Future Volunteers

rio tinto

Pictured: Signing the Memorandum of Understanding at the recent launch in Broome are, from left, Mr Sam Walsh, Chief Executive Rio Tinto Iron Ore; Mr Neil Jens, Chairman Conservation Volunteers Australia; and The Hon Mark McGowan MLA, Minister for the Environment.

Future Volunteers is a Partnership between Conservation Volunteers and the Rio Tinto WA Future Fund. Over a number of years Rio Tinto, through the WA Future Fund has sought to identify and support initiatives that contribute to the future development of the state and the welfare of its people. The Future Volunteers partnership was catalytic in enabling Conservation Volunteers to further expand its operating capacity in the North West of Western Australia. In 2005, through Rio Tinto funding, CVA was able to establish the Broome regional office.

 

In past Conservation Volunteers has facilitated a range of volunteering opportunities throughout the North West from Kalbarri to Kununurra, undertaking activities with various Land Management agencies and Aboriginal communities in facilitating priority conservation projects, contributing to sustainable development and supporting community capacity building in regional and remote areas. In 2006 the Partnership has been extended and expanded where, over the next three years, Conservation Volunteers will continue to deliver important conservation and environment projects in the North West and also, projects to protect or otherwise improve biodiversity in a number of national parks in Western Australia.

 

The extended partnership, worth over $1 million, will also see a significant expansion in Conservation Volunteers capacity building programs through the delivery of training for the community by providing access to Conservation VolunteersIn Safe Hands Toolkit which focuses on volunteer safety and volunteer management.

 

The appointment of an Environmental Trainer and the recruitment and training of an Indigenous Trainee Team Leader in the North West were additional benefits enabled through the extended Partnership between Conservation Volunteers and Rio Tinto.

 

The support of the WA Department of Environment and Conservation is essential to Future Volunteers as they help facilitate access to key national parks, conservation projects. Further, the Department provides materials and important technical direction in respect to the projects that Conservation Volunteers managed volunteers undertake. The Department’s support comes via a Memorandum of Understanding.

 

 

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