The Indigenous Rangers Program (IRP) 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.
Through the IRP, the Australian Government acknowledges and supports First Nations peoples’ unique, critical and continuing role in managing and protecting Australia’s natural and cultural heritage and is increasing investment in programs.
The government has delivered a national expansion of the IRP and is developing an Indigenous Ranger Sector Strategy to guide the future growth and empowerment of Indigenous ranger organisations across Australia.
Indigenous ranger groups are formed to deliver on Country activities including:
- engaging with community and Traditional Owners to plan land and water management activities
- fire management - cultural burning and bushfire mitigation
- biodiversity conservation - habitat and threatened species management, invasive species management, freshwater and sea Country management
- strengthening First Nations language and culture
- cultural heritage protection and maintenance
- intergenerational knowledge transfer, education, training and capability development
- biosecurity monitoring
- partnerships with research, education, philanthropic and commercial organisations
- building and retaining employment in the Indigenous Land and Water Management sector.
Indigenous Rangers Program
The NIAA is delivering the Government’s commitment to double the number of Indigenous rangers to 3,800 by 2030 and is working towards gender equality in ranger positions by expanding and diversifying the IRP.
The IRP currently supports over 320 ranger groups through 159 organisations across Australia and aims to employ over 3,800 First Nations positions (full-time, part-time and casual) by the end of the decade. First Nations women employed in the IRP will make up approximately 43 per cent of these jobs, increased from 36 per cent.
The Australian Government’s investment in the IRP from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2028 is over $1.3 billion.
In 2024 and 2025, the IRP was expanded through two competitive grant rounds focusing on the priorities of expanding the IRP footprint, increasing the number of Indigenous women rangers and increasing the number of Indigenous rangers on dedicated Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs).
The outcomes of these grant rounds expand the former scope of the IRP, where 127 Indigenous ranger groups managed by 78 organisations were funded to deliver on-Country activities over the period 2021-28.
Through the expansion, 193 ranger groups from 163 organisations were approved for funding for 2024-2028. This included 138 new ranger organisations. More than 1,900 new Indigenous ranger jobs will be created in these ranger groups by 2028.
The expansion ensured approved ranger groups would include dedicated women ranger groups or employ women. Up to 1,200 of the positions under these grant rounds would be awarded to First Nations women.
New ranger groups have also been funded for 18 IPAs previously without IRP rangers.
You can view the list of all contracted IRP providers and groups funded through the expansion (as at 30 March 2026) below.
| State | Organisation Name | Ranger Group Name |
|---|---|---|
| ACT /Jervis Bay Territory | Ginninderry Conservation Ltd | Ginninderry Rangers |
| NSW | Albury and District Local Aboriginal Land Council | Wirimbirra Rangers |
| NSW | Werai Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation | Werai Land and Water Rangers |
| NSW | Ngambri Local Aboriginal Land Council | Ngambri Senior Rangers |
| NSW | Ulladulla Local Aboriginal Land Council | Murramarang Rangers |
| NSW | Education Services International Supply Group Pty Ltd | Cultural Tourism Rangers |
| NSW | Education Services International Supply Group Pty Ltd | Balranald Rangers |
| NSW | THRIV3 (Indigenous Corporation) | THRIV3 Rangers |
| NSW | Bunyah Local Aboriginal Land Council | Guulabaa Coastal Rangers |
| NSW | Nungaroo Local Aboriginal Land Council | Nungaroo Rangers |
| NSW | Coonabarabran Local Aboriginal Land Council | Murrunmala Dhawun Rangers |
| NSW | Dunghutti Elders Council Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | Gurrgiyn Gurrgiyn Rangers |
| NSW | Red Chief Local Aboriginal Land Council | Gomeroi Land and Water Management Rangers |
| NSW | Thunggutti Local Aboriginal Land Council | Thunggutti Rangers |
| NSW | Coffs Harbour & District Local Aboriginal Land Council | Darrunda Wajaarr Rangers |
| NSW | Minyumai Land Holding Aboriginal Corporation | Minyumai IPA Women's Rangers |
| NSW | Ngullingah Jugun (Our Country) Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | Western Bundjalung Rangers |
| NT | Australian Wildlife Conservancy | Ngalurrtju Rangers |
| NT | Dugalunji Aboriginal Corporation | Rocklands Rangers |
| NT | Gudanji For Country Aboriginal Corporation | Karranjini Rangers |
| NT | Anindilyakwa Land Council | Anindilyakwa Land & Sea Rangers |
| NT | Tjuwaliyn-Wagiman Aboriginal Corporation | Tjuwaliyn Wagiman Rangers |
| NT | Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation | Yirralka Rangers |
| NT | Gong-dal Aboriginal Corporation | Mutjung Rangers |
| NT | Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation | Djurrubu Rangers |
| NT | Northern Land Council | Alawa Rangers |
| NT | Northern Land Council | NLC Rangers team to support Junior Ranger Programs and Traineeship Pilots |
| NT | Northern Land Council | Kulumindini Rangers |
| NT | Northern Land Council | SEAL Sea Country IPA Rangers |
