Rio Tinto Earth Assist

Conservation Volunteers and Rio Tinto have been working together for almost 20 years to deliver important environmental programs and improve the standards of conservation volunteer management in Australia.

 

In 2009 they reached a new milestone with the launch of Rio Tinto Earth Assist. Aimed at connecting thousands of West Australian secondary students to meaningful conservation projects, the program empowers youth to better understand their community and the environment while contributing to a more sustainable future.

 

About Rio Tinto Earth Assist

 

Rio Tinto Earth Assist is an innovative conservation program run by Conservation Volunteers.  Underpinning the program is a Memorandum of Understanding between Conservation Volunteers, Rio Tinto, the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Department of Education and Training.

 

The program is aimed at all Western Australia secondary school students and teachers, and provides hands-on environmental volunteering opportunities in Western Australia's park, wetlands, bushland and coastal reserves.

 

Rio Tinto Earth Assist has been developed in response to a substantial increase in demand for volunteer activities suitable for secondary school students. Many secondary schools are recognising the value that volunteering has to offer students, as well as the broader community.

 

Under the supervision of fully trained and qualified Rio Tinto Earth Assist Team Leaders, students undertake a range of practical activities including;

 

  • Habitat restoration
  • Monitoring, evaluation and recording (M. E. R)
  • Heritage protection
  • Flora and fauna surveys
  • Erosion and salinity control
  • Seed collection
  • Dune restoration and coastal activities
  • Greenhouse education
  • Water monitoring and testing
  • Air monitoring and testing
  • Bushland care
  • Wetland maintainance
  • Debris collection

 What do students gain from the program?

 

Students receive hands-on experience in the environment and learn new ways to contribute to their local community.

Students actively learn about their local parks, wetlands, bushland and coastline, encouraging a greater sense of caring and owenership

Students obtain a greater sense of pride, ownership and achievement from their project activiites, resulting in their ongoing interest in the area and in a high rate of return family visits to the site.

Students can complete units towards a Certificate I in Active Volunteering.  These units may serve as credit points on a student’s Western Australia Certificate of Education.

What will Conservation Volunteers provide?

 

  • Team bus for transportation between the school and project site
  • An appropriately trained Team Leader
  • A project workbook for each student
  • Educational outcomes based on the school curriculum
  • Hand tools and personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Project site risk assessments and OSH briefing
  • Administrative support
  • First aid officer and first aid kit
  • Project planning

 

How can students and schools become involved?

 

Conservation Volunteers runs Rio Tinto Earth Assist projects throughout the school term and over the school holidays, so there are plenty of opportunities for students and schools to share the experience. Conservation Volunteers also visits regional communities to conduct Rio Tinto Earth Assist for three weeks of every school term.

 

Information, educational resources, project details, student blog and more, can be found on the Rio Tinto Earth Assist website www.earthassist.org.au.

 

To register your interest as a school or as an individual student, please visit the website and complete an on-line booking form.

Click here for more information on Shared Paths - History of the Conservation Volunteers and Rio Tinto Partnership