Volunteering
All of us are volunteers in APS NSW! We are motivated by our passion for Australian native plants and their habitats.
Each year, about 25% of our members actively volunteer in a range of activities with their local APS group, some of which are listed below. If you'd like to volunteer, please contact us at office@austplants.com.au.
Volunteering opportunities
Plant propagation and working in the nurseries e.g.
- Menai has 2 nurseries and operates Mondays and Tuesdays.
- Blue Mountains operates the Glenbrook Native Nursery, which is open Wednesdays and Saturdays although open on other days for growing work. Other activities generally on Wednesday afternoons include:
- maintaining accessibility and safety of walking tracks through the Reserve
- operating chipping machine along tracks in the Reserve
- potting on seedlings, large or small, into routine sized tubes.
- Newcastle operates its nursery at the Hunter Wetlands Centre, Tuesday & Thursday mornings.
- North Shore runs its nursery at Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden at St Ives.
- Central Coast operates an annual plant sale with plants all propagated inhouse.
- Parramatta and Hills has a monthly propagation day, where volunteers are welcome.
- Most District Groups have smaller propagation and growing activities.
Plantings for regeneration and to showcase native plants e.g.
- Mass plantings e.g. Menai Group supports the Southern Highlands mass planting of Allocasuarina for the 'Glossies in the Mist' campaign
- Armidale looks after the Native Plant selection of the Aboretum, It runs regular working bees to plant and care for a range of native species both local, other NSW cool areas and from the other states.
- North Shore operates a native garden within Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden to showcase native plants. Volunteers are welcome to assist in planting and maintenance.
- Sutherland volunteers at Sutherland Council's Joseph Banks Native Plants Reserve at Kareela.
- Blue Mountains Bushcare is held at the Glenbrook Reserve on the first Saturday of each month between 9 am and 12 pm except for January and Easter. New volunteers are always welcome. This is monitored by experienced bush regeneration people and so no prior knowledge or experience is required - excellent to assist in identifying native plants and common weeds.
Species monitoring e.g.
- Dan Clarke, our Conservation Officer, is leading the monitoring of Prostanthera densa for the Save our Species project for the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Current locations supported by Sutherland Group volunteers are Helensburgh and Marley. More planting may be undertaken in the coming year in the Nelson Bay area after surveying.
- Central Coast undertook a survey of the threatened Astrotricha crassifolia, with the assistance of National Parks and Wildlife Service.
- Central Coast is also undertaking a Save our Species project with National Parks and Wildlife Service of Darwinia glaucophylla. This is a threatened species that only occurs between Hawkesbury River around Calga, Kariong and Mt Kariong. The searches which will be led by a keen student will begin in March 2021. Volunteers welcome.
Bush walks and talks e.g.
- North Shore runs weekly walks and talks in Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden to share about different plant families and how to identify different species. They are looking for people who can learn, and help lead these walks and talks.
- Several APS members are active in Friends of the Royal National Park and run events in the park including weeding, bush regeneration, seed collecting, track trimming, wildlife tracking projects, guided plant ID and bird ID walks. Learn more via this link.
Leadership, communications and administrative activities e.g.
- This website and Instagram and Facebook accounts are managed by volunteers. We'd love some new thinking in how to manage them and make them better.
- Each month, we produce an enewsletter for members - we are keen to hear from people who love writing and producing communications.
- We conduct a program of talks and events each year and would love assistance in organising and promoting these events and workshops - a great opportunity to get to know some of the experts in the field, and learn about different activities.
- Each quarter, we produce a quality journal, Australian Plants, for distribution around the country and internationally. Our editors would love to hear from those interested in assisting with the development of the journal and its compilation each quarter.
- The board is always looking for people willing to take up governance positions. Board members both 'govern' as well as 'do a bunch of the work'. If you have good strategic thinking skills and are prepared to roll up your sleeves, talk to us about the board option.
We do encourage volunteers to become members, to access benefits such as insurance, information and newsletters. Student memberships are available.
If you wish to volunteer, please contact us.
Additional volunteering opportunities with partner organisations include:
