#PeopleofNRM – Jordan Jackamarra and Caleb Shaw

Home 🞂 Newsroom 🞂 #PeopleofNRM – Jordan Jackamarra and Caleb Shaw
The Midwest Aboriginal Ranger Program (MARP) provides opportunities for Aboriginal peoples across the Mid-West region to engage in natural resource management activities while delivering on-ground conservation with a strong cultural emphasis on Caring for Country.

This program also offers employment and training placement for rangers and ranger-teams through three program-delivery organisations: Kwelena Mambakort Aboriginal Corporation (KMAC), Western Mulga, and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).

The MARP is an important step towards providing meaningful employment on-Country for future generations of Aboriginal peoples.

And NACC NRM is very happy to announce that two young Noongar men – who trained with KMAC under the MARP – are now gainfully employed with the DBCA.

Last month NACC’s Aboriginal Program Coordinator had the opportunity to catch up with these inspiring men – Caleb Shaw and Jordan Jackamarra – and gain some insight into what it is like to be an Aboriginal Ranger.

 

Jordan Jackamarra

Jordan Jackamarra is DBCA’s Assistant Ranger in Jurien Bay. Jordan is a proud young Yued man from Noongar Country and is furthering his career alongside his mother who is also a passionate conservation and land management employee with DBCA.

Who are your mentors?

“Brad from DBCA and my Mum”

What has been your most enjoyable task so far?

“I have enjoyed prescribed burns and tree planting the most. Firefighting would have to be the most important.”

What are you looking forward to in your role?

“Learning more skills, meeting new people and exploring more of the country.”

What advice do you have for other young people looking to pursue a career in conservation and land management?

“It is a great opportunity and helps you get back on country and connecting with culture.”

 

Caleb Shaw

Caleb Shaw is DBCA’s new Assistant Ranger in Cervantes. Caleb is a proud young Yued man from Noongar country and sees his role as an Aboriginal Ranger being a very important part of his connection to country.

Who are your mentors?

“Shaw mob, Charlie Shaw, Aunty Annie Shaw and the Cervantes Ranger crew”

What has been your most enjoyable task so far?

“Going to the school and doing the educational talk on Indigenous heritage. Even though it is always nerve racking, I get a real kick out of seeing the kids smile while learning about Indigenous culture.”

What are you looking forward to in your role?

“Continually building on my skill sets and becoming more knowledgeable in what I see around me. Also gaining more knowledge about my culture and history.”

What advice do you have for other young people looking to pursue a career in conservation and land management?

“I SAY DO IT! This job was such a life changer for me. I was sitting behind a desk in the city, working 9-5. Hardly seeing the outdoors. Now every day I am going to new places, learning new things, meeting new people. This job is also great because it allows me to reconnect to country and give back to the land.”

 

The Midwest Aboriginal Ranger Program is supported by NACC NRM through funding from Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet’s, Indigenous Advancement Strategy.

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In 2020-21 I talked about ‘raising the bar’. In 2021-22 we worked on setting the bar on fire. Over the last 12 months, the team at NACC NRM has not stopped.

The Sustainable Agriculture team has extended the program’s reach through collaborations with grower groups in the regions. Specifically, the Beyond Reasonable Drought project and Grower Group Alliance – South West WA Drought Innovation Hub – Geraldton Node project. The Beyond Reasonable Drought partnership with grower groups supported farmers across the region to improve the environmental sustainability of their agricultural production and drought resilience. The outcomes of this project have been consolidated through our successful Expression of Interest to the South West WA Drought Innovation Hub, with support from grower groups across the region, to host the Geraldton Node of the Hub. The program continues to focus on working with agricultural networks to share technical expertise and provide opportunities that will improve land management practices in agriculture across the region.

The conservation outcomes of ranger teams have expanded through work on several land tenures. Maintaining Heritage sites such as Willi Gulli, Racecourse Paddock and Buller River has long been a priority. During 2021-22, the teams have increasingly focused on threatened species and ecosystems.

To this end, Western Mulga rangers have improved management across 19,000 ha for the conservation of Malleefowl through firebreak and access management. They completed the maintenance of water holes and supported the monitoring of over 90 Malleefowl mounds.

Similarly, the Kwelena Mambakort Aboriginal Corporate ranger team have contributed positively to Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo populations by installing artificial hollows and habitat restoration.

All ranger teams have collected native seed, propagated native plants for restoration, and planted native vegetation in key locations across the NAR. Seed collection provides valuable industry experience and has facilitated the planting of over 100,000 seedlings during the year.   

In September 2021, the NACC NRM team delivered the WA Threatened Species Forum, held in tandem with the National Malleefowl Forum. Given the impact of COVID and the timing of this event, having more than 100 delegates from all over Australia was a significant achievement. The two Forums brought together 12 events over five days and featured 14 local artists, 25 businesses and 36 youth participants.

Following the successful relaunch of our updated NARvis, NACC NRM was invited to help lead a significant piece of strategic planning work for the region with Mid West Development Commission and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. With funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, the consortia delivered a Regional Drought Resilience Plan covering the shires of Northampton and Chapman Valley and the City of Greater Geraldton, along with significant technical analysis of drought vulnerability for the South West land division. The development of this plan also included extensive community consultation to ensure that local knowledge and technical advice guided the development of priorities for action.

This planning work links to existing NACC NRM on-ground projects, including Beyond Reasonable Drought and the Chapman Catchment Collaborative regeneration project.

It was a busy year for events with face-to-face events becoming commonplace again. During 2021-22 we hosted events in Gingin, Moora, Dalwallinu, Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Walkaway, Nabawa, Perenjori, Kalannie and Morawa. We supported events in Karakin, Thundellara, Perenjori, Paynes Find, Wubin, Cataby, Warradarge, Northampton, Yuna, Dalwallinu and Dandaragan.

We also supported on-ground works throughout the region, including at the following locations Yuna, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Merkanooka, Goodlands, Kalannie, Bunjil, Yardarino, Canna, Kondut, Latham, Kadathinni, Nabawa, Red Gully, Sandy Gully, Waddy Forrest, Devils Creek, Perenjori, Bowgada, Ellendale, Wandana, Namban, Hill River, Warradarge, Gillingarra, Regans Ford and Moonyanooka.

Our region is vast – slightly larger than Tasmania, which for comparison, is serviced by three separate NRM organisations. Covering the NAR region and its many environmental threats is challenging. We continue to focus on partnerships and collaboration to address this challenge. We know that by working with our community through passionate delivery of collaborative on-ground projects and education, the community will value and actively protect our region’s natural capital.

This year we have launched a new Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP Working Group consulted widely and developed an Innovate RAP which Reconciliation Australia approved in March 2022. The activities to fulfil these commitments are now in full swing.

Sadly, at the end of 2021, we farewelled former NACC NRM CEO Shelley Spriggs, who lost a long battle with cancer. Shelley was an inaugural inductee to the NRM Leadership Honour Roll. I will always be grateful for her guidance and no-nonsense approach, not to mention her passion for life.

While we have said farewell to some, we have welcomed many new faces across all programs, including our Administration team. We have also hosted a school-based trainee from Nagle Catholic College who has been working towards a Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management. This trial position has been very successful, and we look forward to making this opportunity available again in 2023.

During 2022 we have taken on new projects that align with our organisational and program objectives, and we have successfully completed some great initiatives that support continued conservation and sustainability outcomes. I want to thank the whole team who continue to go above and beyond for the organisation and each other proving their ongoing commitment to our purpose and our values.