Indigenous Ranger Biosecurity Program - How Indigenous Rangers contribute to biosecurity in Northern Australian
| Wednesday, May 8, 2024 |
| 10:00 AM - 10:15 AM |
| Plenary Room, Cairns Convention Centre |
Overview
Renae Todd, Director Indigenous Rangers & Business Management Section DAFF and Ranger Joyce Bohme (Womens’ Ranger Co-ordinator) Djelk
Rangers, NT
Speaker
Mrs Renae Todd
Director
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry
Indigenous Ranger Biosecurity Program - How Indigenous Rangers contribute to biosecurity in Northern Australian
Abstract
Northern Australia is a unique biosecurity operating environment, with a vast coastline, sparse population, and the risk of biosecurity incursion through unregulated pathways. In recognition of these considerations, the Indigenous Ranger Biosecurity Program (IRBP) engages Traditional Owners across northern Australia to conduct surveillance for exotic plant, animal, and aquatic pests and diseases. Currently 65 Indigenous ranger organisations from Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland have fee-for-service contracts with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) to complete biosecurity surveillance activities as part of the IRBP.
The IRBP consists of four key components – scientific rationale, fee for service, a focus on enhancing rangers and ranger group capability, and community engagement. Scientific support and training are provided by the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy, a DAFF program which has conducted surveillance in the region for over 30 years. Capability is built through a series of grants, training workshops and procurement of equipment. Engagement with Indigenous rangers acknowledges their deep connection to Country, traditional methods of protecting Country, and the threats that biosecurity incursions hold for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lore, culture, and way of life. The IRBP employs Biosecurity Engagement Officers (BEOs) to engage rangers through on-Country visits and as a conduit between the science team and the rangers.
Djelk Rangers are based in Maningrida town, located in the Northern Territory, approximately 500km east of Darwin in Arnhem Land. For more than 20 years, Djelk Rangers have been working with Traditional Owners to keep their land and sea country in Arnhem Land healthy, and their culture and communities strong. The Djelk rangers manage the Djelk Indigenous Protected Areas that incorporate 670,000 hectares of land and sea country. They undertake work in biosecurity, fire management, feral animal and weed control, biodiversity surveys, collecting crocodile eggs, and sea patrols.
The IRBP consists of four key components – scientific rationale, fee for service, a focus on enhancing rangers and ranger group capability, and community engagement. Scientific support and training are provided by the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy, a DAFF program which has conducted surveillance in the region for over 30 years. Capability is built through a series of grants, training workshops and procurement of equipment. Engagement with Indigenous rangers acknowledges their deep connection to Country, traditional methods of protecting Country, and the threats that biosecurity incursions hold for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lore, culture, and way of life. The IRBP employs Biosecurity Engagement Officers (BEOs) to engage rangers through on-Country visits and as a conduit between the science team and the rangers.
Djelk Rangers are based in Maningrida town, located in the Northern Territory, approximately 500km east of Darwin in Arnhem Land. For more than 20 years, Djelk Rangers have been working with Traditional Owners to keep their land and sea country in Arnhem Land healthy, and their culture and communities strong. The Djelk rangers manage the Djelk Indigenous Protected Areas that incorporate 670,000 hectares of land and sea country. They undertake work in biosecurity, fire management, feral animal and weed control, biodiversity surveys, collecting crocodile eggs, and sea patrols.
Biography
Renae Todd is the Director, Indigenous Ranger and Business Management Section, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). Renae commenced with DAFF in 2019 and leads the Indigenous Ranger Biosecurity Program and the Indigenous Ranger Coastal Clean Up project. Renae has 18 years experience working in partnership with First Nations communities in service delivery as well as a background in governance and organisational capability.
Joyce Bohme is the Djelk Administrative Officer and Women’s Ranger Coordinator for Djelk Rangers. Joyce has 4 years of experience working alongside the Djelk Rangers caring for country. The most favourite part of my job is working with the women rangers doing biosecurity work and looking out for country “I like caring for country and helping families access homelands”.
