Corporate Volunteering

Corporate Volunteering Landcare Australia’s popular corporate environmental volunteering program has been running for over twenty years. Corporate volunteer teams across Australia have partnered with Landcare Australia to plant over 20,000 trees, eradicate noxious weeds and help restore and reinvigorate numerous sites across Australia.

How you can get involved

It’s not just about planting trees! Weed invasion is one of the biggest challenges facing Landcare groups. Invasive weeds are among the most serious threats to Australia’s natural environment. Weeds cost Australia over $4 billion each year, placing native flora species at risk and decreasing habitat for native fauna like birds and lizards. You will learn how to identify, remove and dispose of weeds common to your local area.

Once weeds have been removed, you will revegetate the area with local native species. You will learn the significance of each of the flora species that you will plant including how to plant out an area for biodiversity. Depending on the site, you may also have the option to undertake other activities, including nestbox building, flora and fauna monitoring activities, indigenous and non-indigenous cultural heritage restoration and site maintenance.

Corporate volunteer teams come away from their Landcare experience with a better understanding of biodiversity, their catchment and how their activities at home and work may be impacting on our fragile ecosystems.

Overview of a Landcare corporate environmental volunteering day

Introduction to the local site
An experienced Landcare team leader will be onsite to lead your corporate volunteering day, to ensure the day is a great success and that you are provided with:

  • An overview of the local site including information on local environmental issues
  • A toolbox talk – including an OH&S briefing
  • A site tour to understand the biodiversity of the area and what the project hopes to achieve long term

Get your hands dirty!
Depending on the site location, current Landcare activities and the natural resource management plan of the area, activities may include:

  • Planting, mulching and weeding
  • Propagation and nursery work
  • Cultural heritage restoration
  • General site maintenance

Given prior notice groups can organise for a range of activities on the day to accommodate different needs taking into account the teams strength and stamina levels.

At the end of the day your team will

  • Tidy up and admire your hard work
  • Have a team photo with your Landcare hosts
  • Take home key environmental messages – what everyone can do at home, including getting involved in a local group who work on environmental issues

Note: Schedules can vary depending on the site and the Landcare/Coastcare group. A typical volunteer day is 9 am to 3 pm but this, and other elements can be adapted to the needs of individual corporate groups.

Cost of a corporate volunteer day

Many Landcare groups receive little or no funding, often operating on contributions from their members, which is why it is necessary to help cover some of the costs associated with running your staff volunteering day, providing volunteer insurance, tools and seedlings and a Landcare supervisor to oversee and brief the corporate volunteer team on OH&S.

Corporate Volunteering expenses cover the following

  1. Option 1: $130 + GST per person, inclusive of beverages, morning tea and lunch
  2. Option 2: $110 + GST per person, exclusive of beverages, morning tea and lunch

Corporate Volunteering expenses cover the following

  • Landcare Team Leader on site to lead the team and coordinate activities and conduct site induction and OH&S briefing
  • Insurance for corporate volunteers to participate in environmental activities
  • Site preparation (this may include deep ripping of soil with tractors, application of fertilizers or other soil conditioners, digging holes for tree planting with tractor etc)
  • Fencing (to exclude stock or human traffic from the site)
  • Purchase of plants, tree guards, stakes, fertilizers, water crystals and weed mats
  • Purchase or hire of necessary tools and equipment
  • Toilet hire (if site is not near public amenities)
  • Provision of funding to the Landcare group for site maintenance (upkeep of weed removal and continued maintenance activities once the initial plantings day is completed)

Who partners with Landcare Australia?

Landcare has facilitated corporate volunteering and staff engagement activities with numerous companies across Australia. Currently we are working with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Westpac, Qantas, Coca-Cola, Toshiba, Holden and Corporate Express to name a few. Hundreds of employees have participated in staff volunteering projects in all of Australia’s capital cities and regional towns such as Tamworth, Rockhampton, Innisfail and Lithgow.

How to apply

We have over 90 sites around Australia ranging from coastal to riverside and bush, from urban settings to regional. Please email Odessa O’Brien at odessa.obrien@landcareaustralia.com.au with the subject line: Corporate Environmental Volunteering – please include the group size, preferred location and the preferred date for the day. Please note that Landcare Australia require at least 5 weeks lead time to organise the best possible day and site location for your team.