ISFMI hosts International Fellows in Australia as part of DFAT Australia Awards Fellowship Round 19
As part of the Australia Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Australia Awards Fellowship (Round 19), between 17th February to 23rd March 2025, ISFMI hosted 15 International Fellows on a five week study tour to learn more about Australia’s Indigenous Savanna Fire Management Sector.
Image: ISFMI DFAT Australia Award Fellows Round 19 with the Jawoyn Rangers at Jawoyn Association Ranger Headquarters in Katherine, Northern Territory
The Fellows, who were largely senior and mid-career professionals, researchers, and Indigenous community members hailed from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Botswana, Mozambique, and Zambia. During their time in Australia, they spent time across the Northern Territory, WA, NSW, and the ACT.
Starting with participation in the Indigenous Carbon Industry Network’s 2025 Annual North Australia Savanna Fire Forum in Darwin, the fellows went on to undertake academic and practical training on various aspects of community-led emissions reduction savanna fire management. They further undertook several project and agency visits, engaging with Indigenous Ranger Groups, government agencies, Indigenous organisations, Indigenous Women’s groups, Protected Areas Managers, the private sector, remote sensing providers, and more.
The fellows started the program by presenting to the 7th North Australia Savanna Fire Forum - Delivering results for people and planet (18-20 February, 2025) as part of the panel “Savanna Fire Management Going Global.” Other highlights of the program included learning what it takes to manage fire while protecting biodiversity and respecting culture on-country with the Karajarri Jawoyn, and Djelk rangers in West Australia and the Northern Territory respectively, and learning more about joint management in Nitmiluk and Kakadu National Parks.
After seeing the requisite wallabies, crocodiles, and fires, the fellows have now returned to their respective countries. There, through the preparation of a research paper and participation in a series of ISFMI guided seminar activities that will bring their colleagues along with their Australian journey, the fellows will start to contextualise and integrate what they have learned in Australia in their own diverse contexts.
ISFMI wishes to acknowledge and thank DFAT for the opportunity to host the Fellows in Australia as part of Round 19 of the Australia Awards Programme.
ISFMI would also especially like to acknowledge and thank ICIN, Charles Darwin University, the Darwin Centre for Bushfires Research, the Larrakia Nation, NAFI, the Northern Institute, CDU RIEL, the Australian Government Clean Energy Regulator, the University of Wageningen, the NT Herbarium, the Indigenous Desert Alliance, the Karajarri IPA Rangers, the Bidjadanga Community, Maki Planet, Kakadu National Park, Nitmiluk National Park, the Jawoyn Association, the Jawoyn Rangers, the Banatjarl Strongbala Wimin Grup, the Djelk Rangers, Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation and Warddeken Land Management for all their support.