Albany's Binalup Rangers receive $950k funding over two years under the Aboriginal Ranger Program

Albany’s Binalup Aboriginal Corporation are one of 17 Aboriginal organisations across WA to receive funding for important conservation work.

The Binalup Aboriginal Corporation received a grant of $950,000 over the next two years for its Binalup Ranger Program.

The Aboriginal Ranger Program is led by Aboriginal people and administered by the Parks and Wildlife Service.

The funds help Aboriginal organisations manage the country and protect the environment across the State.

The program helps Aboriginal organisations employ and train Aboriginal people as rangers and management staff to undertake land and sea management activities including, fire management, cultural site management, the transfer of traditional knowledge and biodiversity monitoring and research.

The more than $10 million in grants is expected to fund the equivalent of 40 full-time positions, helping empower Aboriginal people and families through on-country training, and enhancing their connection to culture.

Parks and Visitor Services executive director Peter Sharp said this was the first time the Binalup Aboriginal Corporation had received funding through the Aboriginal Ranger Program.

The funding was administered over a two-year period because of the establishment of Wagyl Kaip Southern Noongar Aboriginal Corporation under the South West Native Title Settlement.

“The South West Native Title Settlement covers six different Indigenous land use agreement areas including Wagyl Kaip (NRC that encompasses the Great Southern area),” Mr Sharp said.

“Those corporations will in future be the corporations we will be working closely with in terms of having co-operative and joint management agreements, but that will take some time.

“In an interim step, through the ranger program, we have been making agreements with Aboriginal corporations to get land management capabilities expressed across their native title-determined areas.

“In light of what’s going on with Southwest Native Title Settlement, the Binalup Aboriginal Corporation funding will be for two years because we anticipate that these corporations will have to have a dialogue with Wagyl Kaip and work out how they interrelate going forward.”

Environment Minister Reece Whitby said he congratulated the Aboriginal organisations who had been successful in the last round of funding.

“This program not only empowers Aboriginal people but helps develop community resilience and leadership,” he said.

“The McGowan Government is building on the accomplishments of the Aboriginal Ranger Program, providing valuable opportunities and making a real difference across our great State.”

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti said the Aboriginal Ranger Program helped Aboriginal people access meaningful employment opportunities.

“This program ensures rangers continue to use the expert knowledge passed on to care for their country in a way that protects both cultural and environmental values,” he said.