Dabu Jajikal Aboriginal Corporation

11/12/2025

First Nations Knowledge Exchange Strengthens Cultural and Environmental Connections Across Country

Dabu Jajikal Elders and Rangers from Wujal Wujal community in Far North Queensland recently travelled to stay on Wadawurrung Country in the Bellarine, and travelled onto Gunditjmara Country in south-west Victoria, for a powerful cultural knowledge exchange focused on caring for Country and protecting and revitalising cultural heritage.
Elders Josie Olbar and Mabel Yougie, along with Ranger Cinique Gibson, were welcomed to Wadawurrung Country by Aunty Mary Shuttleworth, Aunty Sheryl Smits, and Aunty Glenda Eccles, who guided them to women’s cultural sites across the Bellarine and Surf Coast. Together, they shared experiences in safeguarding heritage, protecting natural values, and strengthening language and culture.

Two First Nations students from Wallington Primary School also attended the cultural exchange days, gaining a rare opportunity to learn directly from Elders and witness intergenerational knowledge sharing in action.
The group then journeyed to Gunditjmara Country near Heywood in south-west Victoria, where Traditional Owners welcomed them to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Budj Bim Cultural Landscape. Here, Traditional Owners, Reuben Smith, Troy Lovett and the world heritage team, shared the deep history of Gunditjmara’s 6500-year-old aquaculture systems, including eel farming, smoking and trading, and reflected on the impacts of colonisation and development on cultural and natural values. They also discussed the positive outcomes of restoring water flows to these ancient sites, an issue resonating strongly with Dabu Jajikal, whose Country in the Daintree Rainforest, and islands within the Great Barrier Reef, face pressures on water and other resources, from tourism and residential development.
Josie Olbar said: ‘Seeing Budj Bim and hearing Gunditjmara stories was powerful. We face challenges in the Daintree, and it gives us hope to see water returning to these places.’

As part of the exchange, Dabu Jajikal women were hosted by the Bellarine Landcare nursery, where volunteers provided hands-on training in seed cleaning, propagation, and nursery production. The skills and knowledge gained from the experiences will support the Dabu Jajikal Women’s Leadership in Healthy Water and Cultural Values project, funded by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

Dabu Jajikal Aboriginal Corporation would like to thank all who were involved in making this cultural and Ranger exchange a success and we look forward to be able to return the favour in hosting these groups on Kuku Yalanji country with the Dabu Jajikal Sea & Reef Rangers in the future.

09/12/2025

Here is Dabu Jajikal Sea & Reef Snr Women's Ranger and Cultural advisor Josie Olbar speaking about respect of country, culture and family and where she would like to see her corporation in the coming years.

09/12/2025

Have a listen to Dabu Jajikal Sea & Reef Senior Men’s Ranger and Cultural Advisor, Barry Olbar, as he shares what he loves about Country and what the younger generations mean to him, and his hopes for where he’d like to see the corporation in the years ahead.

11/11/2025

🌊 Caring for The Great Barrier Reef!

The Dabu Jajikal Sea and Reef Rangers and Jabalbina Sea Rangers have been out on Sea Country with Aroona and JCU’s TropWATER team, checking how our coral, seagrass and mangrove areas are recovering after Cyclone Jasper.

That big rain and runoff changed a lot along our coast, with hundreds of land slides, so we’ve been helping record how Country’s healing, from Hope Isles, Cedar Bay Bloomfield and Daintree River and down to Port Douglas.

Rangers are sharing knowledge passed down from Elders about the tides, seagrass places and reefs, while learning with JCU Tropwater researchers new ways to map what’s happening under the water .

Good news too, deepwater seagrass is starting to return! Always strong signs when Country begins to bounce back.

Big thanks to our partners and supporters for working together to care for Sea Country 💚

04/11/2025

🌿 What a week in Cairns! 🌊

The Snr Dabu Jajikal Rangers/Cultural Advisors have just spent the week in Cairns catching up with partners and yarnin’ about our work on Country.

We met with researchers from JCU, the Reef Authority, NAILSMA, and the Department of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation — sharing stories, ideas, and looking at new ways to care for our sea, reef and coastal Country together.

Big thanks to everyone who took the time to meet with us — it was a great week of connection, learning and collaboration. 💚

14/10/2025

The Dabu Jajikal Rangers, led by Elder Lizzie Olbar, recently visited Cowie Beach along the Bloomfield Track to carry out a Mangrove Health Assessment as part of the Healthy Water Program supported by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF). 🌿🌊

During the assessment, the Rangers discovered a large area of dead mangroves at the southern end of the beach. Uncle Barry shared that the die-off was likely caused by Cyclone Jasper, which left the mangroves standing in fresh water for too long, combined with rapid sand siltation burying their roots.

The good news — nearby we found plenty of new mangrove seedlings growing strong, showing the natural resilience and constant renewal of these important coastal ecosystems in the Wet Tropic Region of FNQ. 🌱

Regular patrols and environmental monitoring by our Rangers are vital to caring for Country and understanding these ever-changing coastal systems.

A big thank you to for supporting the Dabu Jajikal Sea & Reef Rangers in our environmental monitoring programs. 🙏💚

Photo credit Gus Burrows

14/10/2025

14/10/2025

The Dabu Jajikal Rangers have been busy continuing infrastructure works at our Ranger Base in Bloomfield💪
Each month, our trainers run a dedicated “Building Week”, where Rangers get hands-on and help to develop new facilities and infrastructure around the Ranger Base.

Last week’s project saw the completion of the Elders’ Retreat Safari Tent, a peaceful space created to honour and care for our Elders, giving them a place to relax and connect with the calm surroundings of the Dabu Jajikal Ranger Base in Bloomfield. 🌿

A huge thank you to our amazing construction trainers for sharing your skills and helping us grow stronger together! 🙏🏽

30/09/2025

The Dabu Jajikal Sea & Reef Rangers recently joined CSIRO researchers for a cultural values mapping workshop on Country. 🌊

🌅 The morning began on the Weary Bay foreshore, where discussions about marine debris, natural and man-made pollution sparking conversations on our connection to the reef and the threats it faces.
🎨 The second session encouraged participants to express cultural connections through art.
🗺️ The afternoon wrapped up with a cultural mapping exercise focusing on the reefs and islands of Dabu Jajikal Country.

Thank you to our partners at CSIRO for facilitating such an important and meaningful workshop.

30/09/2025

A huge thanks to the Wet Tropics Management Authority media team for spending time with us at the Dabu Jajikal Sea & Reef Ranger Base 🙌 We learned so much about communications, photography, and interview skills — can’t wait to put them into action! 📸🎤