PARTNERSHIPS AND TRAINING ARE BRINGING BIG RESULTS
See how Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Rangers are learning to better manage and heal their sea Country
Story created in collaboration with Gunggandji and Mandingalbay Yidinji Traditional Owners.
The traditional Country of Gunggandji and Mandingalbay Yidinji Peoples runs along the Far North Queensland coast near Cairns and includes parts of the Wet Tropics and the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area – making it culturally rich and high in biodiversity values.
A vision based on partnerships and weaving together the two ways of knowing
One of the key strengths of Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Peoples Prescribed Body Corporate (GMYPPBC) is its ability to network and form vital partnerships with both the private sector and universities. Examples of such partnerships include recent seagrass monitoring activities undertaken in collaboration with James Cook University, water quality assessment with TropWATER, marine debris removal efforts alongside Tangaroa Blue, and support from the Great Barrier Reef Foundation (The Foundation) through its Healing Country grant. This collaborative approach weaves together Traditional knowledge with Western science to help ensure that Traditional Owners are empowered to lead Reef restoration work and to be part of the decision making around managing their sea Country.
Watch the video about how the power of partnerships are creating new opportunities for GMYPPBC.
The impact of a Healing Country grant
These partnerships, in combination with the Foundation’s Healing Country grant, have been instrumental in enabling GMYPPBC to identify important training needs for staff in land care and sea management. Through co-designed workshops and training – both on and off Country – Rangers are learning species and habitat identification and survey methods, undertaking baseline mapping, and producing data and information relevant to multiple users including governmental environment and marine departments. Other training activities have included planning, media engagement, diving skills, public speaking, and monitoring Country with drone operation.
“In our first year, we had over 80 training outcomes with the nine Rangers. In our second year, we now have 12 Rangers and have completed over 150 training outcomes, and that was just up to March 2023. Our focus on training is evidenced in our Queensland Training Awards. We’ve been a finalist for the last two years and the top three for Far North Queensland Community Training Initiatives.”
— Helen Tait, Executive Officer, GMYPPBC
Watch this video about the training programs that are developing GMYPPBC’s Rangers’ skills and capacities.
Harnessing the power of partnerships and new opportunities
GMYPPBC’s partnership with Tangaroa Blue to conduct beach clean-up operations has resulted in the impressive removal of approximately 2 tonnes of rubbish, making a significant impact on the cleanliness of the coast and sea Country. But it’s also created opportunities for more partnerships and further training for the Rangers.
“You never know how one partnership will lead to another and how wide reaching sometimes the connection or opportunity can be. We partnered with Tangaroa Blue for marine debris and then that led to an invitation for our guys to the Coral Sea to pick up marine debris around the Lihou reef and the Diamond Islets. That was on the Blue Planet marine vessel. From that partnership, and going on the vessel for two weeks, they invited our guys to do COTS eradication. So, it just shows the power of how one connection and one relationship leads to another and to another.”
— Helen Tait, Executive Officer, GMYPPBC
In addition to their conservation work, GMYPPBC is actively engaged in promoting their cultural heritage through successful cultural tours for the public. These tours provide a unique opportunity for people to connect with the rich cultural history and practices of the Traditional Owners in the GMYPPBC native title area.
The future of Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Country is Traditional Owner-led
GMYPPBC has cultivated an environment that fosters direct Indigenous Ranger input into the ongoing management of their land and sea Country. Preliminary planning discussions regarding the construction of a new Ranger base have begun. This base will not only support administrative operations and land and sea Country conservation activities, but will also house a cultural centre, accommodation for guests and a camping area. This forward-thinking approach demonstrates GMYPPBC’s commitment to not only conserving their land and sea Country, but also sharing their culture and heritage with others and seeking potential economic development opportunities for Traditional Owners.
Through their Healing Country grant, GMYPPBC is building capabilities and skillsets, both to protect and manage their Country and to create tangible skills and career paths for the people in the Ranger program. This means GMY Rangers are able to take an active and leading role in the health and resilience of their sea Country. Their work plan and projects will specifically contribute to achieving at least two Reef Trust Partnership outcomes, at least 10 Reef 2050 Long-term Sustainability Plan objectives, will create steps toward developing their Sea Country Plan, and will support their aspirations to monitor, care for, heal, protect, and manage their sea Country and the Reef.