About

The Australian Government recognises and supports the strength, resilience and cultural knowledge of First Nations communities in achieving positive educational and employment outcomes. This includes through the commitment to closing the gap in school attendance, Year 12 attainment and engagement in further education, training and employment.

To support this commitment, the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) Early Years and Education Branch manages the national Junior Rangers program. The program provides First Nations children and young people with culturally responsive, on‑Country learning activities that strengthen connection to culture, community and Country. These activities contribute to Closing the Gap Targets 5 and 7 and Priority Reform One. The Junior Rangers program aims to improve school attendance, retention and educational outcomes while building skills and pathways for future employment in land and sea management and related sectors.

The NIAA has contracted Ninti One Limited (Ninti) to develop and deliver the Junior Rangers Capacity Building and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) project. This project aims to ensure that the program benefits from a consistent, practical and culturally appropriate approach to MEL. Through extensive consultations across the diverse and expanding national Junior Rangers provider network, the project team identified the existing strengths of providers along with gaps and preferred learning approaches. In response to these findings, a Junior Rangers MEL Framework was developed alongside a Capacity Building Program.

The MEL Framework establishes a shared foundation - a single, coherent structure that supports both community‑level flexibility and national‑level reporting. It is designed for providers and program staff to support planning, evidence gathering and reflection on program success. The MEL Framework comprises 3 core components:

  • MEL scope: articulates the purpose, scope and guiding principles
  • Theory of Change: describes the long-term goals and intended outcomes of the Junior Rangers Program
  • Monitoring Framework: provides a practical data collection plan aligned to the Theory of Change, including a library of indicators and evidence-gathering approaches

The Capacity Building Program is a voluntary program for Junior Ranger providers. It aims to strengthen:

  • program governance: improving governance arrangements to support genuine co‑design with local communities
  • data for decision-making: building provider capacity in data governance, monitoring and evaluation, and embedding Indigenous Data Sovereignty principles
  • curriculum design: supporting providers to elevate 2‑ways learning, assessment and alignment with mainstream education

The Capacity Building Program is guided by several interrelated culturally safe principles that uphold Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing. These include:

  • respect and reciprocity, recognising providers’ cultural authority, wisdom and the importance of 2‑way learning
  • strengths‑based development, building on existing capabilities and community‑led innovation rather than deficit assumptions
  • Indigenous Data Sovereignty, ensuring data practices remain grounded in local ownership, governance and ethical use
  • sustainability, focusing on long‑term capability outcomes that endure beyond the life of the program
  • cultural safety and inclusiveness, embedding approaches that respect local cultural governance systems

The Junior Rangers Capacity Building Program consists of 4 major components:

1. Junior Rangers Project Provider Reference Group

The reference group is a collaboration between Ninti and Junior Rangers providers. It reviews the Junior Rangers MEL Framework, co‑develops MEL implementation tools and guides, and provides strategic advice on capacity building activities. The group plays a critical role in ensuring that MEL activities are designed and delivered in ways that respond to real‑world needs and are grounded in community realities while aligning with national processes.

2. Provider on‑demand MEL coaching and support

Ninti offers tailored support to all Junior Rangers providers to strengthen their MEL capability. Providers may choose this support to adapt MEL systems, templates and processes to their own context while aligning with the overarching MEL Framework. This support is designed for each provider to develop approaches that are meaningful to their communities, projects and participants.

3. Junior Rangers National Gathering

The Gathering provides tailored workshops aligned to the 3 priority streams - governance, curriculum design and data for decision‑making along with expert First Nations keynote speakers and opportunities for informal and organic peer connections. The Gathering also serves as the formal launch of the Capacity Building Program.

4. Online Junior Rangers knowledge-sharing hub 

This website is the online Junior Rangers knowledge-sharing hub.  The elements described below will become live on the site in a phased apparoach in 2026/2027.  The elements are:

  • a community of practice: a provider peer network for sharing experiences and expertise through online conversations and yarning; sessions are responsive to provider needs and informed by suggestions from providers themselves
  • recorded conversations: a curated library of videos, podcasts, webinars and storytelling that captures learning and shared experiences, offering practical insights into program delivery
  • document libraries: practical program design and support tools, providers can also share useful tools they have developed
  • information on the national Junior Rangers network: shows where programs are being delivered and by which organisations

For further information, please email: JuniorRangersProject@nintione.com.au

 

Ninti One acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, water, and community. Ninti One pays respect to Elders, past and present, and to the youth, for the future.