An Evening of Connection: Celebrating Landcare in Parliament House
Story by Paula Jones, CEO Landcare Association of South Australia
On Tuesday 11 November, I joined members of Parliament, Landcare SA representatives and volunteers for the Parliamentary Friends of Landcare dinner in the Speaker’s Dining Room at Parliament House. It was a relaxed and positive evening focused on recognising the work of Landcare groups across South Australia and discussing what they need to keep delivering strong outcomes.
Our Co-conveners — Hon Geoff Brock MP, Eddie Hughes MP and Josh Teague MP — once again showed their strong commitment to Landcare. They were joined by Hon Lucy Hood MP, the new Minister for Climate, Environment and Water; Hon Clare Scriven MLC; Hon Nicola Centofanti MLC; Hon Dennis Hood MLC; and David Basham MP. Their attendance demonstrated the broad, bipartisan support that Landcare enjoys in South Australia.
We also acknowledged Hon Susan Close for her support of Landcare during her time as Minister and welcomed Minister Hood into her new role.
Around the room were members of the LASA Management Committee, the Indigenous Engagement Sub-committee, staff, community Landcarers, and representatives from the Yalata Community and Nantawarrina IPA. Having people from across the State in the room helped ground the discussions in real experiences and real community needs.
A highlight of the evening was hearing from volunteers representing Sixth Creek Catchment Group, Campbelltown Landcare Group, Henley Dunes Care Group, Biodiversity Victor Harbor, and Kanmantoo Callington Landcare Group. They spoke openly about their projects, the challenges they face, and the support they have received from Landcare SA. Their short presentations were practical and honest — and they clearly resonated with the parliamentarians present.
Several consistent themes emerged: the pressure of administrative work on small volunteer groups, the need for more volunteers and succession planning, and the difficulty of sustaining projects when funding runs in short cycles.
Our Chair, Shaun Branden, outlined the importance of the Care for Landcare Program, which ends in June 2026. He highlighted how the program provides free volunteer insurance, small grants, and the role of the State Landcare Coordinator. Shaun also introduced our proposal, Future Proofing Landcare in SA, which seeks to extend and strengthen the current program by building organisational capacity and deepening partnerships with Landscapes SA, Traditional Owners, and other agencies.
Co-convener Hon Geoff Brock MP closed the formal remarks by thanking the thousands of volunteers across the State who could not be in the room but whose work is the backbone of Landcare in South Australia.
As the evening wrapped up, it was clear that the conversations held around the table had been constructive and genuine. The Parliamentary Friends of Landcare group remains committed to supporting Landcare SA, and the night reinforced the value of bringing volunteers and decision-makers together to share perspectives.
