Landcare networks look to the future
19 June 2026
From live music to school programs, Landcare networks across Victoria are reimagining how they connect with younger generations, as highlighted during an environmental showcase at Parliament House.
The event brought together representatives from regional and metropolitan groups, shining a spotlight on a growing push to future-proof community-driven conservation by engaging young people in new and creative ways.
At the centre of the conversation was a shared goal: ensuring Landcare remains relevant and vibrant in the years ahead by attracting a new wave of volunteers.
For the Bass Coast Landcare Network, the solution lies in blending environmental action with social connection.
Biodiversity Coordinator Jye Andersen said the latest initiative is about getting young people into Landcare through the Poa Social Club.
The approach moves beyond traditional volunteering, offering events that combine conservation with lifestyle activities such as camping, live music and outdoor gatherings.
‘It’s trying to reimagine how we do Landcare to attract younger audiences, so integrating people’s social lives into Landcare's activities,’ Mr Andersen said.
The stakes are significant. The network already undertakes around 400,000 plantings annually, a scale of work heavily reliant on community support.
‘We achieve a lot at Bass Coast Landcare, but more than half of it is done by volunteers, and we just wouldn’t be able to have the impact that we do without community involvement,’ Mr Andersen said.
In north-east Victoria, Wooragee Landcare is embedding environmental awareness early through education.
One of the state’s oldest Landcare groups, Wooragee runs a range of workshops tailored to its community.
‘The junior Landcare group works with schools, and we support a specialist nature teacher that goes in and does work with the kids,’ said President Sue Brunskill.
In Gippsland, the Latrobe Catchment Landcare Network is focused on strengthening local participation.
‘As a facilitator, our role is to enable and empower our community Landcare groups,’ said Network Facilitator Caroline Hammond.
‘We run a really successful weed and pest program in our area which enables our Landcare volunteers to get out there on the ground and really control some of the pests and weeds that we see.’
For Ms Hammond, events like the Parliament showcase are important.
‘It’s a great opportunity to come to Parliament House to meet not only with our neighbouring networks and other Landcare groups across the state, but it’s also a really great opportunity to be able to advocate for the work that we do,’ she said.
The showcase was hosted by the Victorian Parliamentary Friends of Landcare, a cross-party group of MPs committed to supporting community-led environmental initiatives.
By bringing together diverse Landcare organisations under one roof, the event underscored the importance of collaboration, innovation and sustained support in tackling environmental challenges.
While the strategies may vary, from social clubs and festivals to school programs and pest management, the message from Landcare groups is consistent: the future of environmental stewardship depends on today’s young people.
With fresh ideas and renewed energy, these organisations are not only protecting Victoria’s landscapes but also cultivating the next generation of environmental leaders, ensuring that Landcare remains a cornerstone of community action for decades to come.