Rangers

The Kimberley Ranger Initiative employs Aboriginal men and women to look after country while equipping them with TAFE qualifications in Conservation and Land Management.

The Kimberley Land Council currently facilitates six full-time ranger groups through the Working On Country program as well as six emerging rangers groups from across the entire Kimberley region. The program employs more than 50 rangers, who are out working on their country.

Ranger work plans are guided by elders in the community and traditional knowledge, in how to care for country, is passed down from generation to generation to ensure culture remains alive. A combination of cultural and traditional knowledge and western technologies is used to achieve work tasks.

The Kimberley Ranger Initiative gets people working back on country, while also providing employment and skills training through on-ground practical work and TAFE qualifications. It has many flow-on benefits and has contributed to improved social cohesion in communities with rangers emerging as positive role models. The program has led to improved self esteem, health and well-being while reducing unemployment.

The Working on Country program employs six full-time ranger groups: Bardi Jawi, Wunggurr, Uunguu, Paruku IPA, Nyikina Mangala and Karajarri. Emerging groups include the Kija, Balanggarra, Dambimangarri, Goonyiandi, Nyul Nyul and Ngurrara Warlu Jilaja Jumu rangers.

Rangers complete a range of tasks including the protection of cultural sites, weeding, wildlife and biodiversity monitoring, burning, conducting research, monitoring the health of rivers and waterways and fish sampling.

Related News

Kimberley Rangers Rock
KLC News Update, April 19, 2010 In a Kimberley first, more than 150 rangers descended on Home Valley Station to share ideas and experiences at [...]
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Bardi Jawi people win native title
KLC Media Release, March 19, 2010 In a landmark decision, the Federal Court recognised the native title sea country rights of the Bardi Jawi people. It [...]
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Kimberley Ranger First
KLC News Update, February 11, 2010 Aboriginal rangers from across the Kimberley will come together for the first time ever to attend a knowledge sharing [...]
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Bardi Jawi Rangers prepare for cyclone season.
KLC news update, January 27, 2010. The Bardi Jawi Rangers have been on a clean-up mission to prepare the Dampier Peninsula for the onset of [...]
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KLC gets $2.6 million funding boost.
KLC media release, January 21, 2010. The Federal Government has injected $2.6 million into the Kimberley Land Council’s conservation management programs. Kimberley Land Council deputy director [...]
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Healthy waterways
KLC Media Statement, December 16, 2009 Protecting and enhancing waterways in the Kimberley is the focus of a project that teaches Indigenous Rangers and communities [...]
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Worm infested fish threatens Indigenous culture
Media Statement, December 1, 2009 Spangled perch found in the waterways of the Kimberley desert have an infection unlike any other observed or recorded in [...]
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Rangers uncover illegal fishing camp
KLC Media statement, November 25, 2009 The Mayala Rangers have been recognised for their work in uncovering and destroying an illegal fishing camp concealed on [...]
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Kimberley rangers top the class
October 1, 2009 Kimberley Rangers were recognised at a graduation ceremony for their hard work and determination in completing their training. Rangers from various groups across [...]
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Balanggarra Rangers: Collecting fish samples for DNA research
The Balanggarra Rangers have been impressing scientists from the University of Queensland with their outstanding fish netting skills. Rangers helped scientists gather information for a [...]
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Uungguu Rangers brave crocs to research turtle
The Uungguu Rangers donned snorkeling gear and braved crocodile infested waters to collect information on the freshwater turtle. The project, at the King Edward River [...]
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Sharing Knowledge:WJJ Rangers on-country field trip
Sharing knowledge was the focus of an on-country expedition to a living waterhole (Tapu Jila) on the Ngurrara Lands in June. The Warlu Jilajaa Jumu Rangers [...]
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Nyul Nyul Rangers pass the test
Nyul Nyul Rangers past the test September, 29, 2009 The Nyul Nyul rangers have recently made the transition from emerging to full-time Working on Country. The [...]
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Protecting our country
Protecting our country September 29, 2009 Protecting sacred sites has been the focus of the Kija Rangers. They have put up fencing around sacred sites at [...]
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Archaeological dig to uncover Aboriginal massacre site
Archaeological dig to uncover Aboriginal massacre site. August 19, 2009 Archaeologists will head to the East Kimberley next month in a bid to prove Aboriginal people [...]
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Hard evidence needed to secure conviction of illegal fisherman
The Karajarri Rangers discovered a boat and tractor which they believe was used to assist in the illegal netting of salmon in Whistle Creek. Whistle [...]
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Bardi Jawi Rangers: dugong tagging success
KLC media statement, July, 2009 Four dugongs were tagged with trackers in the most successful round of research conducted by the Bardi Jawi Rangers. The second [...]
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Toad Busters
Toad Busters July, 2009 Toad Busting was the focus of the Uungguu, Wunggurr, Dambimangari and Paruku IPA rangers groups when they teamed up earlier this year to [...]
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New wildlife species discovered on Kimberley islands
New wildlife species discovered on Kimberley islands July, 2009 The Dambimangari Rangers have been working with scientists to record the various wildlife species found on the [...]
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Learning the art of tourism
KLC News Update, April 2009 Visitor Management was the focus of a week-long training course with the Uungguu rangers. The tourism course was designed to further [...]
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