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Department of Agriculture

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  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Biosecurity
  4. Biosecurity in Australia
  5. Indigenous Ranger Biosecurity Program
  6. Ranger Capability Building Grants Program

Sidebar first - Biosecurity

  • Indigenous Ranger Biosecurity Program
    • Northern Australia Indigenous Biosecurity Ranger Forum
    • Northern Australia Indigenous Rangers Biosecurity Round Table
    • Biosecurity Business Grants Program
    • Ranger Capability Building Grants Program
    • Frontline Ranger Newsletter

Ranger Capability Building Grants Program

Indigenous rangers are critical to Australia’s ability to maintain an early detection system for exotic pests and diseases in remote coastal areas across the north. Increasing over time, current services provided by rangers include participating in animal, plant and aquatic health surveys, insect trapping/surveillance, plant host mapping, collection and destruction of biosecurity risk material and biosecurity awareness activities in remote communities, utilising their unique skills and abilities.

To further support the biosecurity work of Indigenous rangers, capability building grants have been made available to ranger groups who have existing biosecurity fee-for-service arrangements with the department.

Initially, the Ranger Capability Building Grants program ran for 3 years from 2020–21 to 2022–23, building on the existing capability of Indigenous rangers and were delivered by the department’s Indigenous Ranger Biosecurity Program.

Following the success of those initial rounds, a third round was made available in 2024 and the grant length extended to two years.

Program objective

The grant program will enable ranger organisations with existing biosecurity fee-for-service arrangements to undertake capability building activities, purchase equipment and undertake training to further enhance the capacity of rangers to conduct biosecurity surveillance and response work.

Intended program outcomes

The intended outcomes of the grant program are:

  • Increased capacity of Indigenous Rangers to undertake current and future biosecurity fee-for-service activities for the department.
  • Increased skills and capability of Indigenous Rangers to enhance their career pathways.
  • Improved work health and safety of the work undertaken by Indigenous Rangers in remote areas.

Examples of the types of grant activities that may be supported by the department are:

  • Capability building initiatives including ranger exchanges and conferences/leadership development programs.
  • Capability building and work health and safety training.
  • Purchase of capability building equipment or materials used in the course of fee-for-service work such as field equipment and small assets, IT and safety equipment.

Applications for Round 1 closed on 8 April 2021.

26 applications were received from Indigenous ranger organisations in northern Australia.

An assessment panel including a representative from the National Indigenous Australians Agency met in July 2021 to assess applications. 22 applications were approved for funding from October 2021 totalling $1.1 million (see full recipient list below).

Examples of grant activities funded include:

  • undertaking ranger training including coxswain, remote first aid, conservation and ecosystem management, remote 4WD and remote pilot licence (drone) training
  • purchase of IT and other equipment including iPads, laptops, cameras and GPS units to allow rangers to capture and transmit to biosecurity data in the field
  • equipping rangers with emerging technologies to enhance their field capability such as underwater drones and thermal cameras
  • purchase of ATVs, UTVs and associated equipment to improve ranger capacity to access country to undertake biosecurity surveillance
  • enhancing ranger safety by purchasing safety equipment such as satellite phones, life jackets, UHF radios and helmets
  • regional ranger forums to provide the opportunity for rangers to improve work practices through targeted mentoring, training and skills exchange and valuable engagement with NAQS scientists and other government agencies
  • ranger exchanges on country to facilitate ranger groups with less experience in undertaking biosecurity activities learning from high performing groups
RecipientTownStateFunding
(GST inclusive)
Larrakia Nation Aboriginal CorporationNightcliffNT14,400
Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire CouncilKowanyamaQld82,909
Dhimurru Aboriginal CorporationNhulunbuyNT51,394
Gunggandji Aboriginal Corporation RNTBCYarrabahQld44,573
Wellesley Island Land Sea Social Economic Development Pty LtdMornington IslandQld19,462
Tiwi Resources Pty LtdTiwiNT37,952
Bawinanga Aboriginal CorporationManingridaNT35,292
Yuku-Baja-Muliku Landowner and Reserves LimitedCooktownQld42,341
Marthakal Homelands and Resource Centre Aboriginal CorporationGalliwin’kuNT13,830
Dambimangari Aboriginal CorporationDerbyWA19,312
Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation RNTBCMossmanQld31,928
Mapoon Aboriginal Shire CouncilMapoonQld49,796
South Cape York Catchments Inc.CooktownQld23,100
Kuuku Ya'u Aboriginal Corporation RNTBCLockhartQld56,460
Northern Land CouncilDarwinNT281,164
Kimberley Land Council Aboriginal CorporationBroomeWA58,000
Thamarrurr Development Corporation LimitedWadeye CommunityNT10,040
Deewin Kirim Aboriginal CorporationPeppimenartiNT31,571
Gumatj Corporation LimitedGunyangaraNT32,755
Mandubarra Aboriginal Land and Sea IncorporatedInnisfailQld4,842
Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal CorporationWyndhamWA30,282
Djunbunji LimitedEast TrinityQld55140

Applications for Round 2 closed on 8 February 2023.

20 applications were received from Indigenous ranger organisations in northern Australia.

