- A total of $9.25 million was available under round two of the program
- Round two funding has been allocated to 14 projects across WA
Environment Minister Stephen Dawson and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt have today announced the recipients of the second round of the Aboriginal Ranger Program.
A total of $9.25 million was available in this round for single or multi-year projects up to three years. It followed funding of $8.45 million allocated in the first round of the program.
The second round of funding has resulted in the creation of 42 full-time or part-time positions for Aboriginal people, including 21 female ranger positions.
A further 55 casual positions and 87 training opportunities have been created in this round.
Under the program, new and existing Aboriginal organisations can employ and train rangers to carry out land and sea management and tourism activities across a range of tenures in remote and regional Western Australia.
Comments attributed to Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:
"The McGowan Labor Government's Aboriginal Ranger Program is creating opportunities for Aboriginal communities across Western Australia.
"The funding delivered last year under the first round of the program is already having positive social, cultural, economic and environmental outcomes.
"More than 100 Aboriginal people have gained employment, of which 60 per cent were women.
"At least 70 people are undertaking some form of training, ranging from developing land management skills, to Aboriginal site work and tourism guiding.
"The projects funded under round two will create further pathways for Aboriginal people to develop careers in land and sea management while also providing long-term cultural and conservation outcomes."
Comments attributed to Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt:
"The Aboriginal Ranger Program is helping to build stronger, more resilient communities.
"By creating more opportunities across Western Australia, the program is enabling Aboriginal men and women to manage country and help build community leadership, wellbeing and resilience.
"After talking to people involved in Aboriginal ranger groups, it's clear that these groups are helping to strengthen connection to country and are contributing to greater community identity and pride.
"It's great to see this program going from strength to strength and I look forward to seeing more positive outcomes as a result of this funding."
For more information on the successful applicants visit http://www.dbca.wa.gov.au/aboriginalrangerprogram
Environment Minister's office - 6552 5800
Aboriginal Affairs Minister's office - 6552 5900
