At the South Coast's first-ever ranger conference, women have taken time to connect and discuss what draws them to ranger work.
Love for culture and wanting closer proximity to Country were strong themes in responses heard around weaving circle workshops.
With 55 participants in total from six lands councils, around a third of the attendees are women.
It's not far off the national average of women employed in the ranger workforce, with 2021-2022 statistics reporting 33 per cent of the workforce are female.
More recent 2026 data show that's risen to 42 per cent.
Gender equity in ranger work has been a focus for funding programs for years, with the 2023 extensions of the federal Indigenous Ranger Program (IRP) prioritising applicants committed to gender equality.
As the federal government has committed to doubling the number of Indigenous Rangers across to Australia, from 1,900 to 3,800 by the end of the decade, attracting female rangers is crucial to the ongoing management of Country.
Two Walbunja rangers at Batemen's Bay Aboriginal Lands Council, Bettina Ellis and Jade Hempson, have been undertaking their job on Country for just over a year and are passionate about their role in environmental management.
"There's a lot of work to be done that can't be done by the men," Hempson tells NITV.
"There's women's sites, there's women's business - there's stuff that we need to get in there and get hands on."
"If we get in there and we get to learn everything, then we can pass it on to our daughters as well, so that's the next generation," Ellis adds.
"It's about the sharing of knowledge."
Boosting the female ranger workforce
Structural efforts to boost employed female rangers include creating identified women-only rangers groups and offering flexible work arrangements.
Bettina shares that their program is "really family focused" and that the flexible structure helps her meet the needs of family and workplace.
She wants other women, especially parents, to feel empowered to pursue employment and take up their place to care for Country.
"I would tell other women who are interested, don't be like 'Oh I have to be stuck at home with the kids or I have to be home at this time.'
"You can actually get out and have a good day at work all day."
Loana Patten, the weaving circle facilitator, has been a ranger for over a decade and has seen the benefit of fulfilment at work flow into other areas of women's lives.
"From what we're doing out on Country, it comes back to the house.
"We're balanced, really occupied, it keeps your mind in a good space. I've just loved it."
She shared how other community members have learned to care for their mental health, address addictions, improve their overall health and feel stronger in their culture.
One ranger told NITV her work takes her to areas of Country she otherwise would have not experienced.
"With the rangers you can go to mad spots and beautiful sites, take care of animals and do a lot of amazing things."
Another ranger spoke about the sense of belonging and increased well-being the work gives her, having just returned to the rangers after a short stint away - saying it's a testament to how much she loved this work.
"[Ranger work] actually makes me feel peaceful. It is home, peace, culture, everything. It's another home away from home," she told NITV.
