Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation

Laynhapuy was established in the 1970’s to represent Yolŋu interests and residents of Homelands which constitute the corporation. The main goals and objectives of the organisation are to assist our Homeland communities and our people to:

• Determine our own future

• Run and control our own affairs

• Develop self-sufficient or otherwise sustainable Homelands – standing on our Yirralka.

Laynhapuy provides health, housing and land and sea management services and support to around 30 remote Yolŋu homelands in North East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. The organisations main base is in Yirrkala around 20km from the mining town of Nhulunbuy. The Laynhapuy Homelands are situated between a 1 and 4 hour drive from Yirrkala.

The vision for Laynhapuy is: “to determine our own future to manage our own affairs, to become self-sufficient so that the homeland mala (clans) can continue to live in peace and harmony”.

About the organisation:

Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation (LHAC) is a not-for-profit member-based organisation that has been in existence for more than 40 years. It was incorporated with ORIC in 2012 and before this operated as an association. Laynhapuy provides essential services across 30 homeland communities including: primary healthcare, NDIS support, aged care support, housing, municipal services, and community services.

Yirralka Rangers and the Laynhapuy IPA

In 2003, Laynhapuy established the Yirralka Ranger land and sea management program in response to Traditional Owners desire to manage their Country and to deal with threats to cultural and environmental values. This was supported with the dedication of the Laynhapuy Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) in 2006.

Today we employ over 40 rangers who live and work in 14 of the Laynhapuy Homelands. Our main operational base is located in Yirrkala. In 2024 we finalised the Laynhapuy IPA Plan of Management 2024-2034 and are currently awaiting Australian Government dedication of our IPA boundary expansion. This new boundary covers approximately 1,472,800 hectares, which includes 371,200 hectares of marine estate. Our IPA is located on Aboriginal-freehold land and Yolŋu have exclusive rights to the inter-tidal zone.

Yirralka has been a partner in Arnhem Land Fire Abatement (ALFA) for 10 years and manages aerial and ground prescribed burning and wildfire suppression in the NEALFA Operational Area.

Conditions of Employment
Employment with Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation is governed by the Enterprise Agreement 2024.

Employee Benefits include:

Salary packaging options of up to $15,899 per annum from your gross salary

Additional Meal Entertainment card packaging of up to $2,650 per annum

2 year term

Six (6) weeks annual leave per year

Subsidised housing is available for the successful applicant if not currently residing in Gove

The role

The Djalkiripuyngu Ward and Fire Facilitator based in Yirrkala will work alongside the Head Ranger for the Djalkiripuyngu Ward (geographical area around Blue Mud Bay) and Fire Head Ranger to support on ground delivery of caring for Country and fire management activities. This exciting role supports homeland rangers in developing and delivering homeland caring for Country activities. It also coordinates our annual fire management activities in collaboration with Arnhem Land Fire Abatement (ALFA) NT and weed control activities.

Key Responsbilities:

1. Support the development and implementation of an activity plan for the Djalkiripuyŋu Ward. This includes:

Working alongside the Head Ranger, Senior Rangers and Rangers to identify when and where the delivery of ranger activities including biosecurity, beach cleanups, learning on country, patrols of recreation areas, sea country, fire, feral animal control, weed control, biodiversity and other homeland specific projects will occur.

Providing mentoring support and on-the-job training to Yolŋu staff members who will work alongside this role.

Supporting a culture of safety in the workplace through the development and implementation of culturally appropriate work safety procedures for all activities.

Ensuring rangers have the materials, equipment and infrastructure required to deliver planned activities, and attend to the general maintenance and upkeep of vehicles and equipment used in fieldwork.

Providing logistical support in planning and conducting regular field trips to remote area locations.

Maintaining ongoing accurate records of activities, including collecting field based information using our Fulcrum apps and manage Geographic Information System (GIS) data.

Supporting the IPA Coordinator in delivery of the Yirralka Ranger Program, including attendance at and support for delivery of Ward Mala Meetings and other Ranger Meetings.

2. Support the Fire Head Ranger in delivering a fire program that ensures fire safe communities, maintains healthy country, empowers ongoing cultural practices, and aids the execution of a successful Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) savanna burning project. This includes:

Supporting the partnership with Arnhem Land Fire Abatement (ALFA), including completing all reporting requirements, facilitating attendance at meetings, engaging with networking and training opportunities.

Developing and implementing an annual Fire Management Plan which is submitted to ALFA and our insurance body for the program.

Supporting and documenting pre and post season consultation with land owners and other stakeholders.

Working with the IPA Coordinator to develop an annual operational budget for the Yirralka fire program that is submitted to ALFA, and managing expenditure to the budget.

Supporting the Fire Head Ranger to coordinate the delivery of ground burning.

Engaging a specialist contractor/s to support the delivery of the fire program where required. This will include mapping of proposed aerial and ground burn lines (based on historical lines), supporting rangers with early aerial prescibed burning, wildfire surpression and mapping of fire scars .

3. Coordinate weed management activities for the program including:

Auditing and maintaining chemical stores and spray equipment

Support the annual review of weed control plan and regular weed control reporting using fulcrum app

Update weed distribution map of the IPA

Develop weed control implementation plan to guide the delivery of weed control activities across the IPA, focussing on high priority weed species control / eradication.

Selection Criteria:

Essential

1. Demonstrated willingness and capacity to follow cultural priorities, working under Yolŋu direction, and to share skills with, and support the mentoring of Yolŋu in the workplace.

2. Demonstrated experience working in a remote Indigenous community environment, with knowledge and understanding of Indigenous protocols and cultures.

3. Relevent tertiary, technical or trade qualifications.

4. Experience in working independently with minimal supervision in a remote area and demonstrated capacity to remain focused, positive and organised in a challenging work environment.

5. Good cross-cultural communication, negotiation and community consultation skills

6. Demonstrated experience in supervising the safe operation of plant and equipment, including maintenance and servicing, record-keeping of use, storage and transport: for resources shared by many people across wide areas. Capacity to support maintenance and construction of infrastructure.

7. Practical aptitude for technical manual tasks and a demonstrated ability to pass skills on to others.

8. Experience in project management and proficiency in administration, reporting, computing and Microsoft Office suite.

9. Current valid driver’s licence and experience operating vehicles and/or heavy duty machinery in remote off road conditions.

10. A Working with Children’s Check (WCC) or ability to obtain one, and valid National Police Check.

Desirable

Previous experience in the delivery of a fire program within the context of an IPA

To discuss this role further please contact [email protected]

If you are looking to join an organisation that makes a difference and enhance your own career, click the 'Quick Apply' button and submit your application together with a letter outlining your capabilities relevant to this role before the closing date of 10th August 2025.