Volunteering


Volunteering with Urban Parks and Places

Make a difference in your local suburb by volunteering with Urban Parks and Places.

The volunteer program is a fun and inclusive way to meet new people while working to enliven Canberra’s parks and open spaces. The program offers a range of activities for people of all abilities.

Follow the steps below to join a registered volunteer group or start your own.

Join a registered volunteer group

Anyone can become a volunteer. To join a registered volunteer group:

  1. view the map and decide which group you would like to join
  2. create an account through the volunteer portal
  3. select the 'Opportunities’ tab to find out who the contact person is and more information about each group
  4. contact the group to find out when their next activity will be and what you should bring along
  5. turn up at the recommended time.

Map of volunteer groups

Start a new group

If you can’t find a registered volunteer group in your area, the ACT Government may approve a new group.

To propose a new group:

  • Find the urban area of interest on ACTmapi and make sure it is managed by City Presentation (in TCCS).
  • Contact us to discuss your proposed activities. What landscape enhancement ideas did you have to improve the value of the urban open space? We’ll also organise a time to meet onsite and further discuss the proposal.
  • If the ACT Government agree in-principle to support a new group, you will need to develop and submit a site activity plan, including a group information sheet. We can provide templates.
  • The site activity plan and group information sheet will be assessed by the ACT Government, potentially engaging with other stakeholders.
  • Once approved, we will provide an on-site safety induction to the newly registered group.
  • You can begin your volunteering activities after induction.
  • We will create a Better Impact group account for you to record volunteering hours.

In addition to the above, a new volunteer will also have to recruit volunteers from at least 4 different households. You could try letterbox dropping your neighbours to see if anyone is interested. Each participant will need to read the volunteer handbook (PDF 3.08 MB) and register through the volunteer portal.

Related links

Video

Volunteer activities

It is important to note that before any activities can be undertaken, a site activity plan needs to be established and approved between the registered group and the ACT Government. This is done by working closely with the registered group to create an activity plan that:

Some activities to be considered could include:

Weed control and removal programs

In order to chemically treat weeds we may provide AQF 3 Chemical Accreditation training. We also provide training in mapping weeds and provide equipment so the activity is done safely.

Horticultural maintenance

Potentially identify, treat and control pest plants, maintain existing shrub beds and plants undertake pruning, keep paths free of leaves, and propagate and transplant seedlings.

Litter collection

Keep the place looking tidy and encourage others to put litter in its place. Large or bulky items can be reported to Access Canberra.

Monitoring and reporting issues

Something broken or not working? Please contact Access Canberra.

Become a wildlife detective by filming the animals that live in the area. Your photographs and findings can be recorded through Canberra Nature Map or Atlas of Living Australia and might help influence land management practices.

Park restoration projects

Help improve onsite water retention, reduce soil erosion, undertake plantings, maintain and create public informal paths, increase habitat opportunities and visual amenity.

Minor tree maintenance activities

Meet one of the experienced tree maintenance team who can demonstrate proper techniques such as formative pruning, sucker removal and how to choose the best tool for the job.

Habitat enhancement

Bring nature back to the city and set aside a bit of the area as habitat for animals.

Planting and maintaining plants

Be creative and draw up a plan of what could go where. What about a themed garden to attract insects or something based on Ngunnawal plant use? Our plant species guide (PDF 2.8 MB) is the place to start.

Organise community education and social events.

Organise a guided walk and let your neighbourhood know what’s special. Have a chat over cake and drink after a volunteering activity.

Citizen science

Partner with our Urban Treescape Team and take measurements to let us know about tree health.

Take photographs of plants or animals and record them through Canberra Nature Map or Atlas of Living Australia.

Training and workshops

Need something specific to help you be safe and achieve the groups goals? Let us know and we can see what training may be available. Some of our most popular courses are AQF 3 Chemical Accreditation and Provide First Aid.

Conservation

Check ACTMapi to see if there are any significant species nearby. There may be actions from a management plan that can be implemented by the group.

Support

When we meet onsite to discuss potential activities we can also chat about what we can provide to help you achieve those goals.

Adopt-A-Park Community Grants Projects

Applications for the 2024-25 Adopt-A-Park community grants program are now closed. Once applications have been assessed, successful applicants and projects will be listed on this page.

The successful project applicants and projects are listed below.

  • Canberra Punjabi Sports and Cultural Association, Belconnen - Landscaping improvements; planting in existing beds.
  • Friends of Light Street Park Incorporated, Griffith - Woody weed control.
  • Ginninderra Catchment Group, Aranda - Weed control, shrub bed construction with rocks, logs and plants, and community engagement.
  • Ginninderra Catchment Group, Dunlop - Woody weed control, pruning of casuarinas and mulching.
  • Molonglo Conservation Group, Ainslie - Fence removal, water to support plantings.
  • Molonglo Conservation Group, Ainslie - Planting and weed control.
  • Molonglo Conservation Group, Kingston - Planting and woody weed removal.
  • Molonglo Conservation Group, Lyneham - Erosion control, path upgrades, planting, mulch and water to supporting plantings.
  • Molonglo Conservation Group, Narrabundah - Weed control, plantings, mulch and water to support plantings.
  • O’Connor Community Incorporated, O’Connor - Continuation of hedge trimming project.
  • RSL Australia ACT Branch Incorporated, Campbell - Woody weed removal and plantings.
  • Southern ACT Catchment Group, Chisholm - Woody weed removal and plantings.
  • Southern ACT Catchment Group, Hughes - Bush tucker beds, planting, mulch and water to support established plants and weed control.
  • Southern ACT Catchment Group, Rivett - Planting with mulch and rocks.
  • Southern ACT Catchment Group, Various - Mulch and water to support plantings.
  • Southern ACT Catchment Group, Weston - Swales for capturing water to support existing trees.
  • Woden Valley Community Council Incorporated, Curtin - Planting, mulch and rocks in existing garden beds.

