Raukkan:
Regenerating Country.
Strengthening Community.
A Ngarrindjeri-led restoration initiative in partnership with Regenerate Australia to bring healing back to the Coorong, while creating dignified, on-Country employment for the next generation.
About Raukkan
A community-driven restoration initiative in South Australia’s Coorong region that is co-designed by Ngarrindjeri Elders.
Our work seeks to heal the land, restore at scale, and provide long-term work for young Ngarrindjeri men and women to care for Country, grounded in cultural knowledge and environmental science.
This is not just environmental work – it is about healing the land and culture. This work begins – and stays – with the Ngarrindjeri community.
Why this matters now
Decades of land clearing, wetland drainage, soil degradation and climate change have placed intense pressure on the Coorong’s fragile ecosystems, disrupting both the health of the landscape and the enduring cultural connections that have guided its stewardship for generations. Much of the land along the river system’s fringes is now heavily degraded, offering limited habitat for native species.
This project responds by restoring biodiversity where it is needed most, using a carefully selected mix of native species chosen for their ecological value, cultural significance, and resilience in a changing climate.
At the same time, the work helps address a broader community opportunity gap: First Nations people are almost twice as likely to be outside the labour force as non-Indigenous Australians, a disparity that is even more pronounced in regional areas where on-Country employment is limited. This project aims to help change that story.
Through ongoing conversations — Ngarrindjeri Elders have emphasised a clear, shared priority: to restore Country in ways that strengthen culture, support meaningful on-Country employment, and create pathways that build pride and purpose for the community.
Project Status
Work is already well underway, grounded in a deep understanding of the degraded landscape and supported by strong partnerships to enable large-scale restoration.
Meaningful on-Country employment is also growing, with 18 Ngarrindjeri Rangers now working across land management, leadership and training pathways, with balanced participation from both men and women.
Raukkan
Community
Council
What your support could enable
This program is creating more than jobs – it is rebuilding ecosystems, strengthening culture, and restoring pride and belonging:
Your support in action
Your contribution directly supports land regeneration, ranger wellbeing, training, and long-term community resilience.
$2,500
$5,000
$10,000
Learn more about our projects
We would love to learn more about what matters to you. Our team welcomes a conversation to explore how you might like to engage with our work, at your own pace. This includes:
• Restoration, biodiversity and climate resilience projects
• Co-designed projects and partnerships with Traditional owners
• Different ways to stay involved – now or in the future
No expectations, just a conversation.
