About Coastcare
Coastcare community volunteer groups are made up of everyday Australians who care passionately about the protection and management of our coastal and marine environments. Thousands of volunteers from across the country form more than 500 Coastcare groups and, alongside their Landcare peers, put into action long-term, practical solutions for environmental issues in their local area.
Young and old, Coastcarers tackle problems like dune protection, revegetation of native coastal environments, protection of endangered coastal species habitats, collection and prevention of storm water pollution, weed and non-native plant removal, control of human access to sensitive and vulnerable areas, and education programs for the broader public about issues affecting coastal and marine areas.
Groups involved in Coastcare projects include Coastcare, Landcare, Bushcare, Dunecare, Beachcare, Wildcare, ‘Friends of’, and any other community-led volunteer group working on conservation activities.
Get Involved in Coastcare
It is easy to get involved in Coastcare. To find a group to volunteer click here or to start your own Coastcare group click here. Get connected with other Coastcarers and access resources with Landcarer here.
In many areas, Coastcare projects are supported by local councils so we you recommend you contact your local council. In Victoria, Coastcare groups are supported by the state government and have a very successful Coastcare Victoria program. For more information about their activities please visit their website here.
The Coastcare Story
In the early 1990s, the Australian Government’s Resource Assessment Commission undertook an inquiry into the management and use of the resources of Australia’s coastal zone. It was one of the most comprehensive investigations ever undertaken into the coastal zone. One of the recommendations of the Commission was that a national coastal action programme should be established involving all governments, community and industry groups with responsibility for, and interests in, the management of coastal zone resources.
In 1995 the initial Coastcare programme was established by the Australian Government, and in 1997 the Coastcare programme was rolled into the Australian Governments’ Natural Heritage Trust Clean Sea Programme. While there were community groups undertaking environmental works along the coast before this, the term Coastcare and Coastcare groups started around the mid-1990s. Coastcare is, in many ways, an extension of the Landcare movement focusing on the coast.
Landcare Australia supports, promotes and raises funds for the Coastcare movement across Australia. Landcare Australia owns and manages the trademark and the use of the Landcare Australia, Landcare, Coastcare and Junior Landcare brands. Landcare Australia’s brands and logos are easily recognised and have a high reputation to uphold. As such, Landcare Australia restricts the use of the logo. For more information on how you can obtain a logo for your group, please read here.
