More than 150 Aboriginal Rangers from across New South Wales, the ACT, and the Northern Territory have gathered for the inaugural Aboriginal Ranger Gathering, hosted by Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council and the Walaaybaa Rangers.
Supported by a three-year sponsorship from the NSW Aboriginal Land Council, it promises to become a landmark celebration of Aboriginal culture and heritage.
From June 16 to 20, Aboriginal Rangers are gathering at Trelawney Station near Tamworth to train in traditional practices including pest management, cultural burning, and native grains.
The gathering will also introduce next-generation technologies such as drones and mapping tools, showcasing how traditional ecological knowledge paired with innovative science will pave the future of cultural land management.
Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, a Yanyuwa woman from the Gulf country, noted on Tuesday: "For more than 65,000 years, First Nations people have cared for land, rivers, seas, flora and fauna across the country."
"Ranger programs have helped restore vital habitats, protect endangered species and create sustainable jobs on Country," she said at the gathering.
"Our connection to Country and our responsibility to care for it runs deep. It's our identity and our culture."
The Ranger Gathering demonstrates how vital Aboriginal leadership is, particularly when addressing ecological restoration, reliable land management services, disaster resilience, and sustainable land use.
"Anything that keeps us down, it is the Ranger groups who lift us up," Senator McCarthy said.
"You are, in my view, so pivotal to keeping our people together and keeping our people strong in amidst the winds, the cyclones of public discourse."
As New South Wales' primary representative body in Aboriginal Affairs, NSW Aboriginal Land Council's sponsorship of the event reflects its continued support of Aboriginal-led solutions to cultural and environmental challenges.
NSWALC Chairperson, Raymond Kelly, praised the work of Tamworth LALC and Walaaybaa Rangers in leading and hosting this culturally advised program.
"This event is not only a celebration of cultural knowledge—it's a strategic contribution to Australia's future", he said.
"That expertise is essential as Australia navigates the impacts of climate change, invests in renewable energy, and works to restore degraded landscapes. The Land Rights network has a critical role to play—not just in protecting culture, but in shaping a safer, more sustainable future for everyone.
"What will be particularly deadly is the Ngarringilanha (sitting together) and Burrulaa Ngurra (many camps) aspect of the Gathering where every afternoon participants will gather around the fire for an informal yarn to share stories and celebrate successes while also discussing useful apps, and sites for plant identification, weeds and threatened species."
The gathering marks a crucial step forward in promoting Aboriginal leadership in land management, ensuring Country is cared for across generations through sustainable solutions.
"We want to share the traditions and the knowledge that you are sharing here this week with the next generation", Senator McCarthy said.
"We hope many of our Junior Rangers will follow in your footsteps and become the next generation of Indigenous Rangers."
That vision is backed by a major national investment. The Federal Government has committed to expanding the Commonwealth Indigenous Rangers program by 2030, with over 1,000 new positions funded last year across 115 projects.
770 of those roles went to First Nations women, who Senator McCarthy said "play an important role in ensuring the protection of sacred women's sites and the preservation of important cultural knowledge and practices".
Senator McCarthy also announced that applications for the second round of the program are now being assessed by the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA).
This round promises to create more than 800 additional Ranger jobs across the country, yet another milestone in empowering the next generation of Indigenous land managers.
"I'm excited to see what those new Ranger groups and Rangers achieve," she said.
