Partnering with First Nations rangers in supporting use of uncrewed systems – Our eyes and ears for northern Australia’s coastal waters

AAUS, DCCEEW and Parks Australia would like you to join us for a hosted panel session focused on building genuine, long‑term partnerships with First Nations ranger groups and understanding how these partnerships are already delivering outcomes across Australia’s most remote land and sea environments. This session will provide practical insights for government, industry and research delegates seeking to work respectfully and effectively with First Nations ranger groups, while contributing to real‑world outcomes across conservation, compliance and maritime surveillance in northern Australia.Led by First Nations rangers working at the intersection of Country, culture and uncrewed systems, we will explore what meaningful partnership looks like in practice, from First Nations‑led design and culturally safe capability uplift, through to shared governance, data sovereignty and operational autonomy.

This session will highlight the current and emerging opportunity in northern Australia, where First Nations ranger groups can combine deep knowledge of Sea Country with drones to support coastal surveillance activities, including the detection of foreign fishing vessels. Drawing on existing ranger‑led drone use, participants will hear how these capabilities can be adapted from environmental monitoring to support broader maritime awareness in remote regions.

Presenters

Steph (Stephina) Salee (Chief Executive Officer, Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation)

Renee Bartolo (Office of the Chief Remote Pilot, Parks Australia/DCCEEW) 

Inclusions:

Full breakfast, tea and coffee will be provided at event

Registration is required: Spaces limited

AAUS Member $20 inc gst

Non-Member $30 inc gst

Event Sponsored By: