In this edition:
- Awards
- Training and Resources
- Events
- National Strategy for Volunteering
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Victorian Landcare Awards: Now Open
Calling all Landcare and environmental volunteer champions in Victoria. Nominate your group, your school, your organisation or yourself in categories that celebrate and acknowledge excellence in caring for Victoria’s land, water and biodiversity.
The Victorian Landcare Awards, held every two years, are an opportunity to recognise the outstanding work done by our landcarers and environmental volunteers. There are award categories for individuals, Coastcare/Landcare and environmental volunteer groups/networks, First Nations people, Landcare facilitators/coordinators, farmers, schools, and other organisations from Victoria’s urban and rural communities excelling in environmental protection, conservation of land and waterways, coastlines, biodiversity, and sustainable agricultural practices.
- Joan Kirner Landcare Award - $1,000
- Heather Mitchell Memorial Fellowship - $4,000
- Dr. Sidney Plowman Travel and Study Award - $4,000
- Landcare and Environmental Volunteer Group Award - $500
- Landcare and Environmental Volunteer Network Award - $500
- Climate Innovation Award - $500
- Coastcare Award - $500
- Community Partnerships Landcare Award - $500
- First Nations Landcare Collaboration Award - $500
- Individual Landcarer Award - $500
- Junior Landcare Award - $500
- NextGen Landcare Award - $500
- Sustainable Agriculture Landcare - $500
- Women in Landcare Award - $500
To register and nominate in the National award categories go to Landcare Awards Platform
Nominations open: Wednesday 18 October 2023
Nominations close: Friday 1 March 2024
Access to social media, email signature and banner, files as well as other collateral to promote the 2023/2024 Victorian Landcare Awards can be found via a Google link here.
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Premier's Sustainability Awards
The Premier’s Sustainability Awards finalists are delivering a range of innovative projects across the state that are contributing to a cleaner, greener Victoria.
As a category sponsor of the Thriving Environment category, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action is proud to support the achievements of its six nominees.
South East Water
The finalists include organisations delivering environmental benefits ranging from a leadership program empowering citizens to take local action to a project inspiring residents to grow productive gardens.
To find out more about these and other finalists, visit sustainability.vic.gov.au/psa-2023-finalists.
Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Melbourne on Thursday 23 November.
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Training and Resources
Surveys and Monitoring New Technologies - SWIFFT Seminar (Online)
For more than 17 years the State Wide Integrated Flora and Fauna Teams (SWIFFT) have been running quarterly seminars that serve as a platform to connect researchers, land managers, government agencies and community groups by facilitating the exchange of stories and valuable information. An upcoming seminar delves into recent advancements in technologies such as eDNA, micro transmitters, acoustics, thermal imagery and machine learning which have opened up new ways of detecting and monitoring flora and fauna. This seminar will explore some applications not only for researchers but also citizen scientists.
These seminars facilitate the exchange of stories and valuable information.
When: Thursday 26 October
Time: 9:50am – 12:30pm
Where: Online
For more information and to register go to swifft.net.au
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Victorian Environment Friends Network’s 2023 Awards Ceremony
The Victorian Environment Friends Network (VEFN) exists to help represent the common interests of all Friends groups in Victoria. Their vision is protecting, restoring and enhancing the Victorian natural environment through community volunteer groups working for their special places and native species.
The winners of the Victorian Environment Friends Network’s (VEFN) 2023 Awards will be announced at an awards ceremony at the VEFN’s AGM.
These awards include the Best Friend Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Young Best Friend Award, Outstanding Environmental Group Award and Habitat Connections Award.
When: Saturday 18 November 2023
Time: AGM – 10am, Awards Ceremony – 11am
Where: VNPA meeting room, Ground Floor, Green Building, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton
For more information and to register go to Eventbrite
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National Strategy for Volunteering
Volunteering Australia recently held an event for Establishing the National Strategy for Volunteering. The recording is available on the Volunteering Australia YouTube Channel.
Expressions of interest are now open to join the Establishment Design Team. This group will meet regularly to share their perspective and contribute to the ongoing establishment of the National Strategy for Volunteering. Through a series of guided workshops, the Establishment Design Team will help inform the first Three-Year Action Plan and other National Strategy initiatives. While this Team will play an important role, please note that there will be many other ways to participate in the National Strategy including future events and workshops.
Submit an expression of interest form
Join Volunteering Australia for the release of volunteering data from the Australian National University in an engaging session with Professor Nicholas Biddle as he sheds light on trends and changes in volunteering.
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Aussie Bird Count
The Aussie Bird Count is underway and it's an activity for all ages! It involves observing and counting the birds in your area. You don’t need to be an expert birder to take part – all you need is a little enthusiasm! By telling BirdLife Australia about birds you’ve seen within a 20-minute period, you will get to know the local birds on your doorstep!
When: 16–22 October 2023
For more information and to register go to Aussie Bird Count
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Want to know more? How to get in touchThere's a lot of information on our website, so take a look at some of the great resources, research and reports.
Make a cup of tea, take a look at our interactive map and let us know if there's any information that requires updating for your group.
Need assistance or want to share a great story of environmental volunteering in your area? Send us an email.
Resources for the Victorian Landcare Program are available on the Victorian Landcare Gateway. You can find information on the Victorian Landcare Facilitator Program, Landcare groups’ boundary maps, resources and more.
If you have a Victorian Landcare Program specific question, send an email.
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