An assessment panel including a representative from the National Indigenous Australians Agency met in March 2023 to assess applications. 15 applications were approved for funding in June 2023 totalling $759,430 (see full recipient list below). Grant agreements and funding commence August 2023.

Examples of grant activities funded include:

  • undertaking ranger training including remote first aid, conservation and ecosystem management, coxswain, remote 4WD and remote pilot licence (drone) training
  • purchase of IT and other equipment including iPads, laptops, cameras and GPS units to allow rangers to capture and transmit biosecurity data in the field
  • equipping rangers with emerging technologies to enhance their field capability such as electric side by side vehicles and underwater drones
  • purchase of ATVs, UTVs and associated equipment and training to improve ranger capacity to access country to undertake biosecurity surveillance
  • enhancing ranger safety by purchasing safety equipment such as safety helmets, hydration packs, PPE, chemical safety equipment and UHF radios
  • leadership training to support emerging Indigenous leaders to develop skills to strengthen their ability to engage with and educate their communities.
Grantee NameRecommended Funding Amount (inc GST)
Arafura Swamp Rangers Aboriginal Corporation$110.220.84
Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation$63,701.74
Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation$31,730.00
Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation$37,718.47
Milingimbi & Outstation Progress Resource Association Incorporated$91,836.95
Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council$37,873.00
Northern Peninsula Area Shire Council$11,635.00
Abriculture Pty Ltd$42,579.00
Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC$3,619.00
Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation$147,707.68
Mimal Land Management Aboriginal Corporation$42,995.00
South Cape York Catchments Incorporated$10,388.00
Thamarrurr Development Corporation Ltd$30,547.95
Tiwi Resources Pty Ltd$68,609.53
Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation$28,268.00
 $759,430.16

Applications for Round 3 closed in October 2024.

32 applications were received from Indigenous ranger organisations in northern Australia.

A Selection Advisory Panel including a representative from the National Indigenous Australians Agency met in November and December 2024 to assess applications. 30 applications were approved for funding in March 2025 totalling $2,007,029 (see full recipient list below). Grant agreements and funding commence May 2025.

Examples of grant activities funded include:

  • Purchase of thermal drones to enable effective monitoring, surveillance and data capture and mapping capability with built in flight-planning software
  • Purchase of lockable storage for essential equipment such as ATVs, workshop materials, equipment and community engagement materials relating to biosecurity activities where the organisation lacks a base for their operations
  • Purchase and installation of off-grid power (solar) for ranger outstation to improve rangers capability to undertake biosecurity activities around this site for extended periods
  • Purchase of an UTV and trailer to transport the UTV to enable access to greater areas and more rugged terrain not accessible by 4WD for biosecurity surveillance
  • Attendance at the Women’s Environmental Leadership program for women rangers to support a recently developed Women’s Ranger Strategy (2023) which reflects training needs and maps out how to support women rangers in their roles, providing employment pathways and staff retention
  • Purchase of pig trapping equipment to trap pigs for surveillance and postmortem training, accredited drone training and minor works to upgrade a washdown facility at a ranger base.
Grantee nameRecommended Funding Amount (inc GST)
Aak Puul Ngantam Ltd
Queensland
$111,743
Goondoi Arts Aboriginal Corporation
Queensland
$67,066
Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation
RNTBC
Queensland
$44,160
Mandubarra Aboriginal Land and Sea
Incorporated
Queensland
$103,266
Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council
Queensland
$85,148
South Cape York Catchments Inc.
Queensland
$34,515
Thamarrurr Development Corporation Ltd
Northern Territory
$110,133
Tiwi Resources Pty Ltd
Northern Territory
$59,382
Walalakoo Aboriginal Corporation
Western Australia
$35,111
Wuthathi Aboriginal Corporation
Queensland
$72,690
Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation
Western Australia
$38,898
Arafura Swamp Rangers Aboriginal
Corporation
Northern Territory
$129,875
Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal
Corporation
Queensland
$143,839
Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation
Western Australia
$102,972
Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation
Queensland
$14,198
Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation
Northern Territory
$49,950
Gong-Dal Aboriginal Corporation
Northern Territory
$94,858
Gunggandji Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC
Queensland
$27,256
Hopevale Congress Aboriginal Corporation
RNTBC
Queensland
$100,165
Karajarri Traditional Lands Association
Western Australia
$75,543
Kimberley Land Council
Western Australia
$99,957
Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council
Queensland
$7,668
Kuuku Ya'u Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC
Queensland
$103,553
Marthakal Homelands and Resource Centre Aboriginal Corporation
Northern Territory
$7,196
Milingimbi Outstations Progress Resource
Aboriginal Corporation
Northern Territory
$106,425
Wellesley Islands Land and Sea Economic
Development Pty Ltd
Queensland
$72,626
Wilinggin Aboriginal Corporation
Western Australia
$12,779
Yanunijarra Aboriginal Corporation
Western Australia
$48,263
Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal
Corporation
Western Australia
$10,769
Yuku Baja Muliku Landowner and Reserves Ltd
Queensland
$37,025

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Page last updated: 30 April 2025

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

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