The successful project applicants and projects are listed below.

  • Bragg Street Park Volunteers Group, Hackett (auspiced by Molonglo Conservation Group), Hackett - Understorey planting.
  • Canberra Environment Centre, Downer - Community workshops, understorey and tree planting and sign.
  • Crace Landcare Group (Ginninderra Catchment Group), Crace - Weed control, understorey planting and landscape plan development.
  • Croke Place Landcare Group (Ginninderra Catchment Group), McKellar - Cool burn education, understorey planting, mulch, planning document and education facility on site.
  • Dawson Street Gardens, Curtin - Engage landscaper design.
  • Emu Creek Landcare (Ginninderra Catchment Group), Belconnen - Weed control and understorey planting.
  • Friends of Wangara Parks (Ginninderra Catchment Group), Aranda - Erosion control and signs.
  • Ginninderra Catchment Group, Fraser - Weed control, erosion control and app development.
  • Ginninderra Catchment Group, Lawson - Weed control, mulch, understorey planting and sign.
  • Ginninderra Catchment Group, Fraser - Weed control.
  • Ginninderra Catchment Group, Hawker - Landscaping improvements.
  • Ginninderra Catchment Group, Belconnen/Gungahlin - Various training courses for volunteer groups.
  • Ginninderra Catchment Group, Various - Various training courses for volunteer groups.
  • Ginninderra Catchment Group Incorporated, Various - Develop and install awareness/educational signs.
  • Ginninderra Catchment Group Incorporated, Various - Supply and spread mulch.
  • Higgins Landcare Group (Ginninderra Catchment Group), Higgins - Engage landscaper design.
  • O'Connor Community Incorporated, O’Connor - Maintain hedges and weed control.
  • Southern ACT Catchment Group, Hughes/Garran - Spread/compact path gravel and understorey planting.
  • Southern ACT Catchment Group, Chapman - Understorey planting, mulch and rocks.
  • Southern ACT Catchment Group, Kambah - Understorey planting, rocks and mulch.
  • Southern ACT Catchment Group, Bonython - Understorey planting and brochure.
  • Southern ACT Catchment Group, Chapman - Understorey planting.
  • Units Plan 4323, Campbell - Mulch.
  • Weston Creek Community Council, Weston - Landscaping improvements.
  • Woden Valley Community Council, Hughes - Weed control, understorey planting, habitat log and bush tucker plants.
  • Woden Valley Community Council (WVCC), Mawson - Weed control and understorey planting.

The 2021-22 Adopt-A-Park Community Grants Program received 22 applications. Every project received full or partial funding.

These 22 grants will contribute to the amenity and improvement of the ACT’s neighbourhood parks and places, with the projects having a total value of $198,412.

Project activities included weed and erosion control, tree-planting, volunteer training and community events.

The successful project applicants and projects were:

  • Ambalindum Playground Interactive Landscaping - Ginninderra Catchment Group
  • Bass Gardens Park Interpretive Signs – Griffith Narrabundah Community Association
  • Berry Street Park – Long Term Revitalisation Strategy – Downer Community Association
  • Bird and Buddy Bliss in Hughes – Growing Habitat for Gang Gangs and Superb Parrots in the Hughes Urban Open Space – Woden Valley Community Council
  • Campbell Park Care – Molonglo Conservation Group Incorporated
  • Erosion Mitigation and Park Maintenance – Southern ACT Catchment Group
  • Gilruth Park, Hackett – Further Habitat Enhancement – Hackett Community Association for Gilruth Park Supporters
  • Harrison Wetlands - Ginninderra Catchment Group
  • Holt Micro-Forest Improvements – Capital Region Community Services
  • Honeysett Pond Western End – Molonglo Conservation Group
  • Hughes Garran Woodland Restoration – Southern ACT Catchment Group
  • Improving Safe Access to Weston Creek Orchard – Southern ACT Catchment Group
  • Jaramlee Woody Weed Reuse - Ginninderra Catchment Group
  • Kuringa Woodlands – Ginninderra Catchment Group
  • Moncrieff Reserve Beautification - Ginninderra Catchment Group (Moncrieff Litter Group)
  • Mowing Strip Management in Griffith Woodland - Southern ACT Catchment Group
  • Purchase, planting and maintenance of plants in Bragg Street Park, Hackett – Bragg Street Park Volunteers Group, Hackett
  • Revitalising Scullin’s Green Spaces – Scullin Community Group
  • Storyboards to Engage Community in The Holder Wetlands – Southern ACT Catchment Group
  • Visitor Resources at Croke Place Wetlands - Ginninderra Catchment Group

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.

To see how we are building stronger relationships with the Traditional Custodians of the ACT view the Reconciliation Action Plan.