Desert Fire Training: Rangers Trial New Course

"I like to be a ranger to look after my Country, keep it safe," says Nancy Donegan, a senior ranger with the Spinifex Land Management Ranger Team in the Great Victoria Desert.

In June 2023 Nancy participated in a trial of a new planned burning course. It was developed for and with Indigenous ranger groups and Traditional Owners who work in the desert. The training is different because it is designed to be culturally appropriate and delivered on Country. It teaches skills for planned ground burning around important assets such as cultural sites, threatened species habitat and infrastructure.

Tarlisha Currie, a young Spinifex ranger, participated in the training alongside Nancy. "I want to learn from the Elders and from the ladies to protect the land and keep it strong," says Tarlisha, "because we’re connected to it."

Tarlisha has a strong desire to learn technical fire skills so she can protect her Country. Tarlisha says "I enjoyed using the printer and the map. I’ve learned something new… You learn from other people. That’s how you grow."

Desert rangers contributed their expertise to the development of the training, with the IDA working in partnership with the Department of Fire and Emergency Service’s Bushfire Centre of Excellence to develop and pilot the course.

"We use a two-way learning approach" says Dan Johanson, Desert Projects Operations Manager at the IDA.

"Rangers and Traditional Owners managing their Country draw on a long tradition of burning expertise when doing fire work. This course respects their knowledge and shares knowledge in the right way."

Clifton Bieundurry agrees. He is the Traditional and Cultural Fire Officer at the Bushfire Centre of Excellence, and assisted at the pilots.

“Burning is an important tool used to Care for Country, and working side-by-side gives us great opportunities to share both cultural and contemporary knowledge.”

Eric Moora is a senior ranger with the Ngururrpa Ranger Team in the Great Sandy Desert. His team shared knowledge and worked together during the second trial of the new fire management training in July 2023. "We planned the burning. We were ready, talking together, watching out for the dangers. We all look out for ourselves, talking together in one," says Eric.

Cheyanne Sullivan is a young ranger with the Yilka Heritage and Landcare Rangers in the Great Victoria Desert. Late in July 2023 her team participated in the final trial of the new planned burning course. Cheyanne prefers doing training on Country with her family. "Sometimes I get shy but then I have family like my mum to help me," says Cheyanne. "[It] makes me feel comfortable."