Community consultations are underway following the announcement of a new Junior Rangers program for Central Australia.

The program has been designed to incorporate what communities have advised is needed to encourage school attendance and increase participation with education and training, whilst boosting employment prospects across Central Australia.

News of the program comes in the wake of the unsuccessful referendum, as the Federal Government continue to move forward on closing the gap targets for First Nations persons.

It is hoped the Junior Rangers Program will address education and employment concerns by improving low school attendance in areas of Central Australia where this has been problematic.

The program has incorporated advice from community stakeholders the Northern Territory Government, the Office of the Central Australian Regional Controller and the recently‑established Central Australia Plan Aboriginal Leadership Group.

It is part of the $250 million plan for A Better, Safer Future for Central Australia, and will be rolled out in Ti Tree, Santa Teresa, Papunya and surrounding areas.

On a national scale in 2021, only 58.0 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15–24 years were fully engaged in employment, education or training, which is well below non-Indigenous engagement. The Closing the Gap socio-economic target number 7 aims to improve the rate of which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth are engaged in employment or education.

Whilst there has been marginal improvements across most States and Territories, the current trajectory does not see the nation meeting its initial targets and a more robust focus is needed.

The Northern Territory and South Australia have underperformed in the reporting period with declining figures in the area.

The ranger program brings hope and promise to Central Australian communities, with students participating in on-Country, culturally-led learning whilst gaining valuable skills from local Indigenous rangers and connecting to country.

Papunya community leader, Terrence Abbot said "For our young people here, they need motivation because when it comes to school – they go and then they don't go. We want our kids to go to school and we need help getting kids to class, not just for one day or one week".

"I know the Junior Rangers program will help us here in Papunya, because our kids and our young mob, they respond to learning on Country. They come back with energy. They feel more connected with our culture, our community," he said.

"We have some bush programs for the young ones. I've seen them go out and come back a few days later – positive and keen to learn more. Lots of them want to become rangers.

"Our kids and all the young people need to learn about bush medicine. Where our hidden water sources are. The girls need to know how to look after the women's sites and make their women's bush medicines. The boys have the men's sites to care for.

"In my community of Papunya, we're so positive about what's coming. It's giving all of us a lot of hope."

Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney said the Junior Ranger program is about supporting Indigenous students to thrive, with culturally-led and locally-designed on-Country learning activities, taught by Indigenous Ranger groups.

"Ti Tree, Santa Teresa and Papunya and surrounding areas were selected based on advice from First Nations communities in Central Australia to make sure this $3.6 million investment is delivered where it's needed most," she said.

"By integrating culture and Country into the school curriculum, First Nations students in Central Australia will be more engaged at school and get the opportunity to reach their full potential."

Northern Territory Member for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour said when she travels around her electorate the number one issue people raise with her is employment and creating a future for our young people.

"The status quo is not working for our remote communities," Ms Scrymgour said.

"Junior Rangers are an important employment pathway for young people – but they also play a critical role in keeping young people in school, getting people out on Country to learn, protecting and managing our environment and help develop important vocation skills.

"These new ranger programs highlight our commitment to getting jobs back into remote communities and helping to support our young people in remote communities."