The first cohort of Undalup Wadandi Rangers have graduated from a program connecting young people with Country and employment.
The program was run by the Undalup Association in conjunction with Greening Australia and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.
Seven rangers spent 24 weeks with Greening Australia training and learning about a number of environmental and practical subjects earning a Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management.
Wadandi cultural custodian Iszacc Webb said the rangers loved the program and he was taken back by some of the comments he received from the group.
"A couple of the young blokes said if they were not given this opportunity they could have seen themselves in detention or lockup in Perth, living that city life not connected to Country or culture," he said.
"When I heard that it got me a bit emotional and did not think we would have that effect on the young people, but kudos to them because they had the choice to come along on the journey.
"It is really powerful for them to be strong enough to want to be in this industry and work, it has also presented opportunities for some of the rangers to work in other organisations and transition some of the knowledge they have learnt working on Country."
The Undalup Association were approached by Greening Australia to work with them on a Seed to Success program which aligned with another DWER program to create habitat for black cockatoos.
Mr Webb said Greening Australia wanted to link the eastern Wheatbelt to Wadandi Country in the west enhancing on the Gondwana Link project.
"We are hoping to keep the rangers employed going into the future and are looking at applying for funding," he said.
"The rangers already have some fee for service jobs and will be going out doing some rejuvenation work, which will keep them employed.
"We are hoping additional funding will allow us to continue with the seven rangers we have and place them into Certificate IV, and have a younger generation go into Certificate II, so the current group will act as mentors to the younger group.
"We would love to see our community rangers work alongside, under joint management agreements, with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
"It will make sure our rangers can get out on Country and educate people on the culture and importance of leaving Country as it is, walking softly upon it, leaving footprints and taking memories, stories and photographs with you."
Greening Australia program specialist Barry Heydenrych said they became involved with Undalup through DWER which had funding to create jobs to complete restoration work.
"We looked at organisations in the region which could help employ young Aboriginal rangers to do the work, so we approached the Undalup Association which were very keen," he said.
"We developed a program and started working in February of this year.
"It was originally focused on seed collection which could be used in future revegetation programs, then we were also asked to complete some restoration work as well.
"During the program we were able to get the rangers involved with a lot of different groups and trained in different areas by TAFE. so they have skills in a whole range of conservation and land management areas.
"The most rewarding thing for us was to see how important it was for these young people to get employed, trained and at the same time have a connection to Country."
Greening Australia team leader Harry Moore said the initial aim of the project was to start an Aboriginal ranger seed collection team.
"The program developed further where the rangers were formally trained through Certificate II," he said.
"Throughout the program rangers were able to collect seeds from properties in the Margaret River area and process that seed which requires a lot of skill.
"In the final two weeks all those seeds were planted and restored close to 10 hectares of habitat for black cockatoos.
"I am a fauna ecologist and one of the biggest things we have to do to protect animals is restore habitat that has been cleared.
"There has been a lot of recognition recently that the best people to do that are often Aboriginal people because they are on Country and have a cultural connection to the land they are working on.
"It was a real privilege to be involved with this group and work on their Country to restore their land."
Undalup Wadandi ranger Juanita Evans had been working with the Undalup Association for several years and was given the opportunity to take part in the educational program.
"I love working with the environment which is how I got involved in the program, it is were my passion is so I jumped at the opportunity," she said.
"The program involved interesting things where I was able to qualify for a tractor and chainsaw ticket.
"We have a lot of rejuvenation projects coming up, the ranger crew from Margaret River will be working with their community on some environmental programs.
"The Busselton crew will be joining environmental work that needs to be done in that area."
Undalup Wadandi ranger Danielle Campbell said since leaving school she could not find a job she really liked then found an Aboriginal traineeship with a nature conservation group in Margaret River.
"I applied for that and they offered this opportunity as well," she said.
"It is the best job I have ever had, I am looking at going to university to complete a Bachelor degree in environmental science, then seeing where I go from there.
"One of the best things was being out on Country and learning how to care for it, but the best thing was the group and working with everyone involved."