Army calls for conservation warriors

THE iconic Great Ocean Road will once again be home to one of hundreds of environmental projects being rolled out across Australia by participants in the “Green Army”, an initiative of the federal government.
More than 1,100 Green Army projects have been completed across Australia since the federal-government-funded initiative began in 2014.
The Green Army is a great opportunity for young Australians aged 17-24 years to gain training and experience in environmental and It taps into local knowledge and supports grassroots action to meet local environmental challenges.
environment and Australia’s heritage and provide young people with skills, training and experience to help them enter the workforce or improve their career opportunities.
Green Army service provider Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) – in conjunction with project hosts such as the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC) – complete conservation projects and provide training and experience for several young adults.
program was a fantastic pathway for young people who were interested in pursuing a career in environmental conservation.
“It provides participants with important communication skills, improves their self hands-on experience for future employment opportunities,” she said.
“Previous Green Army participants have loved working along the Great Ocean Road or part-time employment in the environmental sector after completing their time with us.”
The Great Ocean Road Green Army team will work on a number of sites undertaking a variety of conservation activities including revegetation, mulching, pest control and monitoring along GORCC-managed land.
GORCC conservation supervisor Georgie Beale said the Green Army program has helped boost conservation efforts along the coast thanks “It allows land managers such as GORCC to complete important conservation works which would otherwise be unachievable due to a lack of feet on the ground.
“It’s fantastic to see the development of each Green Army participant over the six months as they gain practical skills and build a great understanding of the conservation industry.
“This program is perfect for those who may not be quite sure what to do for a career, but care about the environment and want to make a difference,” she said.
All equipment, clothing and safety gear safety training is also provided.
interested in the environment to apply for the projects in their local area and said history had shown that the most successful applications were detailed in their responses.
To apply, complete the form online at conservationvolunteers.com.au/green-army/ Victoria. Applications for the next round close Friday April 22.