Applications will open tomorrow for new on-Country learning opportunities as part of a $6 million expansion of the Albanese Labor Government’s Junior Rangers program.
A targeted, competitive grant opportunity will see up to 10 new Junior Ranger projects created across the country, including in every state and territory.
Ranger groups, schools and community organisations in the following locations can apply for funding under the expansion:
- Australian Capital Territory; Canberra - North, Canberra - South, Stromlo - Namadgi.
- New South Wales; Lake Macquarie, Wyong, Wollongong.
- Northern Territory; Alice Springs, Alice Springs Town Camps, Douglas-Daly, Palmerston.
- Queensland; Ipswich, Logan, Thuringowa, Townsville.
- South Australia; Playford, Port Adelaide - Enfield, Salisbury.
- Tasmania; Central Coast - Devonport, Launceston
- Victoria; Campaspe - Shepparton - Moira, Northcote - Preston - Whittlesea, Geelong - Queenscliff, Castlemaine - Kerang.
- Western Australia; Swan, Geraldton, Port Hedland.
Eligibility is limited to targeted locations outside the current Junior Rangers footprint which have high numbers of First Nations youth not engaged in employment, education or training.
The Junior Rangers program is already providing cultural and educational opportunities for First Nations students across the country, with the rollout of projects in over 50 locations last year.
The program offers on-Country learning opportunities for First Nations primary and secondary students through place-based and community-driven projects that are aligned with local needs and priorities.
This $6 million investment builds on the Junior Ranger program’s success in boosting school engagement and retention among First Nations students, providing practical skills in land and water management and supporting pathways for young people to pursue future careers as Indigenous rangers.
Applications close on 19 May 2025. The Junior Rangers expansion grants will be published on GrantConnect: https://www.grants.gov.au/
You can view the eligible locations, shown as Indigenous Areas (IAREs), by map, on the Australian Bureau of Statistics website at https://dbr.abs.gov.au/
Quotes attributable to Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy:
“The Albanese Labor Government’s hugely successful Junior Rangers program demonstrates the importance of supporting First Nations young people to connect with their culture and on-Country learning.
“Building on this success, we can work with more communities around the country and provide potentially life changing opportunities for First Nations students to learn new skills and embark on meaningful careers, including as Indigenous rangers.
“Investing in this program demonstrates the Albanese Government’s commitment to keeping First Nations students engaged in education and equipped with the skills and confidence to reach their full potential in life.”