TRELAWNEY STATION, TAMWORTH, NSW
Thank you for that warm welcome.
It’s lovely to see all of you here.
It’s been a bit of a sad time for me, I’ve just had some Sorry Business with the loss of my Dad.
But coming here was really important to me, to still be able to come and spend time with you.
I recognise that we are gathered here today on the lands of the Gomeroi people.
I respect your continuing connection to this Country and pay my respects to Elders past and present.
It is my pleasure to be with you all at the inaugural Aboriginal Ranger Gathering on Country.
Thank you to the Walaaybaa Rangers and the Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council whose dedication and hard work have been instrumental in preparing for this event.
It’s fantastic to see Indigenous Rangers from across New South Wales and the ACT here, as well as some representation from the Northern Territory.
This week is a wonderful opportunity for all of you to share your knowledge and experiences, including with some of our newest Ranger teams.
Our connection to Country and our responsibility to care for it runs deep.
It’s our identity and our culture.
For more than 65,000 years, First Nations people have cared for land, rivers, seas, flora and fauna across the country.
Each of you play a vital role in continuing this legacy and managing Country.
As Minister, I love visiting our Ranger groups.
I come from an area in the Gulf Country, Borroloola, which is about 1,000 kilometres south-east of Darwin.
When we first got our Country back under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act, after forty years, one of the first things we did was set up our Ranger group, known as Li-Anthiwirriyarra Sea Rangers.
And in Yanyuwa language, Li-Anthiwirriyarra means our spiritual belonging comes from that sea Country, caring for that sea Country.
From Borroloola to places like Ramingining, I’ve travelled across Northeast Arnhem Land to Groote Eylandt, and then in the ACT, New South Wales to Wreck Bay, from Healesville in Victoria, I’ve travelled to visit our Ranger groups and I’ll continue to do that right across the country.
Because you are, in my view, so pivotal to keeping our people together and keeping our people strong in amidst the winds, the cyclones of public discourse, often negative commentary about us, racist commentary, hurtful commentary.
Anything that keeps us down, it is the Ranger groups who lift us up.
And that’s a big responsibility on you.
But it’s more than a responsibility, you are the guardians for our people, for keeping our spirit strong and good and kind and compassionate and loving.
Ranger programs have helped restore vital habitats, protect endangered species and create sustainable jobs on Country.
That’s why the Albanese Government has committed to double the number of Indigenous Rangers by the end of the decade.
We are well on the way to achieving that goal.
Last year we announced more than 1,000 new Indigenous Ranger jobs.
It was the first time in more than a decade that new Ranger groups were able to apply to join the Commonwealth Indigenous Rangers Program.
115 projects received funding in that first round expansion, including 21 in New South Wales.
I was especially pleased to see that First Nations women will take up the vast majority of the new roles.
I want to see more of our women involved in Ranger groups.
Of those 1,000 new roles, 770 positions are for women.
Women Rangers play an important role in ensuring the protection of sacred women’s sites and the preservation of important cultural knowledge and practices.
The second round expansion for our Indigenous Rangers Program closed a few days ago.
The NIAA is in the early stages of assessing applications to create more than 800 additional Ranger jobs across Australia.
I’m excited to see what those new Ranger groups and Rangers achieve.
We are also looking to the future with our Junior Rangers program.
We want to share the traditions and the knowledge that you are sharing here this week with the next generation.
Students at school can now learn about Country, on Country.
And they can learn about the responsibilities of being a Ranger.
The benefits of this program are profound.
Junior Rangers I visit often tell me that they now love going to school and learning more about their culture.
I was in Nowra with some young ones, they told me they had trouble going to school but once they joined the Junior Ranger program they go to school every day now, because they don’t want to miss out on those days when they can go out with the Rangers.
Students here that I’ve just met, Chayse, Robert and Matt.
You are our future.
And it’s exciting that you’ve got this mob to learn from.
Always stay with the positive. You’ll find in life and even when you get older, you’ll always find there will be negative things in your life but stay with the positive.
Stay with the people who make you feel good and feel better about yourself.
We know that when learning connects to the lived experience and culture of our kids, they are more engaged, they learn more and they are happier.
Earlier this year we announced an expansion of our Junior Rangers program – with 10 new projects to be created across the country, in every state and territory.
We hope many of our Junior Rangers will follow in your footsteps and become the next generation of Indigenous Rangers.
Thank you for the important work you all do in caring for Country.
I wish you well for the next few days as you share your knowledge and learn from one another.
Walking together in solidarity and love for Country and kin.
Enjoy your time together, take strength from it, listen to the Country and listen to the Elders.
Thank you again for welcoming me here today.
Yo, Bauji Barra.