Back our Backyard this National Volunteer Week
National Volunteer Week is a time to recognise and celebrate the people who give their rime, skills and care to strengthen communities. This year, it also aligns with the United Nations International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development, highlighting the vital role volunteers play in caring for people and the planet.
It’s theme, Your Year to Volunteer, honours those who already give their time and invites others to be involved in ways that work for them. It is a reminder that meaningful involvement looks different for everyone, and that every contribution matters.
Across the Northern Territory, more than 1,200 volunteers are caring for land, waterways and wildlife through community-led landcare. Over the past year, they have contributed more than 13,000 hours restoring habitats, protecting wildlife, managing invasive species and responding to local environment challenges across the Territory.
Here’s a snapshot of just some of what NT landcarers achieved over the past year:
Planted more than 1,200 native trees at Royal Darwin Hospital, helping reduce temperatures by up to 29°
Cleared invasive gamba grass in Litchfield National Park
Recorded the first wild Savanna Glider sighting through nest box installation in Katherine
Planted thousands of food plants in community gardens across the Territory
Removed tonnes of marine debris from Arnhem Land beaches
Introduced a circular waste system at Nightcliff Markets to halve plastic landfill by 2030
Protected ancient river red gums from fire in Alice Springs
Managed feral animals and removed weeds and litter from Fogg Dam
Improved soil and water health across more than 520,000 km² of pastoral land in Central Australia, the Roper River region and the Victoria River District
This is what community-led landcare looks like in the Northern Territory. Practical action. Real results. Season after season.
National Volunteer Week is a chance to say thank you to the people doing this work. It is also a reminder that volunteering continues when people are supported to keep showing up. Donating is one way to support volunteers during their year to volunteer. Your contribution goes directly to the volunteers and community groups carrying out on-ground work across our communities.
This EOFY, back the people caring for our backyard. Together, we can do more for our Territory.
