Recognising volunteers in Victoria's parks

The contributions of Victorians who volunteer in Victoria’s parks can be recognised with nominations now open for the 2016 Parks Victoria Kookaburra awards.

Held every second year, the Kookaburra Awards seek to recognise and honour individuals and groups who have made an outstanding voluntary contribution to the Victorian park system, raise awareness of the extent and importance of community involvement in the Parks Victoria estate, and encourage community involvement in the future development and conservation and use of the park system.

Last year volunteers around the state contributed over 211,000 hours, or the equivalent of almost 29,000 days, in Victoria’s parks.

Introducing the awards, Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio stated "the Kookaburra Awards are a wonderful opportunity to thank the many thousands of volunteers for their efforts and to encourage more people to connect with Victoria’s natural environment by volunteering.

“There are so many ways that volunteers help our parks, through Friends Groups, as campground hosts, through special interest groups such as Four Wheel Drive Victoria, Conservation Volunteers Australia & Bushwalking Victoria, or by getting involved in a citizen science program.”

Nominations close on 23rd September and the award recipients will be announced in December.

Click here for more information click here.

Image: Volunteers take part in native grasslands monitoring. Image courtesy of Victorian National Parks Association.

16th September 2016 - PARKS VICTORIA CHIEF EXECUTIVE SACKED OVER ‘INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR’

9th February 2016 - PUBLIC ACCESS TO FRANKSTON NATURE CONSERVATION RESERVE A WIN FOR VOLUNTEERS

27th January 2016 - PARKS VICTORIA INTRODUCES BEACH WHEELCHAIR AT WILSONS PROMONTORY

5th January 2016 - VICTORIA’S NATIONAL PARKS SUFFER FROM FUNDING REDUCTIONS 

2nd July 2015 - VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTE 743 MILLION HOURS TO THE COMMUNITY

5th December 2014 - RESEARCH REVEALS VALUE OF VOLUNTEERING