Indigenous Women Rangers Network - Australia (IWRN Australia)
Launching the Indigenous Women Rangers Network - Australia (IWRN Australia)
We are very proud and excited to announce the launch of the Indigenous Women Rangers Network Australia!
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Using the Queensland Indigenous Women Rangers Network (QIWRN) model, IWRN Australia will deliver forums and programs (for individuals and established networks alike) that will provide culturally safe networking, support and opportunities that celebrates, recognises and empowers Indigenous women rangers.
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Welcome to the Indigenous Women Rangers Network - Australia (IWRN Australia)!
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Larissa Hale is a proud Jalunji Warra woman from Cape York, Queensland. Blazing a trail and making waves of impact for Indigenous women rangers, Larissa was the first Indigenous woman ranger coordinator in Queensland and is an advocate for women looking after their Country. She founded the Queensland Indigenous Women Rangers Network (QIWRN) in 2018 to create opportunities and support career pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who are dedicated to looking after their Country and culture.
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"A major part of what I fight for, is to be able to look after our land, our people, and our future. Pride in our Country is linked to caring for our Country and our people.” ~Larissa Hale
​QIWRN has been co-designed by Indigenous women, government and non-government agencies and other stakeholders as a highly collaborative program that delivers lasting support, opportunities and security for Indigenous women rangers across Queensland. Hosting forums every year, QIWRN has now provided networking, support and training for over 240 women, and growing! The forums provide a space for women rangers to talk, connect, inspire each other, and learn new skills. Every forum has a strong focus on support, networking, health and wellbeing, community led projects, mentoring, training, and empowerment. ​​
2022 Winner of Prince William's Earthshot Prize
​Winner of Prince William’s prestigious Earthshot Prize in the Revive our Oceans category in 2022, Larissa will leverage the QIWRN model to scale the forums and program to provide culturally safe networking, support and opportunities that celebrates, recognises and empowers Indigenous women rangers nationally and internationally!
Launch at the 2024 Dangkal Gwo’yal-wa First Nations Land and Water Management Forum
Larissa, Karin and Bec from the QIWRN team attended the recent 2024 Dangkal Gwo'yal-wa First Nations Land and Water Management Forum in Darwin to launch IWRN Australia! The forum was for Indigenous rangers from across Australia and was attended by 648 people, 299 of which were women.
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Larissa and Karin delivered a women only workshop to announce IWRN Australia and our 1st IWRN Australia Forum in March 2025 (details below), and work with women to understand needs, challenges and solutions of Indigenous women rangers across Australia.
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It was exciting to see a high level of interest in the network and forum and hear from many groups who are already establishing or have aspirations to establish women ranger teams!
Save the Date!
Join us in Gimuy (Cairns)
on 4-6 March 2025 for our
1st Indigenous Women Rangers Network
- Australia Forum!
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