2026 Scholarship Winner Profile - Dhimurru Ranger group

Batu and Boaz are First Nations Rangers based in North-East Arnhem Land, working on Country in one of the most remote parts of Australia.

"Their commitment to the use of drones to detect ghost nets and other marine debris across the last 3yrs (under Excluded Category), and then receiving the UAS Industry Participation Scholarship, created a catalyst, which then meant the Aboriginal Corporation took the chance to book in 14 other Rangers to do their RePLs and capitalise on the opportunity".

"This training will be used to build practical, on-Country RPAS capability that directly supports ranger work now and into the future. It will allow Batu and Boaz to independently plan and operate drone missions for monitoring sea Country, responding to ghost nets, and collecting data that informs management and community decision-making. Importantly, these skills won’t sit with individuals; they’ll be shared across the ranger group and with neighbouring programs. Over time, this builds confidence, reduces reliance on external operators, and creates a pathway for First Nations rangers to lead, mentor, and shape how RPAS technology is used in caring for Country."

"This isn’t just about two rangers getting a RePL. For Batu and Boaz, it means building capability that stays on Country. It means being able to use the right tools to do their job properly - monitoring Sea Country, responding to ghost nets, protecting sites, and supporting decision-making with better data. It also means visibility. When young people see rangers using drones, working with tech, leading projects - it changes what’s possible."

The Dhimurru Rangers detect marine debris across the 300-500km stretch of coastline they look after, which is just a part of the wider 550,000-hectare area they manage.