The Darumbal Trainee Ranger project is a new partnership between Downer Defence and the Darumbal People Aboriginal Corporation.

In late 2021, the project was launched at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) in Queensland, with a Welcome to Country, traditional dances and a smoking ceremony performed by Darumbal Elders.

SWBTA is located approximately 80 kilometres north of Rockhampton, and is one of the largest permanent training areas used by the Australian Defence Force (ADF), enabling joint and combined exercises executed by the Army, Navy and Airforce.

The Trainee Ranger program will create 16 new jobs in total and help protect the World Heritage-listed SWBTA environment. The partnership will provide valuable training and business opportunities for the Darumbal and local Indigenous people to help manage environmental risks and assist the ADF to ensure continuing military capability in the area.

Trainees participate in face-to-face training and complete assessments to eventually achieve a Certificate 3 in Conservation and Land Management, delivered in partnership with Downer and TAFE Queensland.

Eight Indigenous trainees are enrolled in the program, successfully implementing weed management in targeted areas, helping to control invasive species such as lantana and weeded grass.

Downer’s General Manager, Operations – Estate and Base Management, Jeffrey Collins, said the program was a great way of engaging the Traditional Custodians of the land that Downer manages on behalf of the ADF.

“Downer is committed to supporting Defence capability through the Estate Maintenance and Operations Support contract,” he said. “It is great to see the first Trainees enter this program as we look forward to building on our partnership with Darumbal Corporation.”

This initiative demonstrates Downer’s contribution to achieve the following Sustainable Development Goal:

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