Ecosure's Partnership Delivers Trainee Ranger Program
At Ecosure, we believe training and empowering First Nations Peoples is vital to protecting and conserving our environment. First Nations Peoples have a unique relationship with the land and its resources. They have an intimate knowledge of their local Country and their environment. Their continued connection to the land, both culturally and spiritually are key role in land management and stewardship.
The Darumbal Trainee Ranger project is a partnership between Ecosure, the Darumbal People Aboriginal Corporation, The Department of Defence, Downer Defence and Qld TAFE. In late 2021, the project was launched at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) in Queensland, to provide training and opportunities for Darumbal, the local Traditional Custodians. The SWBTA is located 80km north of Rockhampton and is one of the largest permanent training areas used by the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
The eight Darumbal trainees are learning important natural resource management skills as they complete their study toward Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management, delivered by TAFE Queensland. Ecosure is passionate about ensuring the trainees have practical on-ground skills and experience working in a variety of ecosystem types across their Country. In addition, the trainees are putting their theoretical skills to the test with the revegetation of a creek they have named ‘Munda Creek’ for the number of snakes found at the site. They also visited the Capricorn Caves to understand the impact of Cyclone Marcia on a threatened fern and endangered vegetation community.
Ecosure is proud to support the Darumbal Trainee Rangers in their knowledge, capacity building and confidence to go out as young rangers once their training is complete. The trainees will have a Graduation Ceremony at SWBTA to celebrate the hard work and learning at the end of November 2022. The next round of Darumbal trainees is an all-female crew and we are looking forward to continuing the partnership in order to help them gain the skills and knowledge they need to effectively care for their Country.
'Munda Creek' before and after Trainee Ranger revegetation work
