About Pintupi Waarrkarrinyi Tjungu Limited (PWT)

PWT translates as ‘Pintupi Working Together’ and is the new venture to grow opportunities for Rangers and Kiwirrkurra People more broadly. PWT is a quickly growing and evolving organisation supporting the self determination of Kiwirrkurra People, based on-country in Kiwirrkurra Community, one of Australia’s remotest Aboriginal communities. Currently, PWT is a subsidiary of Tjamu Tjamu (Aboriginal Corporation) RNTBC and is taking on responsibility for operationalising its 5 established focus areas – land, cultural heritage, rangers, community / wealth and having a good organisation.

Kiwirrkurra People’s Ranger Programs have been operating successfully since at least 2014, when the Kiwirrkurra Indigenous Protected Area was declared. As part of the broader commitment to “bringing business back to Kiwirrkurra”, TTAC and PWT are running the Ranger programs from Kiwirrkurra Community. Non-local staff are supported to travel frequently between Kiwirrkurra and Alice Springs (our nearest major town), enabling some work to be undertaken from our Alice Springs office or other suitable location, along with leave breaks.

Working with PWT offers an experience of the world different to mainstream environments through being in the beautiful, vibrant, living desert and providing a meaningful opportunity to support and work with Kiwirrkurra People to pursue self-determination and their version of a good life.

About the role

The Junior Ranger Program Coordinator mentors and supports secondary school students to engage in culture, country and education through:

1. Coordinating and leading delivery of the Junior Ranger program and related projects.
2. Working closely with Kiwirrkurra School, Indigenous Mentors, the adult Ranger Programs and other partners to mentor and support students to integrate Junior Ranger and School activities with a culturally responsive pathway to employment.
3. Providing leadership and coordination to Indigenous Mentors and other casual staff.
4. In collaboration with colleagues, developing the capacity of Kiwirrkurra People to lead and manage the Junior Ranger program, as part of the broader Ranger programs.
5. Working safely and ensuring safe work practices are followed.
6. And as is required in a complex, dynamic environment, take on other tasks and duties as asked.

This role is an exceptional opportunity to contribute to building an effective Junior Ranger program as part of a well-supported, high achieving and well-regarded Ranger Programs team with established partnerships, funding and projects. This is a chance to create long-lasting educational, employment and social impact for young people and their families in a unique part of the desert. The work will be wide-ranging and challenging, and will include intergenerational transfer of cultural knowledge, bringing the classroom into the outdoors via a range of on-country Ranger activities such as fire management and threatened species protection, facilitating delivery of accredited VET training, and more.

For a better understanding of the partnership with the Ngaanyatjarra School and the two-way science program, search on YouTube for their video “Tjungu Nintirringanyi Ngurra Walytjangka / A Learning Journey for all - Two-way Science Kiwirrkurra”

The role will spend significant amounts of time based on the Kiwirrkurra Indigenous Protected area, particularly in Kiwirrkurra Community. This expectation is balanced with support to travel regularly to Alice Springs for leave and some work activities.

About the ideal candidate

The ideal candidate would have a deep respect for differing cultural perspectives and be respectful of differing life experiences and circumstances. You will need to have a sense of adventure, openness to new experiences and be comfortable with your worldview being challenged. The successful candidate will be provided an opportunity to develop significant, meaningful relationships with Kiwirrkurra People.

The role requires a person who is adaptable, comfortable working in a dynamic environment and willing to work through complex issues with patience, care and good communication. Successful workers in remote contexts have substantial levels of resilience and the ability to self-manage their emotional and physical health in high pressure and stressful environments. You need a collaborative attitude, strong interpersonal skills, and ability to establish relationships across different cultural perspectives, professional contexts and capabilities. The role requires someone who is effective at managing their time across multiple tasks, a strong understanding of their current abilities and a desire to learn and grow in a professional and personal space.

As Junior Ranger Program Coordinator, you will connect well with young people. You may have experience as a teacher or educator, training, social work, or other youth-focused roles, or have undertaken youth-focused work in other remote Indigenous communities. If the role sounds like you, but you have either vastly more, or not quite enough experience, please get in contact. We primarily recruit for organisational fit / character and will adjust for a quality candidate.