Rio Tinto Earth Assist - a partnership between RioTinto and Conservation Volunteers Australia

CVA is Australia’s leading practical conservation organisation.
 
Since 1982 CVA has fulfilled its mission to attract and manage a force of volunteers in practical conservation projects for the betterment of the Australian environment.
 
CVA has received many awards recognising our work and the commitment of our volunteers.
 
CVA is a national, not-for-profit community based organisation that is  dedicated to involving the community in practical conservation natural resource management programs.  Each year CVA will deliver in excess of 800,000 hours of conservation volunteering. 
 
CVA has 23 offices throughout Australia and employs in excess of 150 full time staff , and also have two offices in New Zealand.
 
CVA works in partnership with catchment management authorities, local councils, community groups, conservation agencies, tourism organsiations and operators, state governments and departments, the federal government, NGOs and individual land owners. 
 
CVA is a registered training organization and delivers accredited training and capacity building workshops to hundreds of community groups each year.
 
Our Safety Department has systems and practices that focus on the management of on ground work with volunteers – these tools are available to the general conservation sector.
 
Conservation Volunteers is a member of the IUCN (World Conservation Union) and  the Federation of Youth Travel Organisations.
 
Our conservation and volunteer programs have recently been awarded Ecotourism Certification, recognizing our commitment to maintaining high ecological standards in all aspects of our operations. 
 
Community Engagement
 
CVA involves approximately 12,500 volunteers per annum in practical activities that benefit the environment. Of these 12,500 volunteers, 2,500 of these volunteers travel from overseas to Australia each year to assist CVA to provide support to local conservation projects.  
 
All CVA programs achieve this outcome via our standard operating model which is a team of volunteers with a CVA employee who is the team manager and supervisor. On the job training is provided to volunteers. All projects are suitable for unskilled participants.
 
We offer a range of programs that suit our partners' needs. For example some projects will focus on remote area assistance such as turtle monitoring in remote areas or local heritage programs in urban areas.
 
We offer packaged volunteering programs to people wishing to participate in  Australia or elsewhere in the world.
 
Conservation Program/Project Management
 
CVA has well developed operational policies and systems. Each program has a  CVA Team Leader, with qualifications in occupational health and safety, defensive driving, first aid, and other relevant environmental skills/qualifications. We also  provide a team vehicle, hand tools, personal protective equipment and public liability insurance.  
 
Accredited and non-accredited training as a Registered Training Organisation 
 
CVA is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) with a national training team providing both non accredited and accredited training to individuals and community groups. Popular courses include:-
 
Certificate 1 in Active Volunteering
Conservation Volunteer Management Course
In Safe Hands – training and toolkit (safety management systems)
Risk Assessment
Change Management in Community Groups
Motivated Volunteers
Team Development for Community Groups
Project Management in Community Groups 
 
Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting  
 
CVA is active in developing methodologies for involving the community in the economical monitoring and evaluation of natural resource management projects. We have partnered with the University of Technology, Sydney to develop a documented plan to implement robust environmental assessments for resource conditions that can be implemented by volunteers under team leader supervision.
 
Additionally, we are trialing the coordination of volunteer teams to map weeds of national significance and subsequently provide data that will assist effective decision making in regards to future control programs.  We believe that Conservation Volunteers has the unique ability to engage the general community in environmental monitoring and evaluation leading to stewardship, education and capacity building outcomes.
 
Communications
 
CVA has a high visitation website that offers information about all conservation programs that CVA has been requested to assist. CVA promotes programs via TV community service announcements and press releases.
 
Government ministers and corporate partners have commented on Conservation Volunteers’ ability to generate positive media involving volunteers and good stories which can be told. The CVA website receives on average 10,000 hits per month. 
 
Land & Asset Management
 
CVA  is involved in land management programs on a long term basis. CVA owns land and in some cases manages property under agreement in the form of an MOU or formal lease.  Examples include:-
 
Chakola, NSW - Voluntary Conservation Agreement (VCA) property and wildlife refuge in Kangaroo Valley (80 acres), providing community facilities, meeting areas and accommodation for 40 people.
W James Whyte Island Reserve, VIC – 204ha property owned by CVA , backing onto Werribee State Gorge Park which houses our first Action for Climate Change biodiversity carbon forest.
 
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, ACT – In partnership with the ACT Government, CVA designed, and now manages, the Volunteer Interpreter Program (VIP) at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. The VIP sees trained volunteers act as interpreters and guides in the Nature Reserve to enhance visitor experiences.
Brookfield Conservation Reserve, SA - Managed by CVA under lease agreement with the Department of Environment and Heritage.
 
Fundraising/income generation through partnerships with Corporate, Government and Philanthropic sectors 
 
CVA is not government funded and generates its income on a continuing basis through a variety of means including;
 
Project partner contributions
The design, development and delivery of programs which attract government support to help them deliver on their policy objectives
Corporate partnerships ranging from entry level to multi million dollar themed program support
Training design and delivery,
Grants from government and philanthropic organisations
Membership and tax deductable donations 
 
Conservation and Tourism Partnerships 
 
CVA has a department of experienced staff dedicated to the delivery of volunteer and ecotourism programs. We offer extensive experience in developing, managing and operating tourism and conservation partnerships including;

• Over 25 years experience in packaging, marketing, selling and operating conservation holiday programs around Australia
• Established on line booking systems and free call number for booking inquiries
• A web site  receiving 10,000 unique visitors per month to site
• Well recognized safety standards
• A network of over 25 worldwide booking agents
• Product development and operation
• Experienced guides where necessary
• Staff expertise in volunteer and tourism management
• A large network of corporate clients and funding
• Comprehensive domestic and international marketing

The quality of our programs has been recognised through the receipt of numerous tourism awards and Ecotourism Certification. Click here to view our awards.  
 

For more information about Conservation Volunteers Australia, check out our website at www.conservationvolunteers.com.au