Arafura Swamp Rangers Aboriginal Corporation (Asrac)

Under the direction of the traditional landowners, the corporation undertakes land and sea management activities in the areas surrounding the Arafura Swamp. Located in north-east Arnhem Land, the greater Arafura Swamp comprises a vast pristine wetland surrounded by an 11,000 km2 catchment extending from Castlereagh Bay to the upper reaches of the Goyder and Glyde Rivers. Traditional country of Yolngu and Bi people, the area shares an unbroken history of Aboriginal ownership and management. With many landowners still residing in their homelands, the region is a stronghold for Indigenous culture, including a large diversity of living languages. Long considered an area of exceptional conservation value, the catchment was listed on the Register of the National Estate, the central swamp being a Wetland of National Importance and a Site of Conservation Significance. The area is in process of being declared as an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA).

Asrac is unusual in that it acts as an umbrella organisation comprised of multiple ranger groups. Each group has its own identity and special responsibilities in a particular area. Asrac rangers consult and work with the area's traditional owners and people with customary management responsibilities to implement, monitor and update the Asrac Healthy Country and IPA Plan as outlined on its website https://www.asrac.org.au.

Asrac aims to maintain the health of country and cultural knowledge and practices by:

• Conducting flora and fauna surveys to inform management of habitat condition.
• Integrating traditional and contemporary land and sea management practices.
• Effectively managing fire.
• Conducting and monitoring feral animal control in line with landowner expectations.
• Mapping and managing weeds, with emphasis on early interventions preventing weed spread.
• Protecting and documenting cultural sites and supporting and conserving cultural practices.
• Working collaboratively with other Indigenous ranger groups, the local school, community members and other local organisations.
• Supporting people to get out on country and transfer knowledge.
• Operating enterprise based on sustainable practices.
• Undertaking other land management activities as required by landowners and the Board.

The role

Under the general direction of the CEO, and in consultation with the landowners, the IPA Coordinator will support men and women ranger teams to deliver land management and cultural maintenance activities in the Asrac management area.

The Asrac rangers conduct land and sea management activities including fire management, weed management, sea patrols, monitoring and evaluation, biodiversity and threatened species surveys, plus cultural knowledge transfer projects such as culture camps and supporting the Learning on Country programme in the Ramingining School. The coordinator organises and supports the delivery of the rangers' activities. This is a practical, hands-on coordination role that supports a workforce of permanent and casual staff working from Ramingining and from the satellite bases in the surrounding homelands. Delivering on-the-job training and leading by example are essential.

The IPA Coordinator role has a strong focus on capacity building.

Key responsibilities:

Specifically the IPA Ranger Coordinator will:

• Support the development and implementation of Asrac's monitoring and evaluation IPA programme.
• Assisting in development of work plans, provide day-to-day coordination, supervision and support for rangers to undertake activities including (but not limited to): biodiversity monitoring, weed control, fire management, and wildfire suppression.
• Support the wider engagement of remotely based rangers in the Asrac management area by undertaking regular visits to homelands.
• Identify the training and professional development needs of all Asrac rangers and coordinate training and capacity building activities.
• Attend conferences, regional meetings, training and other public occasions as required, and assist the rangers attending.
• Explore funding opportunities relevant to Indigenous natural and cultural heritage management, and as appropriate, work with the CEO and Ranger Manager to apply for and manage such funding.
• Produce timely reports as required for the acquittal of grant funding and fee-for-service activity.
• Undertake other duties as directed by the CEO from time to time.

Selection Criteria

Essential:

• Experience in protected area or environmental management.
• Experience or interest in integrating traditional and contemporary land management practices.
• High level written and oral communication skills.
• Competency in Microsoft Office and IT generally.
• Current driver's licence and willingness to undertake travel in light aircraft.
• Knowledge of, and commitment to, the principles of Australian workplace health and safety.
• A working with children card, or an ability to obtain one.

Desirable:

• Tertiary qualifications in natural resource management or community development, or extensive related experience in one or both of these areas.
• Demonstrated experience consulting and working collaboratively with Indigenous people in remote environments.
• Coxswain's licence or boat handling skills.
• Experience in designing biodiversity monitoring plans.