Conservation program builds First Nations students’ connection to Country

Developed with Jinibara People Aboriginal Corporation (JPAC), the Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management (AHC31424) brought students of all ages together to learn conservation, nursery and ecosystem management skills.

Students studied online, trained at Nambour campus and completed practical assessments in local natural areas. The course covered plant identification, seed collection and propagation, machinery operation, nursery practices and pest management, alongside visits to culturally significant local sites.

Student Jaymilee said the mix of classroom learning and on-Country experience helped connect the coursework to real conservation work.

“I really enjoyed the cultural inspections, where we visited sites and identified their cultural significance,” Jaymilee said.

“We gained a lot of on-ground knowledge from Elders, while our TAFE teacher, Allissa, helped us identify native plants in the local area.”

“The coursework was really relevant because it helped us understand and document the work we were doing in the field.”

For Jaymilee, the Certificate III was an important step towards becoming an Indigenous ranger.

“It gave me the knowledge I needed before starting the job, rather than going in without that foundation,” she said.

“Having that conservation knowledge first makes it easier to understand what you’re learning when you go out on Country and learn from Elders.”

Jaymilee has since become an Indigenous ranger with JPAC, working across bush regeneration, water monitoring, nest box monitoring and information-sharing with other ranger programs.

She said Allissa helped create a learning environment where cultural knowledge was respected and shared.

“She shared a lot with the class but also knew when to step back and let Elders or the senior Ranger lead those cultural conversations,” Jaymilee said.

After previously studying hairdressing, Jaymilee said moving into conservation had been a positive career change.

“I’d definitely recommend this course to anyone who needs a change and wants to reconnect with nature,” she said.

TAFE Queensland conservation and horticulture teacher Allissa George said the practical, outdoor learning helped students connect their training to real sites and experiences.

“Being outside in nature was something they all really enjoyed,” Allissa said. “Every day in conservation is different. We discovered a platypus in the creek at TAFE Queensland’s Nambour campus, and we also had flooding to work around. Mother Nature certainly kept things interesting.”

Senior JPAC Indigenous Ranger Chris said completing the Certificate III gave him valuable professional development while allowing him to balance study with his ranger duties.

“I was already working as a ranger, juggling on-Country, full-time work with a small team while completing the course. My teacher was supportive and flexible, and kept encouraging me to keep striving towards completion.”

According to Allissa, many students were quiet and reluctant at the start of the program but became more confident as they studied and worked alongside one another.

“Some hadn’t studied since school. By the end of the course, their confidence was through the roof,” Allissa said. “They worked so well together, supported one another and created a really safe and encouraging learning environment.”

Allissa said delivering the program was rewarding and approached it with respect, openness and a willingness to learn.

“I was really honest with the group from the start,” she said. “I told them, ‘I don’t know everything about your culture, but I want to learn more.’ One comment that stayed with me was when they described me as a magpie — ‘you’re white, but you walk with us’ — and that meant a lot.”

The program also created industry links, with several students gaining employment or further opportunities with Toolijooa Environmental Restoration, Barung Landcare, Queensland National Parks and local councils.

“This experience gives students a foot in the door,” Allissa said. “A lot of them wanted to work on Country but didn’t know where to start. This program gave them practical skills, confidence and industry connections.”

JPAC supports cultural heritage, education and land management activities on Jinibara Country, including its ranger program. The Jinibara People are the Traditional Custodians of the hinterland and mountain regions of South-East Queensland, spanning the western Sunshine Coast, Blackall Range, Glass House Mountains and inland areas around Kilcoy, Woodford and north-west Brisbane.

TAFE Queensland’s AHC31424 Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management supports pathways into roles such as park ranger, native nursery worker, conservation officer and bush regeneration worker.