Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) funding
Indigenous rangers (Jobs, Land and Economy Program)
On 27 April 2018, the Minister for Indigenous Affairs announced a three-year extension to funding for Indigenous ranger groups through the Indigenous Advancement Strategy Jobs, Land and Economy Program.
The Government’s investment in Indigenous Rangers is more than $650 million over eight years to 2021. This includes a $30 million investment in the Capacity Building for Indigenous Rangers Strategy.
Capacity Building for Indigenous Rangers (Jobs, Land and Economy Program)
On 17 May 2017, the Government announced a new $30 million Capacity Building for Indigenous Rangers Strategy to help build the technical skills and capabilities of Indigenous rangers across Australia.
The Strategy focuses on compliance training to support Indigenous rangers to take advantage of opportunities emerging from recent government policy initiatives, for example around biosecurity and fisheries. Through the enhancement of skills and attainment of relevant qualifications, the Strategy seeks to support the career advancement of rangers.
This Strategy builds on the success of the Government’s previous Specialised Indigenous Ranger Program.
Indigenous Protected Areas (Jobs, Land and Economy Program)
On 1 July 2018, funding for existing Indigenous Protected Area projects was transferred from the Natural Heritage Trust to the Indigenous Advancement Strategy.
Other initiatives - non-IAS funding
Indigenous Protected Areas (Natural Heritage Trust)
In the 2017 Budget, the Australian Government committed $1.1 billion in the next phase of the National Landcare Program. This includes more than $15 million for new Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA). The new IPA program is funded by the Department of the Environment and Energgy, through the Natural Heritage Trust.
Further information on new IPAs can be found on the Department of the Environment and Energy’s Indigenous Protected Areas webpage.
Indigenous Ranger Biosecurity Initiative
Funding of $12.4 million under Our North, Our Future: White Paper on Developing Northern Australia was announced in 2015 to increase biosecurity surveillance skills, participation and employment across Indigenous ranger groups in Northern Australia.
See the Our North, Our Future: White Paper on Developing Northern Australia for more details.