The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) from DELWP’s Landcare and Community Programs team provides an update on the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on the various grants programs that we help deliver. The FAQ also includes a list of ideas for staying involved in Landcare and environmental volunteering while staying at home and following government COVID-19 measures.

5 DAYS LEFT – PARTICIPATE IN THE LANDCARE WELLBEING SURVEY
What does your experience with Junior Landcare and Landcare mean to you? How has volunteering in local Landcare activities helped enrich your life and your community? We want to know…and we want to hear from you. Landcare Australia has partnered with KPMG Australia to understand the benefits of getting involved with a Landcare group, other community groups and with Landcare activities. We’d love you to take 10 minutes to complete the survey and contribute to the national research project. The results from this study will be made publically available. The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete and remains open until 11.59pm AEST Tuesday 26 May, 2020.
TAKE THE SURVEY

PATCH TO PLATE VEGGIE GARDEN REVIVAL
Annangrove Public School’s veggie patch was flagging and the school wanted to turn the garden into a vehicle for encouraging biodiversity and waste reduction, as well as for modelling sustainable food production practices. A Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant allowed students to implement most aspects of their Patch to Plate revival project, including a composter, worm farm and companion planting to increase the sustainable production of food for use by students and the wider community.
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WORLD BEE DAY AND GETTING THE BUZZ ON BEES
Buzz buzz…it was World Bee Day this week. Junior Landcare has created a learning activity called “Getting the buzz on bees and other beneficial insects”, you can get involved and watch Costa in action with our Junior Landcarers as they explore what plants bring bees into our gardens.
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CELEBRATING OUTDOOR CLASSROOM DAY
Get the children in your life celebrating Outdoor Classroom Day with a visit to the Junior Landcare Learning Centre. You’ll find easy-to-follow education activities, aligned to school curriculum—learn about biodiversity, food production, waste management and more. Woolworths is helping bring outdoor classrooms into schools across Australia with its support of the Junior Landcare Learning Centre and the Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants program.
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CREATING A WORM FARM
Food and gardening scraps thrown into household bins becomes landfill. When food waste breaks down in landfill, it emits greenhouse gases including methane gas which traps heat in our atmosphere. Diverting this organic waste from landfill and into a worm farm or composting system is great for your garden and for our planet. Worms can turn garden waste into rich fertilizer.
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JUNIOR LANDCARE’S EDUCATION PROGRAM MANAGER NEWS
As children return to their places of daily learning, regular outdoor experiences will help regulate their emotional and mental health. These experiences will also support them to feel connected to place and empower them to take action in their own backyards, schools and communities. READ MORE

Just for Kids – Junior Landcare
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Landcare Australia Ltd
Level 3, 6 Help Street
Chatswood, NSW 2067
Australia

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16th May 2020

One of the state’s most endangered native animals has been brought back from the brink of extinction thanks to a conservation program backed by the Victorian Government.

The re-establishment of the Eastern Barred Bandicoot on Phillip Island is the first time in Victorian history a species declared extinct in the wild has had its decline successfully reversed.

The Eastern Barred Bandicoot Recovery Team released 67 bandicoots on to Phillip Island in 2017 – that number has now grown to approximately 300 animals.

The success of the program is so significant the findings are now being assessed by scientists and may soon result in a downgrading of the species threat status from critically endangered. Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D ’Ambrosio stated “This is a wonderful achievement and I thank everyone involved for giving this precious little Victorian a fighting chance at long term survival.”

The Eastern Barred Bandicoot was wiped out in Victoria more than 30 years ago by a combination of foxes and habitat loss, and has only existed in sanctuaries on the mainland or in captive breeding programs.

Since the release program began and Phillip island was declared fox free, the bandicoots have not only increased in number but their microchips reveal they have spread at least four kilometres from the original release site.

The Eastern Barred Bandicoot Recovery Team, which includes representatives from Phillip Island Nature Parks, Zoos Victoria, DELWP and Parks Victoria, first released 20 of the marsupials onto Churchill Island back in 2015 – that number has now grown to 130.

A further 55 bandicoots were released onto French Island last year bringing the total number now in the wild to almost 500. Minister D’Ambrosio believes “This is a huge step forward in securing this species from extinction and another example of the conservation work that continues behind the scenes while our favourite attractions remain closed.”

The Bandicoot program is just one of the measures the Government is taking to protect Victoria’s wildlife and biodiversity which includes a 20-year, $80 million biodiversity plan.

Minister D’Ambrosio acknowledged “With the devastating bushfires in January, it’s been a tough year for our native wildlife but this program is showing how hard work and perseverance can really make a difference.” A $17.5 million rescue package is also providing direct and immediate support to give native species a fighting chance in bushfire recovery.