murray	Country Needs People	Stakeholder advisor
Stuart Bradfield	Desert Support Services	Stakeholder advisor
Justin McAllister	South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council	Stakeholder advisor

The following agencies also have standing invitations for representatives to attend as observers:

Minister for Environment office
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs office
Department of the Premier and Cabinet
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
National Indigenous Australians Agency
West Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council
Tourism Western Australia
Western Australian Local Government Association.

Members of the public are also able to contribute to the work of the Reference Group by using our online form to provide comments, suggestions and feedback for consideration.

To obtain a copy of the latest reference group minutes, please contact aboriginalrangerprogram@dbca.wa.gov.au.