Australian Government National Indigenous Australians Agency

Indigenous.gov.au

You are here

Environment

For over 60,000 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have actively managed their lands and waters. Indigenous land and water management projects across Australia deliver jobs, while also preserving Australia’s unique natural and cultural resources and building economic capacity in communities.

The work done by organisations hosting Indigenous ranger groups and Indigenous Protected Areas protects a diverse range of land and water country, and provides real skills and employment opportunities in remote and rural areas. You can find a short description of each project on the interactive project map.

View more details on:

Indigenous Protected Areas

Indigenous Rangers

Indigenous Ranger Sector Strategy

Aboriginal Water Entitlements Program (AWEP)

Latest News

Caption: Tjaltjraak Healthy Country Team leader Hayleigh Graham recording eDNA sample data on the field data device and database. Photo: David Guilfoyle 2023.

Two-way Cultural Knowledge Systems and new eDNA techniques a success

Environment Indigenous Rangers Programs

Tuesday, 12 March 2024

Uncle Henry Dabb, Senior Cultural Advisor of Tjaltjraak Healthy Country Program (HCP), provides guidance and cultural leadership to the ranger team.

Budj Bim Rangers

Budj Bim, a World Heritage listed cultural landscape

Environment Indigenous Rangers Programs

Wednesday, 20 December 2023

The Tyrendarra Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) on the World Heritage listed Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, is one of Australia’s many stunning landscapes, and the Budj Bim Rangers are responsible for its care.

How to prepare for the upcoming grant opportunity.Indigenous Rangers Program. Info video available at niaa.gov.au/rangers.

Indigenous Rangers Program: How to prepare for the upcoming grant opportunity

Environment Indigenous Rangers Programs

Thursday, 30 November 2023

The Australian Government has announced they will double the number of Indigenous rangers by 2030. If your organisation is eligible to start a Rangers group, it is time to prepare your application. They will prioritise either:

Resources

Indigenous story guidelines – Fact sheet

Indigenous Affairs

15th December 2023

These guidelines are to assist coordinators of Indigenous ranger teams to prepare Indigenous Stories (Performance Stories) about some of the changes to country or communities that have resulted from Australian Government Funding.

Call for expressions of interest - Indigenous Ranger Reference Group membership

Indigenous Affairs

The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) is establishing an Indigenous Ranger Reference Group (IRRG) to contribute to strategic delivery of initiatives to support First Nations people to maintain distinctive spiritual, physical, cultural and economic relationship with Country.

Summary of Feedback from the Indigenous Ranger Sector Strategy 2023

Indigenous Affairs

On 6 April 2022, the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) released the Indigenous Ranger Sector Strategy – Consultation Draft. Consultation on the strategy was open from April to July 2022.

Stories from Country 2022

Indigenous Affairs

1st August 2022

Stories from Country 2022 is a celebration of the work of Indigenous ranger teams in caring for Country and culture across Australia through the Indigenous Rangers and Indigenous Protected Areas Programs.

Consultation for Indigenous Ranger Sector Strategy – Conversation Guide

Indigenous Affairs

Programmes & Policies

Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs)

Indigenous Protected Areas

16th November 2023

Grants for new or expanding Indigenous Protected Areas are available. The grant opportunity for new and expanding Indigenous Protected Areas opened on 28 July 2023 and closes on 6 October 2023. This is an open and competitive grant round.

Indigenous Ranger Sector Strategy

Indigenous Ranger Sector Strategy

What is the IRSS? An Indigenous Ranger Sector Strategy (IRSS) is being developed to guide the future growth and empowerment of community-based Indigenous ranger organisations across Australia. The development and delivery of the Strategy will be a collaborative effort by Indigenous Australians, governments, and the private sector.

Indigenous Rangers Program

Indigenous Rangers Programs

15th March 2024

About The Indigenous Rangers Program (Rangers Program) assists First Nations people in managing Country according to Traditional Owners’ objectives. Indigenous rangers use traditional knowledge and cultural practices, combined with Western science, to manage land, river and sea Country and deliver environmental, cultural, social and economic development outcomes.

Junior Ranger school-based activities

Grants and Funding

13th September 2023

Junior Ranger activities support on-Country learning for First Nations children and young people. The government has allocated $49.93 million over 6 years to fund up to 50 new sites that will deliver junior ranger activities from 2023-2028.

Murray-Darling Basin Aboriginal Water Entitlements Program

5th January 2023

The Australian Government is providing $40 million to help First Nations communities in the Murray-Darling Basin to invest in water for cultural and economic activities through the Aboriginal Water Entitlements Program (AWEP).

Project funding - Indigenous land and sea management

Funding Indigenous Land and Sea Management Projects

Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) funding Indigenous rangers (Jobs, Land and Economy Program)