If he is not helping visitors plan their journey to our national parks and state forests, Senior Ranger Robert Ashdown is busy helping rangers in their daily work to manage 240+ parks and forests, which comprise 2.9 million hectares of public estate in South West Queensland.

From the Department of Environment and Science, Robert and his team facilitate memorable recreational activities and experiences in the outdoors. He also plans and delivers park infrastructure for visitors, including interpretive signs and visitor information centres.

“I love my work. I get to help people access and enjoy some of the most amazing and iconic landscapes in Queensland,” says Robert.

“Helping people experience these wonderful places, and hopefully understand and appreciate their worth to all of us, is a constant inspiration to me.

“I also get to work with a bunch of highly-talented and dedicated individuals who work so hard to look after these vast patches of land. Their work benefits both the ecosystems and fauna and flora protected within these national parks, and the people of Queensland who can visit and enjoy these wild places.”

Before he was a Senior Ranger, Robert was a primary school teacher with the Department of Education, and an education extension and education officer with the Queensland Museum. His career demonstrates the diversity of opportunities one person can have with Queensland’s largest employer.

Robert’s here for Queensland because he believes a strong and dedicated public service improves the lives of all Queenslanders.