A fractured skull, Totally Wild and a newspaper ad

‘Back then you had to apply to get into the Junior Ranger program, which ran over the whole year for one weekend a month. So, we applied, and were lucky to get in.

Navigating studies and best pathways

After completing the year with Brisbane Forest Park’s Junior Ranger program, Sophie headed into high school with the same determination and drive.

‘That’s when I went, okay, I’m going to pick the subjects I need to do to help my chances at becoming a Ranger. And I worked my butt off to do all the prerequisites to get into university.’

Luck or destiny?

Sophie needed to do an industry work placement subject, as part of completing her Bachelor of Applied Science, majoring in Wildlife Science. She had taken a few years’ break from the modern workforce to have a baby, and was keeping up with her studies part-time. It was a lot to juggle.

‘By the time I’d got to that point it was really hard to fit in 30-days of unpaid work placement.’

Still living close by, Sophie visited Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre and enquired about volunteering opportunities there.

‘I asked the lady at the front desk and was put in touch with the Ranger in Charge who offered me a volunteer position,’ Ranger Sophie said.

As luck or destiny would have it, it was here that Sophie got her first Ranger job.

‘It was a dream come true the day I got the phone call offering me a temporary role as a Ranger. I’d just done a walk with my toddler at Kondalilla National Park, got back to the car and saw the missed calls!

‘All those years of getting to where I wanted to go, and my first job was with Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre. Back where it all began in the Brisbane Forest Park Junior Ranger days. It was a real full-circle moment for me.

‘I remember that day very clearly. At that point, I knew everything happens for a reason.’

A passion for inspiring others

Over the years following, Sophie has had many different roles within Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS), both as a Ranger and fulfilling other roles. But the role she’s in now—coordinating fire management training across the state—combines everything she knows and loves about national parks into one place.

‘I love the fire space. It's always very dynamic and interesting,’ she said.

‘A real passion of mine is cultural change within our workforce. So, to be able to teach our new Ranger recruits about fire, but also implement positive culture into our programs, is my happy place.

‘From the get-go, we can set the standard and set the tone of what’s acceptable and what isn’t in the workforce. What I’m seeing from our next generation of Rangers is really encouraging. They’re already so culturally diverse and inclusive.

What the future holds

Recently, Ranger Sophie helped coordinate a historical showcase of all the different Ranger uniforms over the years. It really emphasised some of the big cultural changes that have happened over the past 50 years for her.

‘Looking back, the uniform was heavily focused on a predominantly male workforce in the ‘70s and ‘80s. At one point they did make skirts for female Rangers, but they were so impractical—who wants to be hitching a skirt up while out in the field climbing over logs or risk it getting caught up in equipment?!

‘So much has changed since then, and we’ve made great progress. I was one of the foundational committee members starting up Possum Drey, our grassroots program towards gender equity within QPWS.’

‘Possum Drey is working hard to foster a workplace that is positive, engaging and respectful for all employees and where all individuals are valued and respected,’ Ranger Sophie said.

‘I’d also love to see us continue to connect more with First Nations people, their stories, culture and Country.

This year, we’re celebrating 50 years of parks, people, and protection as Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS).