Landcare Week 2011 launches today!

Landcare Week: 5–11^th September

Celebrate Landcare Week by helping your local group

A survey conducted to coincide with Landcare Week 2011, which runs from September 5^th-11^th, shows a movement of dedicated people who are concerned for the future of the our natural resources and need all of us to assist them to continue with their valuable work.

The survey, conducted by Landcare Australia to investigate the main issues facing the Landcare movement, and the needs of its volunteers, found that 98% of the 653 volunteers surveyed admitted to being concerned for the future of Australia’s natural resources. 83% also believe that the main aim of their groups’ activities is to protect the local environment for future generations.

When asked about the demographics within their groups, 51% of those surveyed described the average age of the volunteers in their group to be over 50, while of the occupations represented, the most prevalent was that of retirees, which accounted for 68% of the responses. In fact when it came to the representation for younger people, a total of 22% fell into the under 40 year old age bracket, telling us that over three quarters of the volunteers working on community based Landcare projects in Australia are over 40 years of age.

It seems that peoples’ busy lifestyles may be seen to be a key reason for the smaller number of younger people involved in environmental volunteerism at a local level. 67% of those surveyed believe that the main reason people don’t volunteer with their local group is a lack of time. 43% of respondents however, believe that in order for their group to remain active and maintain its membership, the greatest need is for new volunteers to join up, with 74% of those surveyed admitting to actively recruiting for new group members.

Landcare Australia CEO, Heather Campbell, believes the survey shows the passion and dedication behind the Landcare movement.

“The findings of this survey clearly show that there is a fantastic community of dedicated volunteers working across the country to help repair and protect our valuable natural resources,” she said.

“It also reveals the needs of the movement to be able to recruit the next generation of Landcarers and continue with the invaluable work that groups are doing in all types of environments and regions across Australia,” she added.

Landcare Week 2011 Ambassador, Catriona Rowntree, believes that Landcare plays a huge part in protecting our environment and bringing communities together.

“From personal experience I know how important and valued the work of Landcare is to local communities”, she commented.

“I love that this survey reveals the passion and proactive spirit of people right across Australia, from the coast to country. Landcare offers us all a clear path to follow, to walk the talk and help protect our environment for future generations. It’s fun, it’s communal, and best of all, you see instant and everlasting results,” she added.

For Landcare Week 2011, Landcare Australia is encouraging people to donate themselves to Landcare and find a local group to get involved with. People can take part in a huge number of ways and give as much or as little time as they can. Landcare Week is a great time to start, and to find an event near you, simply click on the relevant link below:

Australian Capital Territory
Northern Territory
South Australia
Victoria
New South Wales
Queensland
Tasmania
Western Australia

If you are organising an event during Landcare Week, please register this by emailing events@landcareaustralia.com.au. Send us the date, time and location of you event, as well as a contact name and phone number or email address, and we will advertise this through our website. Please also include what type of event you are running and what people need to bring on the day.

We look forward to raising awareness of the great work that is being done throughout the landcare community and having a successful Landcare Week 2011.

Landcare Week Group Resource Kit

We have developed several resources for groups to use to promote their events for Landcare Week.

We have also written a sample media release to give you an idea of the type of information that you can include in a media release for your local media. To make sure you get the word out there in plenty of time for your event, you should aim to approach your local media two to three weeks prior to Landcare Week.

Template media release – click here to download word document

Letterhead – click here to download PDF - click here to download word document

Click on the pictures of resources below to download them. We have included editable fields in the posters and flyers for you to click and type your event details – alternatively you may just print them off and write on them.