Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation

Today is the last day to submit for the 2025 Indigenous Women Ranger Awards! This award honours and gives national recognition to Indigenous women rangers who have shown outstanding commitment to caring for Country, community and culture.  You can nominate an Indigenous woman for: ➡️ National Ranger of the Year Award ➡️ Mentoring & Leadership Award ➡️ Young Ranger Award ➡️ Lifetime Achievement Award ➡️ Collaboration Award For more information, apply here: https://lnkd.in/gzJVVMC7 #QueenslandEnvironment

Did you know that (as well as great ecological significance) our national parks are also important to Queensland's history? Recently Bill Fielding, a 100-year-old WWII Veteran, visited Fort Lytton National Park in Brisbane to help preserve our history and have his story documented. The park was an important military and communications site from the 1880’s through to the early 1960’s. During WWII it was both a communications base and radar base for the broader defences of Moreton Bay. The project is being undertaken by the Queensland Military Historical Society to enhance our knowledge on the state's military history. Personal accounts of serving individuals experiences (like Bill's) are extremely rare! Interviewing and recording Bill Fielding onsite has been an important opportunity to capture his accounts and preserve this part of Brisbane’s history and cultural heritage. Bill's visit wouldn't have been possible without the support of QMHS and Ampol (the leaseholders of Signal Hill) who we're working together with to capture, preserve and present part of Queensland's history and cultural heritage. #QueenslandEnvironment 🎥 © Queensland Government

📢 Job Opportunity Alert 📢 Principal Ranger (AO7) Do you want to be part of shaping the future of K’gari? Join our leadership team in driving operations management of K’gari (Fraser Island Recreation Area) within Coastal & Islands Region. Operation Rangers ensure that Queensland’s National Parks, State Forests and Reserves are protected, accessible and valued by all Queenslanders. Work in partnership with local communities and other stakeholders to contribute to land management, recreational and conservation outcomes. Closing: 07-Feb-2025 https://lnkd.in/gqVibJMP

Today is World Wetlands Day and we want to pay respects to the enduring relationship and cultural connections Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have with their wetlands, creeks and rivers.   Indigenous Sea and Land Rangers play an important role in protecting wetlands for our common future.   Balnggarrawarra Melsonby Rangers, based in Southern Cape York Peninsula, are working to improve water quality by rehabilitating wetlands (as pictured). This is often conducted through the use of heavy machinery, erosion control measures and feral animal exclusion.   They successfully rehabilitated a pivotal wetland in Round Loop by removing sediment, improving water quality, and triggering natural plant regrowth, which benefited the ecosystem and revitalised cultural practices.   Post-restoration, with water lilies and other native plants indicating healthier conditions, they remain dedicated to preserving this once again thriving and culturally significant ecosystem against future threats. Their work helps protect Country and supports these vital ecosystems to thrive.   Wetlands are critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability and world economies. They hold immense cultural significance for Balnggarrawarra Traditional Owners.   Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gapgZBDR   #QueenslandEnvironment

Do you want to shape Queensland's future tourism? ⬇️ We’re developing a 20-year tourism plan to enhance our global appeal, celebrate our lifestyle and culture, and create lasting legacies from the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Your insights can help us craft a thriving future for Queensland’s visitor economy. 📢 Have Your Say Submissions are open until 28 February 2025. Share your feedback by: ✅ Completing an online survey ✅ Providing a written submission ✅ Joining a roadshow event near you 🌟 Every idea counts. Let’s make Queensland unforgettable together. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/g_3eTJqc

Cross-collaboration at its finest 🤝 Late last year, fire-trained staff from QPWS met up with personnel from Queensland Fire Department (QFD) drone division for a one-day workshop at D'Aguilar National Park, to share their drone capabilities and help Parks staff better understand how QFD uses Remotely Piloted Aircraft for fire operations, planning and surveys. The workshop provided a fantastic opportunity to share inter-departmental knowledge and skills 🙌 If QPWS drone crews aren't available, QFD can support QPWS operations by sharing their fire-related drone capabilities, including pre-fire reconnaissance, intel gathering and sharing during active fires and post-fire mapping and analysis. Using drones for fire operations can 👇 ➡️ produce data that can far exceed what can be captured by the naked eye, such as mapping burnt areas, fauna surveys, intel on fire behaviours, assessing vegetation, soil moisture/feasibility of containment lines and detecting and mapping active hotspots (even inside trees) that need attention. ➡️ Tapping into QFD’s available drone resources benefits their staff, too - assisting with our burns and fire operations helps QFD’s pilots maintain their currency outside of the busy bushfire risk period. The workshop was a huge success, with QPWS and QFD working together, sharing their knowledge, skills and resources that will help to protect communities and the environment in the future 💙

