Session 6: Below our knees- exploring native grasslands- Sarah McGrath & Erin Brinkley

Join us for this Lunch and Learn session, where we explore the challenges and opportunities facing native grasslands in peri urban areas, and how communities can work together to protect these important ecosystems. This session will highlight practical insights from a series of collaborative workshop delivered by Yass Area Network of Landcare Groups (YAN) and Upper Shoalhaven Landcare Group, focusing on grassland ecology, weed control, shared learning and the benefits of coordinated action across property boundaries. Attendees will hear how bringing landholders together with local experts to build knowledge, strengthen local connections around common goals can lay the groundwork for landscape scale conservation, with plenty of opportunity for discussion and shared ideas. 

Session 1: Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (Letitia Cross)

Session: Healthy Landscapes Need Healthy People

 What makes up a healthy landscape? What happens to a landscape when the people caring for it are exhausted? Mental health isn’t separate from land management, and when we understand signs that we, or someone we care about is struggling, we are better placed to take action. 

 RAMHP has 20 Coordinators employed by Local Health Districts across regional, rural and remote NSW. They provide health promotion and educational activities in their local communities and link individuals with appropriate services. 

 This session will be facilitated by Letitia Cross, a RAMHP Coordinator based in Moree. 

Session 2: Campfire Gatherings - Den Barber (Aboriginal Partnerships Manager). 

At this session, Den will speak about the Campfire Gatherings held across three regions in 2025. Den will touch on the logistics of these Gatherings, the purpose and intent and what worked well. If you are interested in hosting one of these, or if you would simply like to learn about these Gatherings, please tune in!

Session 3: Streamwatch - Mark Secombe

Discover how Greater Sydney Landcare’s Streamwatch program is strengthening citizen science through innovative, multi-format volunteer support resources.

Greater Sydney Landcare’s Streamwatch program has developed a suite of accessible support resources, written guides, instructional videos and photo based walkthroughs, to streamline volunteer onboarding and ongoing training. These tools help volunteer managers reduce training time, minimise inconsistencies across sites and support volunteers with varying levels of experience and learning styles.

By providing clear, online, self-paced materials, the program has improved volunteer confidence, enhanced data quality and strengthened the sustainability of the program. This approach offers a scalable model for volunteer managers seeking practical ways to improve training efficiency, reduce barriers to participation and boost overall volunteer capability.

Mark Spain from Global Learning discussed the foundations of leadership, emphasizing self-awareness, mindfulness, and effective interaction with others. He highlighted the importance of navigating conflicts, working in teams, and dealing with complex systems. Mark also touched on the concept of small 'l' leadership, which involves leading one's own life.