Bushfire Centre of Excellence and Indigenous Desert Alliance partner to create innovative On-Country fire training

The Bushfire Centre of Excellence (BCoE) and the Indigenous Desert Alliance (IDA) have joined forces to create Ground Burning in the Desert, a new and innovative planned burning training course.  

This unique course has been specifically designed for and with Traditional Owners and First Nations Ranger Groups in Desert Country to be culturally appropriate and delivered On-Country. It incorporates local, cultural and environmental needs and teaches valuable skills for deliberate burning around cultural sites, threatened species habitats and infrastructure to reduce fuel loads.

The training is flexible enough to incorporate existing Ranger skills and local knowledge and strengthens understanding of contemporary equipment and methods.

BCoE District Officer Training Delivery Russell Wells said that the Ground Burning in the Desert course provides knowledge, skills and resources to help Rangers gain a better understanding of planned burning.

“The Rangers will learn how to use the latest tools and techniques to identify, prepare, and conduct a planned burn. They will also learn to identify fuel loads, assess fire risk, and develop a burn plan,” District Officer Wells said. 

“Due to the practical, hands-on nature of the training, it’s relevant and contextualised to the local conditions to give the Rangers more tools to use fire the right way. They will also learn how to monitor and assess the effectiveness of their burn plan, how to prepare and use fire tools and the importance of fire safety and awareness.”

In June 2023, BCoE staff together with IDA trainers travelled to Yagga Yagga to run a 3-day pilot of the training course with the Ngururrpa Ranger Group. The pilot took place to trial the training product and consisted of a range of activities including burn planning, a burn site tour, weather monitoring as well as creating firebreaks and asset protection.

A second pilot was held in July 2023 in Cosmo Newberry with the Yilka Heritage and Landcare Rangers. There was a shared enthusiasm by both Ranger groups, IDA and the BCoE and feedback on this shared learning was extremely positive.

BCoE Traditional and Cultural Fire Officer Clifton Bieundurry who assisted with the pilot courses said that burning is an important tool used to Care for Country, and these partnerships give us great opportunities to share both cultural and contemporary knowledge.

“What sets this course apart was the shift from traditional classroom-style delivery to a more practical approach”, explained Traditional and Cultural Fire Officer Bieundurry.  

“It was great to see the dynamic two-way learning environment and active and engaging participation from all the Rangers.”

“Traditional Owners managing their Country draw on a long tradition of burning expertise when undertaking bushfire mitigation. This course acknowledges and respects this and allows traditional knowledge to be shared in the right way."

Yagga-Yagga Pilot Course

Feedback and insights from both pilots will play a key role in the course’s finalisation and in ensuring its sustainability.

The course is anticipated to be finalised by the end of 2024 and IDA will manage the training delivery with Desert Ranger groups.

The Ground Burning in the Desert course will give Rangers practical training and more confidence to protect their land, their culture and continue to support sustainable fire management practices with future generations.

For more information, contact bcoetraining@dfes.wa.gov.au.