Women Rangers Indigenous Program

Karrkad Kanjdji Trust (KKT)

The Peter Newman Foundation is providing funding to KKT to support their partner organisations to establish and grow their women’s ranger programs. These programs not only provide unique employment and leadership opportunities in remote communities, but also ensure the intergenerational transfer of knowledge amongst women so that Country can be cared for in the most comprehensive way.  

The Karrkad Kanjdji Trust (KKT) is a philanthropic trust that was established in 2010 by Traditional Owners of the Warddeken and Djelk Indigenous Protected Areas, to support their vision for healthy Country. As custodians of much of West and Central Arnhem Land—one of the largest Indigenous estates in Australia—they innovatively recognised the potential strength and increased freedom and flexibility of alternative funding sources.

Evidence shows that Indigenous ranger jobs in remote Australia significantly improve health and wellbeing, increase pride and sense of self, and provide unique training and upskilling opportunities. Dedicated women’s ranger programs allow First Nations women to work alongside men, while ensuring that their role is flexible and culturally appropriate. First Nations women often have exclusive access to certain places and hold very specific ecological knowledge. Strong and engaged women rangers apply this knowledge to land management and ensure it is passed down.  

In 2026, the Peter Newman Foundation is supporting the Strong Women for Healthy Country Network through our partnership with KKT.

The network began in 2019, when Rembarrnga, Dalabon and Mayili Elders invited women caring for Country from across the Northern Territory to meet at Bawurrbarnda in Central Arnhem Land. Women from 32 ranger groups came together and shared one vision:

“We are strong Indigenous women of the Northern Territory. We stand united as one strong voice. We commit to a network that gives equal power to the rights of all our women. Strong Women means Healthy Country.”

Since then, the network has held a forum almost every year, in a different place on Country, with more than 200 women at recent gatherings. In 2024 it became an independent Aboriginal Corporation, the Strong Women for Healthy Country Network Aboriginal Corporation, with 135 founding members, its own Board, and a Message Sticks Group of Elders and leaders who guide its decisions. The network is hosted by Mimal Land Management.

In August 2026, the network returned to Bawurrbarnda on Rembarrnga Country for its forum. Over five days, women came together for bush medicine making, weaving, storytelling, women’s health and wellbeing sessions, and leadership and governance workshops. These gatherings help women rangers support one another, share knowledge between generations and build the next generation of leaders caring for Country.