Aboriginal Ranger Program

Bardi Jawi Oorany Rangers. Photo by DBCA

The Western Australian Aboriginal Ranger Program (ARP) has to date had $103 million allocated to it through State Government investment, which includes $20 million through Phase 1 from 2017-2021 and a further $83 million allocated from 2021–26 through Phase 2 of the program. 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 with 28 partner organisations. By the end of Phase 1, Aboriginal organisations had reported providing 1236 jobs for Aboriginal people, 45 per cent of those employed being women as well as significant land and sea planning and 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 to extend to June 2026, and then another $16.5 million specifically to implement Round 8 was added bringing the total Phase 2 commitment to $83 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

There are no current funding opportunities. To be added to our mailing list and receive emails about future funding opportunities please complete the form here.

In Round 8 of the Aboriginal Ranger Program $16.5 million was available to Aboriginal organisations undertaking ranger projects with the categories of youth, climate action and cultural tourism. This funding was fully allocated in 2024, to 12 successful organisations across the State.

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.

This fund was fully allocated over two rounds – Round 5 in 2022 ($10 million) and Round 7 in 2023 ($13 million). Funding has been awarded to 38 different organisations to support planning for, and the development of, new and emerging ranger programs.

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.

The Innovation Fund was fully allocated in 2023. $11 million was awarded to 12 organisations, supporting innovative projects across the State.

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 June 2024 the Minister for the Environment, Hon Reece Whitby MLA, announced the following organisations are the successful recipients of Round 8 of the Aboriginal Ranger Program. In this round $16.5 million has been awarded to 12 projects across Western Australia. 

View the projects on the map in the download section below.

Organisation	Project name	Offer amount
Badgebup Aboriginal Corporation	Ngoolyark Climate Action Project	$2,145,975.00
Birriliburu Pty Ltd	Birriliburu Tourism: Katiku-latjanaya Nintijunku-latjanaya (Showing People Country and Culture)	$521,238.80
Gnaala Karla Booja Aboriginal Corporation	Establishment of an Aboriginal Land and Sea Ranger Program	$2,112,176.00
Karri Karrak Aboriginal Corporation (KKAC)	Karri Karrak Junior Ranger Program – Donnelly & Blackwood Districts	$1,075,336.00
Parna Ngururrpa Aboriginal Corporation	Building increased capacity for Ngururrpa Rangers	$422,436.00
Southern Aboriginal Corporation	Southern Aboriginal Corporation Aboriginal Ranger Program	$1,880,446.00
Wagyl Kaip Southern Noongar Aboriginal Corporation	Building Wagyl Kaip Southern Noongar Aboriginal Corporation's Sustainable Land Management Capacity	$1,276,946.00
Wajarri Yamaji Aboriginal Corporation	Wajarri Yamaji Junior Ranger Pilot Program	$521,384.00
Wilinggin Aboriginal Corporation	Wilinggin Visitor Management Program	$1,272,590.00
Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation	Yindjibarndi Ranger Program at Ngurrawaana	$2,200,056.00
Yued Aboriginal Corporation	Carbon Economy Preparation Project	$1,576,293.58
Yugunga-Nya Native Title Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC	Yugunga-Nya Aboriginal Ranger Tourism Program	$1,341,460.00

Round 8 recipients are listed above and shown on this map
Round 7 recipients are shown on this map
Round 6 recipients are shown on this map
Round 5 recipients are shown on this map
Round 4 recipients are shown on this map
Rounds 1 to 3 recipients are shown 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.

Member	Organisation	Representing
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.