‘Sustainable livelihoods’ and ‘jobs’ reflect aspirations for social and economic development with different underlying values. We explore differences and compatibilities in management of Aboriginal lands. The people centred livelihoods approach is able to frame aspirations and motivators that are widespread amongst desert Aboriginal people and often hard to reconcile with ‘real jobs’ outcomes. The approach builds from Aboriginal attachments to place, world views, language, knowledge and culturally embedded motivation to maintain ecosystem services. Socio-economic and environmental outcomes warrant public investment in sustainable livelihoods development, adoption of principles to promote awareness and credibility, and novel approaches to monitoring and evaluation.