Eat The Invaders: screening & discussion

The Tropical North Queensland Drought Resilience Hub's Sustainable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Enterprise Program (SATSIE), in collaboration with the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) and the ABC, recently hosted a successful screening of ABC’s Eat The Invaders at the Salt House, Cairns.

The event drew around 70 attendees, bringing together Traditional Owners, rangers, researchers, and community members to explore how invasive species are impacting landscapes, biodiversity, and livelihoods across northern Australia. 
ABC Far North’s Adam Stephen emceed the evening, which featured a screening of Eat The Invaders followed by a lively panel discussion which included:
• Christine Ellis Michaels: Ranger, Nyirripi Rangers (NT)
• Nevin Reys: Ranger, Abriculture (QLD)
• Scott West: Ranger, Kiwirrkurra Rangers (WA)
• Dr Rachel Paltridge: Threatened Species Ecologist, Indigenous Desert Alliance
• Harry Tamwoy: QLD Regional Coordinator, Protecting Country Against Invasive Species, NAILSMA
• Dr Alex Watson: Northeast Regional Ecologist, Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC)

The panellists, many featured in the Eat The Invaders documentary, shared stories from their regions and discussed how feral animals affect local ecosystems, food sources, and cultural practices.
Their robust conversation challenged the audience to rethink conventional management approaches and consider how Indigenous knowledge, local action, and science can work together to protect Country.

Jen McHugh from the SATSIE program said that “the evening demonstrated the power of collaboration and storytelling in sparking meaningful dialogue around invasive species management and resilience in northern Australia.”
You can view the entire series on ABC IView.

November 2025