| NT | Northern Land Council | NLC Womens Rangers |
| NT | CENTRAL LAND COUNCIL | APUTULA RANGERS |
| NT | THAMARRURR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED | Nganmarriyanga Rangers |
| QLD | Yuwaalaraay Euahlayi Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | Yuwaalaraay Euahlayi Rangers |
| QLD | Danggan Balun Aboriginal Corporation | Danggan Balun Land and Sea Rangers |
| QLD | Jinibara People Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | Jinibara Freshwater Womens Rangers |
| QLD | Kabi Kabi Peoples Aboriginal Corporation | Kabi Kabi Rangers |
| QLD | Wangan Jagalingou Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation | Wangan Jagalingou Rangers |
| QLD | Woppaburra TUMRA Aboriginal Corporation | Woppaburra Rangers |
| QLD | Girringun Aboriginal Corporation | Girringun Rangers |
| QLD | goondoi arts aboriginal corporation | Goondoi Rangers |
| QLD | Jaragun Pty Ltd | Wanjuru Land and Sea Country Rangers |
| QLD | Ngana Malngkanichi Pama (CNCRM) Aboriginal Corporation | Umpila IPA Rangers |
| QLD | Southern Kaantju Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | Southern Kaantju Rangers |
| QLD | Nguddaboolgan Native Title Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | Djungan Women Rangers |
| QLD | Kalkadoon Native Title Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | Kalkadoon PBC Rangers |
| SA | Burrandies Aboriginal Corporation | Maruwinya MeritBi - Limestone Country Carers |
| SA | The River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | River Murray Wetlands and Mallee Rangers |
| SA | Ngadjuri Nation Aboriginal Corporation | Ngadjuri Nation Rangers |
| SA | Yalata Anangu Aboriginal Corporation | Yalata Women's Rangers |
| SA | Arabana Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | Arabana Womens Rangers |
| SA | SA Native Title Services Ltd | Northern SA Anangu Rangers |
| SA | The Dieri Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | Dieri Rangers |
| SA | Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | Kaurna Yerta Rangers |
| VIC | Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation | Baliṯ Biik Rangers |
| WA | Southern Aboriginal Corporation | Southern Aboriginal Corporation Rangers |
| WA | Karri Karrak Aboriginal Corporation | Karri Karrak South-West Boojarah Rangers |
| WA | Badgebup Aboriginal Corporation | Ngoolyark Rangers |
| WA | Yued Aboriginal Corporation | Yued Rangers |
| WA | Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation | Nanda Rangers |
| WA | Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation | Baiyungu Yinnigurrura Rangers |
| WA | Jamukurnu-Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation (Western Desert Lands) RNTBC | Warla-Warrarn Martu IPA Women's Rangers |
| WA | Palyku-Jartayi Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | PJAC / Budadee Rangers |
| WA | Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation | Murujuga Rangers |
| WA | Karajarri Traditional Lands Association Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | Karajarri Rangers |
| WA | Walalakoo Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | Nyikina Mangala Women's Rangers |
| WA | Gogolanyngor Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | Bindan Djak Rangers |
| WA | Joombarn-buru Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | Joombarn-Buru Rangers |
| WA | Ballardong Aboriginal Corporation | Ballardong Rangers |
| WA | Manta Wakamurru Pty Ltd | Wakamurru Rangers |
| WA | WA Mirning People Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | WA Mirning Rangers |
| WA | Gnowangerup Aboriginal Corporation | Ngowanjerindj Rangers |
| WA | Kimberley Land Council Aboriginal Corporation | Kija Rangers |
| WA | Robe River Kuruma Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | Jajiwurra Rangers |
| WA | Wajarri Yamaji Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | Wajarri Yamaji Rangers |
| WA | Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | Nyiyaparli Rangers |
| WA | Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | Yinhawangka Rangers |
| WA | Binalup Aboriginal Corporation | Binalup Cultural Rangers |
| WA | Bibbul Ngarma Aboriginal Association Incorporated | Mandoon Bilya Rangers |
Details of the grants for these organisations will be published on this page and on the Grant Awards: GrantConnect website after the funding agreements have been executed.
A short description of each of the NIAA-funded IRPs are on the interactive project map.
You can see the locations of the IPAs and IRP funded groups (as of November 2025) in this PDF map (2.25 MB).
IRP future direction
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.
More information on the IRSS can be found on the Indigenous Ranger Sector Strategy page on this website.
IRP Capacity Building survey
In late 2025 – early 2026, the NIAA sought feedback from IRP providers and Indigenous ranger representative bodies via an online survey, on how to invest in capacity building activities up to June 2028. Feedback was sought on networking, knowledge sharing forums, training, and sector representation.
The survey closed in late February 2026. The results are now being reviewed for future investment considerations.
Junior Rangers
The Junior Rangers program, which supports on Country learning for school-aged children and youth, is also increasing its footprint. The Junior Rangers grant opportunity has now closed. You can find out more on the Junior Ranger activities on the NIAA website.