Indigenous Rangers: Protecting the Great Barrier Reef

Twenty Indigenous rangers from nine locations in Far North Queensland recently started the journey to become marine park inspectors with compliance qualifications that will help protect the Great Barrier Reef.

The training is being conducted under the Reef Trust’s Specialised Indigenous Ranger Programme (SIRP) by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and, once completed, will enable the rangers to take on formal marine park inspector roles in addition to regular ranger duties.

The rangers will be supported and mentored over the next two years by GBRMPA’s Indigenous Compliance team to complete a Certificate IV in Government Statutory Compliance.

This is a national qualification which equips the rangers with skills that can be used in regulatory occupations around Australia.

The training is expected to strengthen the relationship between community-based ranger organisations and regulatory authorities and also build a career pathway for Indigenous rangers in a variety of jobs.

The first training session was held at the Yuku-Baja-Muliku Ranger Base at Archer Point.

“This training is significant and I’m thrilled that we could host this first event, and for our rangers to be included in the training to take on formal compliance roles,” said Larissa Hale, managing director of Yuku-Baja-Muliku Rangers.

As marine park inspectors, the rangers will have the confidence and tools to be able to deal with people committing environmental offences. This will bolster efforts to protect the Great Barrier Reef and help conserve marine animals such as turtles and dugongs.

“Indigenous rangers are critical to ensuring the health and sustainability of our environment, and we need the tools and legal support to be able to protect it,” said Larissa.