After completing her schooling, she became a wool classer and later lived on a remote sheep station west of White Cliffs, New South Wales. She has volunteered with various organizations and has worked in schools. For the past 4 years, Vanessa has found fulfillment in her work with Western Landcare NSW. Reconnecting with the environment and fostering environmental awareness among primary school children. She firmly believes that empowering the next generation to understand and nurture the natural world is crucial for a sustainable future. She is dedicated to leaving a positive impact on the land, culture and its people.
What I do at Western Landcare
Vanessa is the Local Landcare Coordinator for Schools and Junior Landcare in Far Southwest NSW, based in Wentworth. My role involves visiting primary schools throughout the Far West to conduct hands-on, interactive, and fun environmental activities. I aim to raise awareness about our local environment, by teaching students about Australia's native flora and fauna together with the negative impacts introduced species have. My mission is to empower young people with knowledge, helping them to gain a better understanding of our environment, and enabling them to be better stewards of our land.
In what ways would you like to see the Australian landcare movement March Forward?
Vanessa would love to see landcare leading the march into primary schools to educate our ‘young people’. We need to take the time and opportunity to empower and connect, with simple hands-on, interactive, fun activities based around our native flora and fauna. Cultivate an interest and awareness, while highlighting the influence and destructive nature, introduced species have on our ecosystems. Give our young people information and tools to be better custodians of our land.