It was a full house in Rockhampton yesterday as we delved into all that the Capricorn region has to offer. Our consultation session for the Destination 2045 discussion paper at Empire Apartment Hotel was buzzing with 91 passionate attendees, a fantastic mix of industry operators and local, state, and federal representatives. With standing-room only, the energy in the room was undeniable. 🔍 Key topics that took centre stage: ✅ Securing long-lasting infrastructure upgrades to leave a legacy ✅ Strengthening homegrown events for bigger community benefits ✅ Improving National Parks access with better signage, toilets & camping facilities ✅ Showcasing historical assets to drive tourism ✅ Developing a rail & bus hub for seamless regional travel ✅ Supporting eco & nature-based tourism on both public & private land ✅ Boosting investor confidence in accommodation & experiences ✅ Creating vibrant precincts that benefit both locals and visitors ✅ Securing more events in iconic locations This session reinforced just how much potential our region has—and the incredible opportunities ahead.

The National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) ignited the curiosity of young people with a passion for STEM last week. The program immersed students in cutting-edge science, from engineering to environmental sustainability 🌏 The Brisbane-based forum kicked off with a STEM Communication session which brought together experts across fields in policy, education, science journalism, and marketing to discuss how to make our work memorable. Our very own Sarah Stevens from the Science Division took part in the panel discussion, answering some fairly curly questions from the science students! This year's cohort also ventured into the Queensland Herbarium, which is home to over 915,000 plant specimens collected since the late 1800s 😮 The morning kicked off with a panel of presenters from the Science Division talking all things ecosystem mapping, bio condition assessment, ecological sciences and mycology, piquing the students' curiosity about the intricate webs of life and the vital role of plant science in our world 🌿 Students then got to split into small groups engaging in microscopy, zoological and specimen collection activities. A tour of the Herbarium showcased the meticulous work of botanists who preserve and study our planets flora, an interactive experience that brought the complexities and intricacies of what the Herbarium does on a daily basis to life. The NYSF 2025 Brisbane program provided a transformative experience for these young minds, igniting their passion for STEM and showcasing the diverse and fulfilling career paths available. 👏 We can't wait to see what the 2026 program holds! National Youth Science Forum - Inspiring Australia’s Young Scientists Image Credits: 1 and 2: National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) and 3 - 8: Michael Madlo #QueenslandScience #NYSF #QueenslandEnvironment

Are you interested in an exciting opportunity to expand your fire management skills and cultural knowledge in one of the world’s most pristine natural environments, and connect with and inspire other trailblazing fire practitioners from across the globe? Apply for the upcoming Women-In-Fire Training Exchange (AUS WTREX - Women in Fire Training Exchange) program today 👉 https://lnkd.in/g92b-WzE. AUS WTREX is a 12-day intensive training program providing opportunities to enhance firefighting skills and has a specific focus on highlighting the role of Indigenous women in fire management 🔥 Queensland is proud to host the first-ever WTREX event to be held in Australia 🙌 The AUS WTREX event is jointly delivered by the Queensland Fire Department and Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service, with support of AFAC. Women-in-Fire Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges (WTREX), an international program supported by the U.S.-based Fire Networks, aim to explore the growing role of women in fire management, while providing a hands-on training experience for practitioners. Image Credits – WTREX 2023 1: (L-R) Mitzi Wickham, Alex Lacey, Alex Michel, Annelia Hillman, Chanel Keller 2: (L-R) Alex Lacey, Melissa Myers, Annelia Hillman, Sammi Jerry 3: Alex Lacey 4: Alex Lacey and Ferin Davis Anderson

We're seeking expressions of interest for a Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owner to join the Reef 2050 Advisory Committee. 📢 The Reef 2050 Advisory Committee provides advice to the Australian and Queensland Governments on strategic policy matters relating to the Great Barrier Reef.   This role will have a focus on: 🤝 The implementation and ongoing review of the Reef 2050 Plan and the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan. 🤝 Providing advice on government and stakeholder partnerships for the delivery of actions in the Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Implementation Plan.  For more information on this role, visit 👉 https://lnkd.in/gXfSn7kS Applications close Friday, 31 January 2025.