Palaszczuk Government to deliver ranger opportunities for Aurukun youngsters

The Palaszczuk Government will boost employment opportunities for young people in Aurukun through new ranger training programs in conservation and land management.

Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles said $2.9 million over five years would provide junior ranger camps, ranger traineeships and full-time employment opportunities.

Dr Miles said the new "ranger career pathway" is designed to engage children at the Aurukun School and provide meaningful career opportunities.

“The initiative will provide a pathway into a career in conservation and land management as trainees and then as full-time rangers," he said.

“The program will be delivered by the established local organisation, Aak Puul Ngantam (APN), and funded under the Queensland Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger Program administered by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP).”

The ranger career pathway initiative has three elements: annual junior ranger camp and activities, ranger traineeships and employment.

“APN will work in partnership with the Aurukun School to engage students in junior ranger activities throughout the year, as well as an annual camp,” Dr Miles said.

“The program will help engage children at the Aurukun School, strengthen traditional knowledge of country and help them learn about managing the natural environment.

“These classroom activities and field experiences will help build potential career paths in this remote Queensland location and follows a successful junior ranger camp trial last year in Aurukun in which 28 students participated.

“In addition, the new funding will now see three ranger trainees, aged between 15 and 20, appointed each year between 2017 and 2021, undertaking Certificate I or II in Conservation and Land Management while gaining on-the-job experience of land and sea management.

“These traineeships may then lead to full-time ranger positions through occasional vacancies in the APN ranger team.

“The traineeships will also provide the skills for employment in other areas requiring conservation and land management such as mining rehabilitation, pastoral industries, national park management and Council activities," he said.

ENDS

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