The Department of Environment and Science (DES) has announced that 54 new First Nations rangers are to join the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS), working in 13 communities across the State.
Minister for the Environment, Meaghan Scanlon said the Government was allocating funds to help First Nations’ organisations foster the next generation of community leaders.
“This is about recognising the oldest living culture on Earth, the knowledge and connection our First Nations communities have to land and sea, and to giving young Indigenous people the opportunity to work in their country,” Ms Scanlon said.
“I’ve had the privilege of seeing just how important a role Indigenous rangers play in their community and in looking after our national parks and protected areas.”
She said seeing the knowledge being shared between Indigenous rangers and the QPWS was incredible and was “why we’ve committed and delivered funding for more positions”.
The Minister said the announcement of the new rangers added to the Government’s work on Queensland’s Path to Treaty, the transfer of protected areas on Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) and other support for rangers.
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Craig Crawford said under the expanded Indigenous ranger program, the local Waanyi people, the traditional owners of the Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill Gorge) National Park, would for the first time get four ranger positions to be based at Gregory Downs.
“I know how successful the ranger programs are from visiting Indigenous communities across Queensland,’’ Mr Crawford said.
“These rangers are the next generation of leaders; they have a real sense of pride in putting on the uniform,” he said.