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Caring for our Country

What can I do?

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• What is Natural Resource Management (NRM)?
  • What's an NRM region?
  • What's an NRM plan?
  • Who manages NRM?
  • Policies, agreements and frameworks
• What can I do?
  • Building capacity
  • Engaging communities
  • For landholders
  • Find a facilitator
  • Indigenous communities and NRM
  • NRM discussion forum
  • Volunteer
  • Workshops and conferences
• Funding
  • For local communities and landholders
  • The future of NRM funding
  • Community Coastcare
  • Environmental Stewardship Programme
  • National Reserve Systems
  • Open Grants
  • Working on Country
  • A-Z list
  • Funded activities
  • Principles and policies
• Funded projects
  • NSW
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  • SA
  • WA
  • Tas
  • NT
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• Data, maps and research
  • Atlases
  • Spatial data
  • Reporting tools
  • Managing data
• Monitoring and evaluation
  • Setting and reporting on targets
  • Measuring performance through indicators
  • National and regional evaluations
• Publications
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Volunteer

There are a number of ways to get involved in natural resource management (NRM) activities at a local, regional, state or national level. Australian Government and other organisations that facilitate NRM activities can help people find an appropriate group to join, or support the formation of a new group concerned about the quality of the land and water in their area.

Conservation Volunteers

Conservation Volunteers provides support for a range of practical conservation projects through the volunteers that it attracts. See the conservation connect part of their web site for details of projects for which volunteers are sought.

• Conservation connect 

Earthwatch Institute

Earthwatch provides opportunities worldwide for people to engage in scientific field research to promote the understanding necessary for sustainable environmental outcomes. Visit their web site for details of projects in Australia and how to volunteer.

• Earthwatch 

Greening Australia

Greening Australia is focused on the health, diversity and productivity of our unique landscapes through the restoration and management of Australia's vegetation. It has offices in all states and territories. Find out about opportunities in your state or terrotory by visiting their web site.

• Greening Australia 

Landcare Australia

Landcare Australia works to help individuals, groups and communities to make a positive difference to the environment. It does so through partnerships between the community, government and business that work towards practical NRM activities, including on-ground projects, research and community awareness, to protect and repair the environment. There are more than 4000 volunteer community landcare groups operating throughout Australia across a range of areas. Landcare Australia provides advice on forming new community groups as well as identifying existing groups.

More than 40 percent of farmers are involved in landcare activities and farming. Primary producers play an active role in combating soil salinity and erosion through NRM practices and sustainable productivity.

• Get involved in Landcare 
• Form a new group 
• Volunteer Coordinators Network Handbook 

There are also a range of community groups working in urban and rural areas on local environmental issues such as conservation and rehabilitation of river systems, coastal areas and urban remnant native vegetation areas. Contact your regional NRM facilitator for additional information about community groups in your region.

Reef Check Australia

Reef Check Australia is part of the United Nations' official community-based coral reef monitoring program which operates in over 80 countries around the world. Reef Check Australia provides a globally-accredited training program that enables volunteers to gather high quality data that are useful to coral reef managers. Reef Check Australia volunteers regularly monitor and report on reef health around Australia and the Indo-Pacific. This information is used by community groups, governments, universities and businesses to design and implement ecologically sound and economically sustainable coral reef management.

For details on how to get involved, visit their web site.

• Reef Check Australia 

State and Territory agencies

Check the links in the right hand menu for opportunities to volunteer for projects run by state and territory agencies.

Threatened Bird Network

The Threatened Bird Network is a community based initiative of Birds Australia and the Natural Heritage Trust. For details on how to get involved visit the web site.

• Threatened Bird Network 

WWF-Australia

WWF-Australia maintains a website calendar providing information on volunteering opportunities to support on-ground conservation projects for threatened species throughout Australia.

The Threatened Species Network, a partnership between the WWF-Australia and the Australian Government, works with communities and other conservation partners to help stop the declining numbers of native plants and animals, particularly those listed as threatened by the Australian or state governments. The network can facilitate contact with local, state and national agencies that can assist with skills training and provision. It also provides grants to community groups for on-ground conservation activities.

• WWF-Australia Volunteer calendar 
• Contact the Threatened Species Network 

Waterwatch

Waterwatch is a community-based initiative operating throughout Australia. It facilitates and coordinates projects to improve water quality in all states and territories. The projects include education, training and water monitoring activities.

• Get involved in Waterwatch