There is lots of information here about funding, training and support for your groups. We have already received some responses, but urge you to consider these opportunities and email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it as soon as you can so we can meet your needs.

If you submitted a Community Action Grant, let Fiona know so that we can offer assistance if you are successful; for example, with publicising your project.

• Green Nomads
• Funding for Junior Landcare and teachers

Information sessions/workshops that may be useful:

• Insurance and OHS – end of May/early June 2012
• Vegetation Regrowth information – QFF's Kelvin Towerton can present to us between May and November 2012
• Backyard Explorer workshop – all day, May 17 in Atherton/Yungaburra; introductory workshop, Innisfail, May 16, 3.30-5.30pm - details announced soon
• Social Media training – June 18 or 19 or in the week July 2-6

Read on for details...

Green Nomads

" The Green Nomads is a casual volunteering program that links travellers with environmental volunteering opportunities assisting community groups to access a larger volunteer workforce, enabling them to take on larger, more labour intensive projects with stronger conservation outcomes."

It is currently targeting works that will occur between 01 April and 31 October this year.

There is no requirement as to what type of activity you might like to host; however, it is important that consideration be given to equipment requirements, project instruction and training as well as health and safety. An important goal is to encourage Green Nomads to return regularly to help out. So "sell your aims" with the project you register, and on the day, make sure that friendly support and guidance is guaranteed to maximise the experience for the volunteers.

• Your group must be incorporated and a member of QWaLC
• QWaLC requires 1 month's notice to register your activity in order to promote it on your behalf
• A Green Nomad liaison officer or contact person must be nominated
• Activity Registration Form must be approved by QWaLC prior to being posted on their website
• The Green Nomad program targets activities from April 1 to Oct 31, 2012

Go to www.greennomads.com.au to complete and submit the Activity Registration Form.

Go Green with Corporate Express Junior Landcare Grants Program

The grants are open to Landcare, Coastcare and environmental groups that work in partnership with a local school.

Corporate Express and Landcare Australia are proud to launch a $75,000 grants program to fund environmental projects in schools and community groups across the country.

Fifteen successful schools and groups will receive a Go Green Grant of up to $5,000 to support innovative projects that bring about education in environmental issues, focus on sustainability, promote recycling initiatives or help improve the school's or local area's natural environment.

Further to the grants program, teachers also have a chance to share in a $5,000 shopping spree with Corporate Express by entering the Go Green Shopping Spree competition.

For further information about the Corporate Express Junior Landcare Grants please visit: http://www.juniorlandcare.com.au/grants-2/corporate-express-grant

How to enter the Corporate Express Junior Landcare Go Green Grants

1. Tell us about your environmental project on the official Corporate Express Go Green Grants Application form.
2. Email your application form entry to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Five projects deemed to be the best responses to the grants criteria will be chosen as the winning grant recipients and will each receive a Go Green Grant up to $5000.

Who can enter?

• Primary and high schools across Australia including preschools and kindergartens.
• Youth groups including Scouts and Girl Guides and other community organisations that involve young people.
• Landcare, Coastcare and environmental groups that work in partnership with a local school.

Click here to enter the Junior Landcare Go Green Grants.

The Corporate Express Go Green Shopping Spree Teacher Competition

How to enter the Corporate Express Go Green Shopping Spree Teacher Competition

Entries will be grouped into five state / territory categories: QLD, NSW / ACT, VIC / TAS, SA / NT and WA for judging. One entry from each category, deemed to be the best responses to the question, and most creative will be chosen. Entry is open to all primary and secondary school teachers teaching in schools / colleges in Australia, and to Australian home school educators.

Five winning teachers one from each state / territory category will each receive $1000 to spend on Corporate Express classroom resources and stationary items from the great range of Corporate Express catalogue of products (5 prizes in total).

1. Simply complete the official Go Green Shopping Spree Teacher Competition entry form.
2. Answer the question, "Why is it important for your students to be educated on local environmental and global sustainable issues?" Express your answer in no more than 250 words using any style of writing. The answer should be written on the official competition entry form.
3. Email your competition entry to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Click here to download the Corporate Express Junior Landcare Go Green Shopping Spree Teacher Competition Entry Form

Key Dates

Grant close: 1st May 2012

Grant recipients announced: 5th June 2012 (World Environment Day)

Insurance, Health and Safety

Queensland Water and Land Carers organisation provides insurance to community NRM groups (including Landcare and Coastcare) which largely comprise of volunteers. The policies are for Public Liability ($25 million), Volunteer Accident, and Association. QWaLC was pretty much created in 2004 under Ministerial direction to assist groups in paying for insurance. It was also developed so that these NRM volunteer groups had an independent voice on NRM issues relating to community. The Board is made up of 11 members who are elected every 3 years. Joe Crawford is QWALC's board member for the Terrain area.

If we can get around 15 people together, Richard Murphy will present an insurance/OHS information session. Need to know whether weekday or weekend, day or night suits the people who would be most likely to be interested. We may run one in Cairns by the looks of interest, but happy to do one on the Tablelands if there is sufficient interest.

This will most likely run late May or early June.

Vegetation Regrowth Code workshops

Need a venue and between six and 15 participants. No cost, refreshments provided. Location and timing to be negotiated.

The training can be scheduled to meet the landholder requirements and will suit on-farm delivery or hall venue delivery, and is between two to four hours long including breaks for morning tea and lunch. The hours between 0930 am and 1.30 pm seem to be about the best at this stage. On-farm suits best as the farmers are more relaxed and the group can examine the regrowth on the property as an example.

There is a summary DVD on the Regrowth Code and fact sheets containing relevant vegetation clearing information if you would like this info instead of an on farm discussion.

There is also the opportunity for including some other relevant training concerning vegetation or property planning for environmental purposes. Kelvin Towerton from QFF delivers these workshops and is considering extending the day and doing some Pest Management on-farm to entice more landholders to the event, so we need to let him know if you think this approach might work. He is also open to any other relevant topic or joint presentation you may wish to have, that he can piggy-back onto. He is available anytime after the first week of May 2012 and the program is due to wind-up at the end of November 2012. Need one month's notice.

Backyard Explorer May 17, Atherton/Yungaburra (venue to be confirmed), all day

Learn how to assess biodiversity through the world of insects with QM Entomologist Dr Christine Lambkin and her staff.

The Backyard Explorer learning resource guides you in assessing biodiversity and the effect of human impact using data from insect trapping.

In the workshop, you'll discover how to design a biodiversity monitoring project and get hands-on opportunities to:

• Collect insects using different trapping methods
• Use preservation and labelling techniques
• Identify major insect types using an interactive key
• Consider how data can be used to assess biodiversity

This is a fantastic workshop over one day that can help you to monitor the biodiversity changes in your project site. This workshop is FREE, includes all food and is ideal for community landcare groups, school children and educators, and anyone who works with these groups.

To see what we did in Innisfail last October, go to this Placestory: http://ps3beta.com/story/18905 Bug biodiversity for reveg monitoring.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you think any of this could be of interest to you and your group This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it