Support for community 'care' groups

Across Tasmania there are 308 community 'care' groups averaging 25 people each, who run at least one activity a month. In the southern region alone there are 140 groups spread over 12 municipalities.

That's a lot of volunteer action in many different areas. With such a hive of activity there's a need for a consistent effort to ensure everyone is working towards the same goals.

Funding

The Support for the Care Community Activity project, funded for two years with $82,000 from the Australian Government and the State Government through the Southern Regional Natural Resource Management Regional Committee, ensures 'care' groups have a shared understanding and strategic approach to the 'big picture'.

Activities and achievements

How do you get everyone on the same page? By delivering a workable action plan model to 'care' groups and the Southern NRM Network, which will guide activity and ensure alignment with the Southern regional NRM Strategy.

Helping provide these action plans to Lande, Waterwatch, Coastcare, Bushcare and 'friends of' groups is Activity Coordinator Vani Welling, who said the feedback so far has been positive.

"'Care' groups need to know what they want to achieve, their capacity to complete the task based on membership and funding, and to see their achievement grow so they can become more sustainable," Vani said.

"We'd like to see smaller groups develop their capability to take on larger projects and help them to understand how they nest within the regional context."

Workshops have already been held on developing action plans, while 'Snapshots' will lead to a better understanding of how many groups are urban, rural, coastal or working on public or private land.

"This project will help develop a culture of recognition amongst the Southern region NRM network about the importance of supporting, reviewing and documenting 'care' group activity that contributes to regional targets," Vani said.

"This sort of support has never been attempted in the state and feedback so far shows people are keen so I can't see why others wouldn't want to follow."

The activity is a valuable investment when you consider the worth of Southern Tasmania's 'care' groups, estimated at about $2.1 million based on the number of 'care' groups and the amount of labour hours worked. Priceless.

More information

• NRM South Regional Facilitator: (03) 6208 6101 or regional.facilitator@nrmsouth.org.au

Australian Government NRM Team
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
1800 552 008 (toll-free)

DEWHA  | DAFF  | australia.gov.au  | NAP  | NHT 
Caring for our Country is an Australian Government initiative jointly administered by the Australian Government departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts