WALN plays an important role representing WA landcare at the Federal level. The National Landcare Network (NLN) is the peak representative body for community Landcare groups across Australia and works to provide a voice for Landcare at the national level. WALN has ongoing representation on the National Landcare Network Member Council and Board, providing input and advocating for improved Federal funding and support for community landcare.

The NLN Board comprises 8 members, one Director from each NLN Member State and Territory. The Chair and Vice-Chair are appointed from within their numbers. The Board is not representative, rather its function is to administer and direct the activities of the NLN. Currently Keith Bradby represents WA on the NLN Board.

The Members Council is the representative heart of the NLN and is comprised of 24 grassroots Landcarers, 3 from each State and Territory. The Board and Members Council work independently of each other but in constant collaboration with high levels of consultation and feedback between each. Helen Watkins, WALN Secretary currently chairs the NLN Members Council with Mick Davis and Louise Duxbury also representing WA on the Council.

Photo above: National Landcare Network representatives from State and Territory organisations across Australia. Source www.nln.org.au

1. Advocate for and Represent the WA Landcare Movement

• Continued to represent WA on the National Landcare Network Member Council and Board, providing input and advocating for improved federal funding and support for community landcare.

• Liaised closely with the National Landcare Network and State and Territory Organisations to find a way forward for a united voice for Landcare at the Federal level.

• Facilitated consultation on COVID 19 issues with WALN Member groups and the wider landcare community and advocated for State government understanding and intervention to enable the 2020 planting season to proceed. v

• Joined an Australia wide alliance of 70 conservation organisations to prepare a Post COVID 19 conservation stimulus package proposal to the Federal government.

• Advocated for involvement of the landcare sector in WA State government post COVID economic stimulus and offered assistance to develop community-based proposals.

• In partnership with Gondwana Link and RegenWA developed a significant funding proposal to the EverGreening Alliance Restore Australia Program for restoration activities in the Wheatbelt.

• Facilitated landcare community input and prepared submissions on behalf of the WALN members and the wider landcare community to a number of review processes.

• Fostered collaborative partnerships with RegenWA, Farmers for Climate Change, WA Bird Conservation Network and the emerging WA Coastal and Marine Community Network.

3. Sustain and Build Capacity of the WA Landcare Movement

• Continued to promote the WA Landcare Insurance Scheme to members and the wider landcare community to significantly lower costs and provide affordable insurance to a range of landcare groups.

• Established Landcare Checks In as an online opportunity for landcarers to regularly come together to chat about landcare issues. Landcare Checks In focused initially on the COVID-19 health crisis and progressed as a platform for landcarers to come together to discuss a range of landcare hot topics.

• Developed a series of Aboriginal Collaboration Case Studies to showcase successful collaborations between coast and landcare groups and traditional owners sharing the essential elements of success to assist groups to develop genuine collaboration with First Nations People to jointly care for country.

• Regularly promoted landcare funding and capacity building opportunities to the WA Landcare Network.

2. Network, Consult and Communicate with Members and the Broader Landcare Movement

• Increased WALN membership by 29% (107 to 138 Members during the financial year) increasing WALN’s reach in the landcare community.

• Expanded WA Landcare Network Membership to include an Associate Membership Class and recruited 19 Associate Members including businesses, local governments, research organisations and interested individuals.

• Hosted the 2019 State NRM and Coastal Conference at Edith Cowan University, Joondalup from 1– 4 October 2019.  The Conference culminated in delegates endorsing the Uluru Statement from the Heart in recognition of our traditional owners.

• Hosted the 2019 WA Landcare Awards at a Gala Awards Ceremony at The Marina Mindarie on Thursday 3 October 2019 honouring the valuable contributions of community groups, schools, organisations, indigenous land managers and individuals throughout Western Australia.

• Conducted a successful WALN Annual General Meeting and Network Gathering at Roelands Village where 40 landcarers from across the State came together to network and share their landcare stories.

• Continued to expand the WALN website www.landcarewa.org.au providing an information hub for WALN members and the wider landcare community.

• Maintained regular communications with WALN members and the wider landcare community through monthly newsletters, member emails and social media.

• Increased engagement through the WALN Facebook Page from 652 to 908 followers by regular posting of information relevant to the landcare community.

4. Strengthening WALN’s capacity to facilitate landcare

• Secured ongoing National Landcare Program funding to continue to support and grow the WA Landcare Network and represent WA in landcare discussions at the Federal level.

• Developed a clear role for the WA Landcare Network in a major Wheatbelt Restoration Project funded by the Restore Australia Program increasing WALN’s capacity to support groups and facilitate collaboration in this area of the State.

• Secured an additional $300,000 Core Funding Package from the State Government that will enable WALN to strengthen its reach and support to community coast and landcare groups.