The next generation of First Peoples conservation leaders and land managers was celebrated recently in Melbourne.

Thirteen students from the Warreen Beek Ranger program graduated in a ceremony at the Koorie Heritage Trust on 4 April.

The Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management, now in its seventh year, provides conservation training and accreditation for First Peoples. Developed with Traditional Owners, the course is free for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and is largely completed on Country with Elders and experts helping to teach the units.

The course is coordinated by Trust for Nature in collaboration with Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, the Wurundjeri Narrap Rangers and the Taungurung Land and Waters Council and accredited through Holmesglen Institute of TAFE and supported by the Port Phillip Bay Fund.

Facilitated by Noah Honeysett, First Peoples Program Officer at Trust for Nature, in 2024 students learned skills in cultural burning, water management, OHS, weed control, chainsaw use, plant identification, growing bush foods and threatened species management. Students monitored penguins, turtles and lyrebirds and learned from Elders and land managers skills to care for Country.

At the graduation, students and guests were welcomed with a smoking ceremony by Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Collin Hunter, and treated to Yidaki performance by Dharug musician Kiernan Ironfield.

"It's been a privilege to support students to learn skills that they can use to continue to care for Country," said First Peoples at Trust for Nature Director Ash Bartley.

"Empowering First Peoples to enter and succeed in the sector is essential if we're going to halt loss of biodiversity and address climate change. I wish the students that are graduating this year all the very best in their chosen careers, and we look forward to welcoming a new class this year."

The course is supported by key partners such as Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Wurundjeri Narrap Rangers, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, Holmesglen Institute, Perpetual Trustees and Trust for Nature. It is made possible through the support of generous donors.

Trust for Nature works with Victorian landholders to protect habitat for wildlife on private land. It is one of Australia's oldest conservation organisations, and since 1972 have protected more than 116,000 ha of native habitat.