From time to time we even go beyond the Illawarra and dip our toes into other issues regions are facing, and learn about a whole new range of environmental management issues we aren’t exposed to on the coast.

In our travels, I am often asked; ‘why do young people volunteer?’, ‘how do you get them to come back?’, ‘what motivates them to come in the first place?’

So to answer all of this, I filmed and produced a documentary about the group. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZae-fwYt2U 

This short documentary film captures the stories of young volunteers who give their time to contribute to environmental restoration projects in the Illawarra region and beyond.

It is a journey of what drives young volunteers to donate their time to Landcare, what their connection is with the natural environment, the types of projects they participate in, the partnerships they have formed, and the people they have connected with and helped along the way.

This short film was captured over 12 months and was assisted with funding from Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority through the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative. 

The documentary was launched to a wider Landcare audience last week at the NSW State Landcare Conference, which was held in Newcastle. We hope this will help to inspire young people to get involved in Landcare in their local area, and that people take away the message that Landcare really is for everyone! 

For more information about Illawarra Youth Landcare visit our website www.illawarrayouthlandcare.com.au or our Facebook page www.facebook.com/illawarraylandcare or email Megan Rowlatt illawarraylandcare@hotmail.com   

Megan Rowlatt is the Illawarra Local Land Services Officer, funded by Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority and hosted by Conservation volunteers. Megan has worked in natural resource management for the last seven years, is the founder and coordinator of Illawarra Youth Landcare and is the 2012 National Young Landcare Leader of the year.