Parks Victoria - Annual Report 2009-10

In partnership with the Yorta Yorta Nation AboriginalCorporation and the Federal Government’s Departmentof the Environment, Water Heritage and Arts, ParksVictoria employed five Yorta Yorta People to workas rangers in Barmah National Park and other parkson Yorta Yorta Country. The federal program willcontribute $2 million over four years to the initiative.Over the next three years, these new rangers willundertake an intensive training and developmentprogram, completing a Certificate III in Conservationand Land Management, a Certificate IV in Business anda Diploma in Governance.Parks Victoria continued to work with the BarengiGadjin Land Council (Wotjobaluk, Jadawadjali, Jaadwa,Wergaia and Yupagulk peoples) for the managementof the Little Desert and Wyperfeld national parks,Lake Albacutya Regional Park and Mt Arapiles – TooanState Park. Parks Victoria also worked effectively withthe Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owner AboriginalCorporation through the Budj Bim Council for the comanagementof the Mt Eccles National Park – Budj Bimin south-west Victoria. A planning team commencedwork with the Gunditjmara People to develop thestate’s first Joint Park Management Plan for the MountEccles National Park – Budj Bim. The plan will alsoinclude other parks in the Gunditjmara landscape –Lower Glenelg, Mount Napier and Mount Richmondnational parks and Discovery Bay Coastal Park.Aboriginal employmentIn addition to the Yorta Yorta rangers team, ParksVictoria recruited a further 14 new Aboriginal staffmembers bringing the percentage of Aboriginal stafffrom 5.5 per cent in 2008-09 to 7.2 per cent.Parks Victoria’s commitment to Aboriginal employmentwas recognised by the Institute of Public AdministrationAustralia. Parks Victoria received the IndigenousEmployment Initiative Award for its achievements inincreasing workforce participation of Aboriginal peoplein the Victorian public sector. The award acknowledgedParks Victoria’s commitment to supporting Aboriginalemployment and economic development.Parks Victoria’s dedication to Aboriginal employmentwas further recognised by WISE Employment,together with the Northern Close the Gap IndigenousEmployment Working Group, at their BusinessRecognition Ceremony.Heritage program at Point Nepean National ParkPoint Nepean played an important role in shaping theearly settlement, quarantine and defence of Victoria.Parks Victoria is developing an interpretation programfor the park that conveys this history to visitors.Comprising self-guided tours, interpretation signs andweb-based oral histories, this program builds on theextensive conservation repair and maintenance worksbeing implemented and the progressive openingof several of the historic buildings with interpretivedisplays.Parks Victoria completed a Conservation ManagementPlan for the former army firing range. ConservationManagement Plans are also in place for the PointNepean forts, the Quarantine Station and the SouthChannel Fort. Together, they provide guidance for thefuture conservation of the park’s heritage values.Yorta Yortastaff at BarmahNational Park.Parks Victoria - Annual Report 2009-10 31