Arafura Swamp Rangers Aboriginal Corporation (ASRAC)

The corporation, through its rangers and people with customary management responsibilities undertake land and sea management activities in an area of about 12000km² surrounding the Arafura swamp. The work of the rangers is critical to the on-ground implementation of ASRAC’s land management strategies on behalf of Traditional Owners

ASRAC Rangers consult and work with Traditional Owners to implement, monitor and update the Corporation’s Healthy Country Plan which identifies 12 priorities for management that can be summarised as: our people, our culture, our knowledge and our country (swamp, saltwater, freshwater, woodland, jungle, and rock country).

• The health of country and cultural knowledge and practice will be maintained or improved by:
• Managing fire effectively by prescribed burning and wildfire response
• Conducting feral animal control in line with landowner expectations and requests
• Mapping and managing weeds, with emphasis on early interventions preventing weed spread
• Conducting flora and fauna surveys to inform management of habitat condition
• Protecting and documenting cultural sites and supporting and conserving cultural practices
• Working in collaboration with other indigenous ranger groups and local organisations
• Supporting people to get out onto country and transfer knowledge
• Providing visitor management, emergency response, including rescue and recovery
• Undertaking other land management activities as required by landowners and the ASRAC Board

Learning on Country (LoC)

LoC is a culturally relevant, school-based, Indigenous ranger-facilitated program, aimed at linking Australian curriculum subjects with field-based experiential learning and data collection. LoC is a learning framework that utilises Indigenous land management and cultural activities as the classroom and context to deliver numeracy and literacy. LoC facilitates the opportunity for students to learn on country with rangers, Traditional Owners and VET trainers as teachers. This promotes a space for Indigenous ecological knowledge transfer and cultural activities. These activities are then linked into curriculum by teachers in the classroom.

The program targets Indigenous students, particularly those that are disengaged from school. LoC provides leadership opportunities, workplace skills and employment pathways for young Indigenous people.

The role

Learning on Country (LoC) is a community driven, joint program between partners: ASRAC Rangers, the Ramingining School, and Traditional Owners. The Learning on Country coordinator will plan and deliver the program. The role provides coordination between the partners to facilitate the development of the program in Ramingining, the local steering committee and on-ground activities. The LoC Coordinator position will be supported by a local Yolngu LoC staff member as well as support staff from the partner organisations.

Arafura Rangers consult and work with Traditional Owners to implement, monitor and update the Corporation’s Healthy Country Plan this role will be key to helping deliver that plan, our monitoring and evaluation plans and land management contracts.

Packaging is available for this role.

Key responsibilities:

• Support the development of the Ramingining LoC Program, including the establishment of the LoC Local Steering Committee
• Deliver the LoC program within the parameters of the contractual arrangements.
• With the rangers, teachers, community and key support staff, develop and deliver a LoC annual plan
• Deliver reporting requirements in a timely manner
• Contribute to the strategic and operational plans and reviews
• Support the maintenance and care of the ranger base and assets including the management of plant, equipment and stock
• Attend conferences, regional meetings, training and other public occasions related to LoC and promote the program
• Maintain a good working relationship with LoC partners and other community organisations.

Operational Accountability:

• Report to the ASRAC CEO
• Undertake continuous quality improvement in the delivery of the LoC program through regular feedback to the CEO and School Principal.
• Report on projects and work outcomes to the board and LoC Local Steering Committee when required.
• Attend training and development opportunities as directed by the CEO.

Selection Criteria

Essential:

• Tertiary qualifications in land management, natural resource management or community/youth development or extensive related experience in one of these areas
• Successful experience in a remote context, in particular the ability to share a knowledge or expertise and manage logistics
• Demonstrated experience consulting and working with Aboriginal people in relation to cultural, land and resource management activities and projects
• Good communication skills and competency in Microsoft Office and IT generally
• Current licence and experience in off-road driving
• No impediment to obtaining an Ochre card (NT) and clearance for working with vulnerable people.

Desirable:

• Experience and understanding of the Learning on Country program and framework
• Experience and qualifications in Training and assessment/teaching
• Experience living and working in a remote Aboriginal community
• Working knowledge of Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT) 1976, Native Title Act 1993, Aboriginal Land Act NT (1978), Sacred Sites Act (1979) and the Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999)
• Knowledge and experience of outstations, communities, clans and organisations in the ASRAC Area

For more information, or to apply, click 'View details' below.