Surf Life Saving Australia & Coastcare
Landcare Australia, on behalf of the Coastcare movement, has been working closely with Surf Life Saving Australia, SLSA, to build on obvious synergies with a view to formalising an official partnership that seeks to protect and repair Australia’s coastal and marine environment, educate surf clubs about best practice environmental management, and encourage participation in community-based conservation activities.
Both organisations are about to undertake a program of extensive stakeholder engagement in order to ensure grassroots support for a national partnership, to ascertain those surf clubs that have established themselves as environmental champions, and to identify specific attitudes, priorities – and potential concerns – surrounding the roll-out of a Coastcare/SLSA partnership. It would therefore be great if you could inform us of any relationships that currently exist between environmental community groups and Surf Life Saving Groups in your area. Feel free to also inform us of any issues arisen or disputes that have taken place between groups and clubs. A short paragraph about the partnership and appropriate contact details will be greatly appreciated. Please contact Erlend Haugen on erlend@landcareaustralia.com.au with any information.
Ultimately, this partnership will reinvigorate Coastcare by engaging a fresh demographic and will build national and local connections to ensure surf clubs and community groups work together to ensure the sustainable use and management of coastal and marine resources.
Key elements of the partnership currently in development include:
i. Educational resource kits: These resources will include: fact sheets about Australia’s unique coastal ecosystem and the need to conserve it; practical guides to assist clubs and community groups to minimise their eco-footprint; activities and templates to promote the ethics of coastal conservation; tools to assist clubs and community groups to access funding opportunities; and case studies about clubs that have successfully implemented environmental initiatives, from both an operational and a community engagement perspective.
ii. Eco-Workshops: Hosted by local surf clubs, these workshops will focus on raising the awareness of surf club members, Coastcare groups, and the broader community about local environmental issues. The workshops will also act as an avenue to strengthen local networks in tackling constantly evolving coastal issues, and a forum to promote to a joint audience the availability of relevant funding opportunities and the means to access this funding. Westpac representatives will also provide appropriate business and financial training.
Both organisations are about to undertake a program of extensive stakeholder engagement in order to ensure grassroots support for a national partnership, to ascertain those surf clubs that have established themselves as environmental champions, and to identify specific attitudes, priorities – and potential concerns – surrounding the roll-out of a Coastcare/SLSA partnership. It would therefore be great if you could inform us of any relationships that currently exist between environmental community groups and Surf Life Saving Groups in your area. Feel free to also inform us of any issues arisen or disputes that have taken place between groups and clubs. A short paragraph about the partnership and appropriate contact details will be greatly appreciated. Please contact Erlend Haugen on erlend@landcareaustralia.com.au with any information.
Ultimately, this partnership will reinvigorate Coastcare by engaging a fresh demographic and will build national and local connections to ensure surf clubs and community groups work together to ensure the sustainable use and management of coastal and marine resources.
Key elements of the partnership currently in development include:
i. Educational resource kits: These resources will include: fact sheets about Australia’s unique coastal ecosystem and the need to conserve it; practical guides to assist clubs and community groups to minimise their eco-footprint; activities and templates to promote the ethics of coastal conservation; tools to assist clubs and community groups to access funding opportunities; and case studies about clubs that have successfully implemented environmental initiatives, from both an operational and a community engagement perspective.
ii. Eco-Workshops: Hosted by local surf clubs, these workshops will focus on raising the awareness of surf club members, Coastcare groups, and the broader community about local environmental issues. The workshops will also act as an avenue to strengthen local networks in tackling constantly evolving coastal issues, and a forum to promote to a joint audience the availability of relevant funding opportunities and the means to access this funding. Westpac representatives will also provide appropriate business and financial training.
