Landcare Bursary helps under 35s

Landcare Bursary helps under 35s

Three highly motivated and energetic land-carers are being given the opportunity to attend the upcoming State Landcare Conference in Mackay as part of Desert Channels Queensland’s annual Landcare Bursary.

‘People first’ is the core tenet of the Longreach-based natural resource management group, and, for the third year running, Desert Channels Queensland (DCQ) is offering assistance to people involved in Landcare in the region to attend the annual State Landcare Conference.

Since 2004, Desert Channels Queensland (DCQ) has reignited Landcare groups within its region – a third of the State – with the injection of more than $1.5 million from the National Landcare Program.

But, as DCQ Executive Officer, Leanne Kohler says, it is about more than simply putting money on the ground for project work. “We believe that our people are the most important resource we have,” Ms Kohler says. “They’re the future of our region, and giving them the opportunity to increase their skills, knowledge and networks is probably more important than providing funds for project work.”

This year, DCQ is providing three bursaries, to the value of $1,000 each, to cover conference registration, travel and accommodation. Interested people must be between 18 and 35, and need to lodge a simple nomination form stating why they would like to attend the conference and what benefits they would bring back to Landcare in their community.

“Ours is a community-based organisation,” Ms Kohler says, “and we have been highly successful in sourcing funds and engaging our community in the cooperative, strategic management of our natural resources."