Aboriginal Ranger Program

Bardi Jawi Oorany Rangers. Photo by DBCA

The current Western Australian Aboriginal Ranger Program (ARP) is an $83 million State Government investment, which includes $66.5 million allocated over five years from 2021–26 through phase 2 of the program, and a further $16.5 million in 2026-27. The program aims 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, community development as well as research, tourism and other expansion activities.

The individual ranger programs are led by Aboriginal people and the ARP is administered by the Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. The ARP is largely funded by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Royalties for Regions.

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. Another $16.5 million has been committed for 2026-27, which is yet to be designed as part of ‘phase 3’.

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

DBCA's Aboriginal Ranger Program funding is provided across three streams, recognising the diverse needs of ranger programs at different stages of development.

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. The first round of this fund was open in 2022. $10 million was allocated to 17 organisations, supporting the development of the new ranger programs. You can read about their projects in the download section below.

The second round of this fund is now open. Up to $13 million is available for new and emerging ranger programs. There are two categories of funding in this round:

•   Small grants (up to $150,000) for organisations looking to start a ranger program seeking assistance with the planning and preparation.
•   Large grants (over $150,000) for organisations that are ready to start their ranger program and need assistance employing rangers, or are in the early stages and need support building capacity.

Detailed information about this round is available in the Round 7 Funding Guidelines.  Any clarifications or changes to the Guidelines since they were published will be noted in the General Advice to Applicants document in the download section below.

This round is open until 5pm AWST on Monday 9 October 2023.

Applications must be submitted via DBCA’s SmartyGrants portal. They will not be accepted by email or post, or after the closing time.

Please read the Round 7 Guidelines carefully before starting an application.

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

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.

Innovation Fund

The Innovation Fund was created to fund special projects that explore creative approaches to ranger work, and provide learnings that will benefit the ranger sector. This fund was open in early 2023 and is now closed. Applicants will be notified of the outcome at the conclusion of the assessment process.

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.

Watch the webinar on YouTube.

In April 2023, Round 6 of the Aboriginal Ranger Program – the Innovation Fund – was launched. The assessment phase has been completed and this funding has been awarded to the below recipients:

Applicant	Project Title	Period	Funding allocated
Mantjiljarra Yulparirra Pty Ltd trading as Tarlka Matuwa Piarku Aboriginal Corporation (TMPAC)	Western Desert Youth Rangers - Developing co-mapping and media skills	2 years	$337,226
Wilinggin Aboriginal Corporation	Marrirrin di Drone Program	2.5 years	$439,465
Indigenous Desert Alliance	Southern Deserts Right Way Fire Project	2.5 years	$1,643,625
Nyamba Buru Yawuru Ltd	Baluyi Bilarra Bundurr Bundurr - Plants of the Wetland & Pindan	2.5 years	$354,777
Nowanup Noongar Boodjar Ltd	Integrating Cultural Fire and Contemporary Burning in the Great Southern	2.5 years	$291,419
Binalup Aboriginal Corporation	Planning for a Binalup-Tambellup Fauna Sanctuary	2 years	$415,105
Maarli Services	Interactive gnammas mapping in Eastern Wheatbelt Rangers	2.5 years	$1,653,193
Winjan Aboriginal Corporation	Bindjareb Boodja Baldja Ranger Innovation Project	2.5 years	$1,275,504
Badgebup Aboriginal Corporation	BAC Skills and Innovation Hub	2.5 years	$1,840,068
Undalup Association Inc	Ni Kidji Gnangkaa Boodja - Listening to Mother Country	2.5 years	$1,172,485
Budadee Aboriginal Corporation	Budadee Native Seed Facility	1.5 years	$757,990
Noongar Land Enterprise Group	Noongar Land Enterprise Group Rangers	2.5 years	$827,557

Round 6 recipients are listed above and shown on this map

Round 5 recipients are listed below and shown on this map

Recipients of round 4 can be viewed on this map

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

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 Aboriginal 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.