Country Needs People

Country Needs People is a leading independent Indigenous-led, non-profit organisation solely dedicated to growing, securing and amplifying the work of Indigenous-led land and sea management in Australia. 

PROTECTING COUNTRY AND CULTURE THROUGH INDIGENOUS LAND AND SEA MANAGEMENT 

Alongside over 50 Indigenous partner groups and with a majority Indigenous board, Country Needs People’s work includes: 

• Assisting in growing the network of Indigenous Rangers and Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) around Australia, and providing practical and direct partner support to community-based Indigenous Ranger teams; 

• Consolidating our efforts in remote Australia, while extending our reach into new regions to provide support to burgeoning groups for their on-Country aspirations; 

• Helping to strengthen Indigenous Ranger programs to protect biodiversity, manage fire and invasive species, and build culturally informed management approaches – keeping people, nature and culture strong; and 

• Maintaining support across the political spectrum for Indigenous land and sea management by advocating to state and federal governments, and ensuring governments deliver their funding promises. 

ISSUE 

The future health of large parts of Australia is now inseparable from the growth and security of Indigenous land and sea management. Traditional land management practices on Country reinforce communities’ connection to land and culture, contribute to individual and community wellbeing, provide self-determination, a source of employment, and promote landscape health and sustainability. There are now over 129 Indigenous Ranger groups across Australia managing over 25% of Australian land and sea Country, so it is more important than ever to ensure Indigenous land and sea management is well supported and secured into the future.  

RESPONSE 

Country Needs People is solely dedicated to Indigenous-led land and sea management in Australia. Alongside over 50 Indigenous partner groups, we have worked hard to build cross-partisan support to strengthen and increase funding for Indigenous land and sea management. We have mobilised Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians to support the work of Indigenous Rangers, with over 120,000 people participating in our campaigns.   

Our advocacy has delivered government funding directly for Indigenous Rangers and Indigenous Protected Areas. Our unique model combines our advocacy with practical, direct support to Indigenous Ranger groups and Traditional Owners on Country and sea, to support them to grow and strength.

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