Strong Indigenous women, equitably engaged in caring for Country.
Traditional Owners manage roughly half of Australia's National Reserve System which is equal to 10 per cent of Australia’s land mass. This is largely achieved through Indigenous ranger programs that care for Country using both precise Indigenous ecological knowledge and cutting-edge modern technology. Just over a decade ago, these programs predominantly employed men, with women accounting for only around 20 per cent of part-time and full-time ranger positions in Australia.Across the world, research has proven that greater involvement from women in local decision making leads to overall better outcomes in land management and conservation. In Australian Indigenous communities, the presence of women in ranger workforces is integral to the holistic management of Country. Indigenous women have exclusive access to certain areas and are the holders of very specific ecological knowledge about animal behaviour, habitat characteristics and traditional management techniques.
Purposefully designed women's ranger programs, with dedicated support and training, can provide opportunities for women in a workplace that is flexible, welcoming and culturally relevant. Moreover, when women are in visible positions of leadership they serve as strong and capable role models for other young women and girls—with transformative benefits for families, communities and especially women.With the support of KKT donors, our partner Warddeken Land Management was able to employ their first Women's Ranger Coordinator in 2016. Within just 12 months, women's participation in the workforce increased from 18 per cent to 40 per cent. Now, KKT supports four women's ranger programs across Warddeken and Mimal as well as a regional network to strengthen the women's ranger movement.
