Get Involved
Get involved in our work by volunteering, attending an event or taking action on a petition
Take Action
Volunteer With us
Attend an Event
Volunteer with us!
If you have some free time and want to make a difference, come and volunteer with us! We are always looking for volunteers to help us do our important work. Our organisation is supported by the hard work and efforts of our volunteers, and we really value your contributions.
We love to hear from enthusiastic people who have a passion for the environment and making a difference in the Canberra Community. Get into contact via the form and let us know how you’d like to be involved.
We also advertise specific Volunteer roles that we are looking for below.
Event Volunteers
We are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help out at our events – whether it be helping us sell merchandise, managing registrations or general set up and pack down duties. If you are keen on helping out at any of our events and being on a contact list, please use the form and we will be in contact when we could use your help!
Join our board
We encourage passionate, inclusive and diverse individuals in our community to consider joining our board and help us better our organisation. By joining the Board of the Conservation Council, you are provided opportunity to have input and direct involvement with our work, strategic direction and culture.
If you would like to find out more about what is involved or express interest, please contact our Board President Sarah or use the volunteer form. The election of our board is conducted at our Annual General Meeting – read more about the nomination requirements and process here.
Volunteer with us!
Want to volunteer with us? Make an enquiry!
Support our Climate Justice Learning Fund
The Environmental and Climate Justice sector and space is predominantly occupied by White ideals and perspectives. This lack of inclusion and diversity means that First Nations and People of Colour occupying the Climate and Environment space face cultural unsafety, lack of leadership opportunities, microaggressions and outright exclusion.
Conservation Council acknowledges its role and responsibility to undertake growth and learning as an organisation to exemplify the values of justice, equity and inclusion.
Our first action towards this commitment is prioritising training and networking opportunities. Jahnavi, our Communications Manager and a Woman of Colour, is undertaking professional development with Democracy in Colour’s Climate Justice Program.
Join a Conservation Council Working Group
Want to get involved in our work? Join one of our Working Groups. The role of the Conservation Council’s policy and campaign working groups is to assist in the delivery of the Conservation Council policy and campaign objectives.
Transport Working Group
The Transport Working Group is chaired by Board member, Dr Warwick Cathro. Other members of the Board, staff of the Conservation Council, and representatives of member groups with expertise or an interest in sustainable transport may participate. Others with expertise or interest in the agenda may be invited to participate or contribute on particular issues. The Transport Working Group generally meets monthly. If you are keen to be involved, please contact chair Warwick Cathro.
Biodiversity Working Group
Biodiversity Working Group is chaired by Hugh Coppell and meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 5.30pm. Biodiversity Working Group is open to anyone interested in biodiversity including member groups, staff and board members. To become involved in BWG please contact Elle.
First Nations Engagement Working Group
The First Nations Engagement Working Group aims to build cultural awareness and engagement with First Nations issues and organisations within the Conservation Council and across member groups. New members are very welcome. If you’d like to find out more please contact chair MaryClare Woodforde.
The First Nations Working Group is hosting a regular reading group, focusing on themes of solidarity, decolonisation in environmentalism, and celebration of Country and culture. This reading group is open to everyone, and is an opportunity to learn, share, and reflect.
The reading group will draw sources from academic literature, novels, news items, poetry, and occasionally podcasts. They are also taking suggestions for texts. Meetings will be held in a variety of locations around Canberra (e.g. Botanic Gardens, the National Museum or the National Gallery) where there may be further stimulus for conversation.
Please register your interest in joining the reading group here.
Take Action
As people who value our environment, watching the unfolding climate crisis and destruction of nature in our region can be distressing and make you feel helpless. Support and resources are available – find out more at Psychology for a Safe Climate.
Here are 6 actions you can take:
1. Donate to our work
We are a non-profit, non-government organisation and we rely on your support to be able to important work – like campaigning for a safe climate future and protection of nature in our region. With your donation, together we can protect nature in our region, the precious plants and animals that call it home and reduce our emissions for a safe climate future.
2. Join a Member Group
Our Member Groups are doing important things in our community and are actively working on campaigns, events and other actions. If you are interested in regularly contributing your time to a worthy cause, why not get involved with the work of our Member Groups? You can find more information and the contact details of our Member Groups from the button below.
3. Sign a Petition
We have a number of active campaigns that we need your support for. Signing a petition or sending an email to a decision maker is a great way of showing people power and demonstrating that these issues matter to a huge number of people in our community.
4. Attend an Event
Attending events is an important way to get involved with the environment movement, meet like-minded people and to demonstrate people power.
5. Divest your money
We all know that money talks. An important action to show big companies what values matter to us is to divest our money from Banks and Superfunds that invest in fossil fuels.
6. Make the Switch
You can personally reduce your carbon emissions by making the switch of gas appliances for heating, hot water and cooking in your home.
Get involved in active Climate groups in Canberra
If you’re looking to volunteer to stop fossil fuel projects and move towards a safe and just climate future, some of our member groups are actively engaged on these issues. Joining one of these groups is a powerful way to create change, have fun and make new friends. Everyone is welcome, no experience needed!
Move Beyond Coal and 350.org Canberra
The #MoveBeyondCoal Canberra working group is part of a bigger national campaign involving 350.org, Tipping Point and other organisations to act for the rapid phase out of coal and gas across Australia.
They meet weekly on a Monday evening and regularly hold actions and protests including Fridays for Future and Pollie Watch.
To create the banners needed for protests across the city, a sub group called Artivism meets every Friday at the Conservation Council office at 2pm. Beautiful banners make a huge difference in getting the message across the community and to decision makers.
Sign up here or drop in to Artivism on a Friday, everyone is welcome.
Extinction Rebellion ACT
Extinction Rebellion ACT is the local group of Extinction Rebellion, a global movement demanding climate and ecological justice to halt mass extinction and minimise risk of social collapse. We are facing an unprecedented global emergency. XR meets monthly and holds regular events and actions for you to get involved with.
To get involved sign up here or email xr-act-admin@protonmail.com
Attend an upcoming Event!
3
October
Protect Ngununggula/ Bluetts Block Community forum
Right here our woodlands, grasslands and habitat for wildlife are facing potential destruction as the ACT Government has flagged plans for the Territory’s urban footprint to expand to the west of the city, this is known as the Western Edge Investigation Area.
Join the Conservation Council on the evening of the 3rd October for a community forum to learn about the Western Edge Investigation Area and how you can protect Ngununggula/ Bluetts Block. We’ll hear from a range of speakers and join in a panel discussion.
6
October
Protect Lawson Grasslands – Monthly Community Protest at DHA Office
Defence Housing Australia has plans to build over Lawson Grasslands which would destroy the habitat of our endangered and precious wildlife including the Golden Sun Moth and Gang-gang cockatoo.
View the Full Calendar