Return of the Ranger Ready Program

It has been an incredibly exciting couple of weeks with the return of the Ranger Ready Program, combining traditional knowledge with conservation training.
Developed in coordination with local ranger groups and the Northern Land Council, the program had around 150 participants, most of whom are First Nations people from remote communities.
The groups trained included Wardekken Rangers, Demed rangers, Djurrubu Rangers, Parks Rangers, West Arnhem Council staff and trainees from the Crocodile Hotel.
More than 30 team members from West Arnhem Regional Council (WARC) participated in this fantastic educational opportunity, delivered at the Kakadu National Park by the Conservation and Land Management team from CDU. 
Even though the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t fully stop the delivery the of the Ranger Ready Program in the last 2 years, the regulations still impacted the program by reducing its duration and the number of allowed participants. 
This year though, the program has returned bigger and better than ever. 
WARC has been fortunate to secure more than 30 enrolments for our staff who have come together with other local workers to learn and work together gaining practical skills and knowledge needed for their jobs such as chemicals and weeds, small machinery operations and maintenance, four-wheel driving, chainsaws and work health and safety.
William Wurlurli from Warruwi, has attended the Ranger Ready Program for two years and says this helps him to refresh his skills and to share his knowledge with others. 
Jacqui Paine, one of the CDU Lecturers, explains the program is designed to support First Nations people in the Top End to combine their traditional knowledge with training to protect and manage their land. 
“Observing how they are looking after their country helps us to share our ideas, and provide alternative methods or new technologies that can be incorporated into the work that they are already doing”. 

WARC staff has participated in this activity for six consecutive years, providing our staff with nationally recognised accredited training and we hope to continue to do so for the years to come.