Seventh round of Aboriginal Ranger Grants open for application

Rangers protecting Aboriginal land and waters, including the dolphins, dugongs and turtles that inhabit them, will be able to get their hands on a record amount of grant funding.

Land and Sea Management Funds have delivered or committed more than $10million to 28 ranger groups across the Territory. Picture: Supplied

Record funding is being made available for the Aboriginal Ranger Grants Program to support ranger groups working to improve the environment.

The Northern Territory government is providing a $6 million funding pool in partnership with INPEX-led Ichthys Joint Venture.

Parks and Rangers minister Nicole Manison said she was excited to see opportunities growing with record funding available in what will be the seventh round of grants.

“Our Aboriginal Ranger groups provide a crucial frontline service across the Northern Territory, and deliver exceptional on country outcomes to protect and manage Aboriginal land and waters,” she said.

Land and Sea Management Funds have delivered or committed more than $10million to 28 ranger groups across the Territory. Picture: Supplied

$4.5 million of the funding pool comes from the Territory Labor government’s ‘Protecting Country, Creating Jobs’ commitment.

$1.5 million comes from the Ichthys Offset program to support outcomes related to species listed in their Coastal Offset Strategy, such as dugongs, dolphins, and marine turtles.

The last six rounds of the Land and Sea Management Fund, previously known as the Land Management and Conservation Fund, have committed more than $10 million to 28 Ranger groups across the Territory.

A Ninti One independent review in 2021 found the Aboriginal Ranger Grants Program made a considerable and profound contribution to land management across the Northern Territory, with substantial outcomes and financial benefits achieved.

Ranger groups, Land Councils, and Aboriginal-controlled incorporated associations can apply from July 31 2023.

For more information, visit https://depws.nt.gov.au/programs-and-strategies/aboriginal-ranger-grants-program.