STRONG WOMEN ON COUNTRY The success of women caring for country as Indigenous rangers and on Indigenous Protected Areas

STRONG WOMEN ON COUNTRY The success of women caring for country as Indigenous rangers and on Indigenous Protected Areas Acknowledgements

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women around built this report, sharing their stories, their journeys, their achievements, their careers and their dreams. Thank you to the women and their representative organisations for your contributions: to the rangers, chief executive officers, women’s ranger coordinators, communications officers, dedicated scientists and support staff who gave their limited time and energy to helping Country Needs People ensure the work of Indigenous women rangers is nationally recognised.

We further acknowledge the Indigenous women, ranger groups and traditional owners around the country who are working to protect nature for all of us, and who are at the same time delivering benefits for their communities that are transforming lives. None of the success we’re celebrating would be here without you.

We recognise the vital importance of long term, well directed funding by federal governments across political lines to the development, growth and ongoing success of Indigenous Protected Areas and Indigenous rangers. We also recognise the increasing contributions of state governments and partnerships with non- government organisations, research institutions and the business sector.

We acknowledge Country Needs People campaign partner, The Pew Charitable Trusts, the support of the Australian Communities Foundation, and Jessica Jeeves, Justin McCaul and Dr Rachel Paltridge for their assistance in the compilation of this report.

Country Needs People is an alliance of more than 30 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations from around Australia, and The Pew Charitable Trusts. The campaign is calling for the growth of funding and long-term security for Indigenous ranger and Indigenous Protected Area programs because of their unique success in delivering outstanding results for the environment, people, communities and the economy.

This report was coordinated by Patrick O’Leary and Sophia Walter for the Country Needs People campaign.

Cover photo Nantawarrina Rangers Julette and Joelwyn Johnson proudly work on Australia’s first Indigenous Protected Area, which celebrates 20 years of work protecting nature and sustaining culture in 2018.

Credit Annette Ruzicka.

countryneedspeople.org.au Foreword

The role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women around Australia in caring for our country is a little known but inspiring story. Women as carers of country is more than a romantic notion, it’s a real confirmation of what we have always known: As Aboriginal women, we have a responsibility to our lands and seas and we bring a unique, essential and powerful contribution to their protection and management.

Working as rangers, managing the growing number of All across Australia, women are applying their know-how, Indigenous Protected Areas across Australia, as managers of learning new skills, sustaining local knowledge, creating local land and sea management groups, this is a story about opportunities for kids and younger women, bringing their own women’s strength and confidence. inherent leadership qualities to the job, and being positive role models. There are many connections between women and their In the pages of this report you will see just a sample of the local schools, stories about women and men working together many ways women are using land and sea management to apply constructively, examples of how women are leading in tackling leadership in their own communities. This practical job women pressures on our iconic threatened species like the bilby. are doing for the benefit of all Australians is so important. We all have a stake in a healthy environment, and Aboriginal and The vital cultural role that