Female Indigenous rangers have been urged to stay focussed on their vital role in caring for the environment during a passionate call to arms by Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner.

Key points: Ms Oscar called on women rangers to "support each other around how we best care and maintain the health of country"

Ms Oscar called on women rangers to "support each other around how we best care and maintain the health of country" She called on the women to grasp cultural knowledge from their elders before it was too late

She called on the women to grasp cultural knowledge from their elders before it was too late The WA Government announced funding this week for 42 ranger positions, half for women

June Oscar made the plea during an address to about 30 female rangers at the spectacular Windjana Gorge in Western Australia's Kimberley region this week.

At the foot of the 350 million-year-old Devonian reef on Ms Oscar's Bunuba country, she alluded to the area's historical significance to her people before turning to modern-day challenges such as the threats of climate change.

"This is the first time we have ever seen so little water in the Lennard River and at the gorge," Ms Oscar said.

"It's a huge concern that the country is really in a terrible state.

"We all need to support each other around how we best care and maintain the health of country."

June Oscar urges the women rangers not to get caught up in distractions that take their focus away from caring for country. ( Supplied: Charlotte Dickie/Kimberley Land Council )

Walk in two worlds

The Indigenous ranger workforce has traditionally been male-dominated, but there is now a record number of female rangers in the Kimberley — over 30 — although their patches cover an area twice the size of Victoria.

As part of eight ranger teams from different language groups they handle everything from fire management to feral animal control to researching and protecting vulnerable species and cultural sites.

At this week's forum they shared ideas and learnt new skills.

"I don't think we have fully appreciated the enormity of the role female rangers," Ms Oscar said.

Nyul Nyul rangers Lillian Bin Kali, Helena Williams and Devena Cox can vouch for the transformative effects of being part of a ranger team. ( Supplied: Charlotte Dickie/Kimberley Land Council )

"Here is an opportunity for them to learn new skills through Western scientific knowledge.

"But they also bring to that space the strong laws, understanding, and knowledge systems from a time immemorial. And that needs to be recognised and valued."

Blazing a trail

Ms Oscar called on the women to grasp cultural knowledge from their elders before it was too late.

"Our elders are leaving and they're leaving far too soon," she said.

"We have to step up and spend more time with them on country.

"Don't let yourself be distracted by some of the noise. You are really blazing a trail up here."

The three-day forum included workshops on using power tools, data collection, and leadership. ( Supplied: Charlotte Dickie/Kimberley Land Council )

The ranger teams offer employment in isolated communities of the Kimberley where jobs are scarce and welfare dependency is common.

For many, including Devena Cox who lives on the Dampier Peninsula, north of Broome, securing a ranger position five years ago was a game changer.

The 42-year-old said she loved her work and without the ranger team joked that she would probably have been "sitting at home watching Netflix".

The modest wage helps her get by, but she said it was not really about the money.

"It gives me good self respect for myself and my family," she said.

"There's nothing better than having that feeling to go out and do something on your own land.

"It's a different office compared to being isolated behind four walls."

Longer term funds needed

But one of the biggest challenges facing female ranger teams is getting long-term funds locked in.

The Western Australian Government this week announced $9.25 million for ranger programs around the state which it said resulted in 42 positions, half of them for women.

Planning was key during the women's indigenous rangers forum in the Kimberley. ( ABC Kimberley: Claire Moodie )

A further 55 casual positions and 87 training opportunities had been created, according to the statement.

But the Kimberley Land Council said that none of the female ranger teams in the region had funding certainty beyond 2021.

Only three of the eight teams had coordinators and only three had a dedicated vehicle to use.

The facilitator of the Kimberley women's ranger forum, Chantelle Murray, said longer term funding —from both the public and private sector —was needed.

"We need to secure something for more than three years, for five years, ten years," she said.

"I think there's more to it than looking after country and getting an income.

"That [cultural] knowledge that is being transferred to us is a powerful tool that we need to carry and pass on to our next generation.

"Women hold the key —we are the backbone."

Ellie Boyle of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) can vouch for the value of working with Indigenous rangers in remote areas of the Kimberley to protect and monitor threatened species, including the Gouldian finch.

Its numbers have dropped to just 2,500 from hundreds of thousands of birds.

The women's ranger forum was held at Windjana Gorge on Bunuba country in the Kimberley region of WA. ( Supplied: Charlotte Dickie/Kimberley Land Council )

The Kimberley and Northern Territory are the remaining strongholds.

"I couldn't do my job without the rangers," Ms Boyle said.

"I'm only one person, but I've got the help of 150 [male and female] rangers.

"They're out on country, in remote areas, they have the knowledge.

"They assist me in the field. I'd probably die without the rangers."