FAQs

Step 1: Find your Friends Group Member Directory.

Step 2: Contact your Group

Groups work with landholders to establish priority activities; you can contact groups to find out if their activities align with your interests and goals. Activities can include:

• Biodiversity conservation such as bushcare techniques (minimal disturbance weeding) or chemical or biological control of weeds and/or feral animals.
• Mapping and/or monitoring of species can provide an opportunity to use or develop knowledge of plants or birds or use your photographic skills.
• Heritage projects can include maintenance and construction skills or research skills as you delve into the history of a site.
• Plus plenty more, such as producing newsletters, publicising your group or issues at your site; creating information displays; organising fundraising, educational or cultural events, or the social program for your group.

Step 3: Give it a try, and or become a member

Attend an activity with a group. Groups will have different joining processes and or a small joining fee. Groups operate autonomously, in liaison with relevant landholders.

Application for Membership:

If a group wants to join Friends of Parks and Nature, the process is simple and costs $20 per year (as at 1 January 25). Groups can pay for multiple years pending board approval.

To apply, email contact@friendsofparkssa.org.au and acknowledge that you have read and support the objectives of the FoPN Constitution. Also include the group’s name, activities, objectives and key contact. Your application will go to a board meeting for consideration.

Membership benefits

FoPN is an umbrella organisation that provides support and opportunities to member groups and advocates for their needs with stakeholders.

Individual:

• Receive discounts in National Parks including free vehicle entry, free camping for up to 5 nights, and discounts on desert park passes, DEW tours, and facilities for volunteers contributing 40 hours or more per year.
• Networking at events, online and through weekly updates with over 150 groups.
• Access to training funded by FoPN and aligned organisations.
• Attend recognition events such as the FoPN forum.

 

Group:

• Unincorporated groups can seek FoPN to sponsor grant applications.
• Promote your group on the website, social media and through newsletters.
• Present issues to the FoPN board for support, advice, guidance and assistance.

You can have a look at the Friends activities on the Facebook page.

BENEFITS OF JOINING FRIENDS OF PARKS AND NATURE INC. 

Joining Friends of Parks and Nature has many benefits, and has a very simple application process.

Constitution

Firstly, please visit the Friends of Parks and Nature website:  https://www.friendsofparkssa.org.au/publications

where you can find a current copy of our Constitution.  You would need to read it, and advise us that agree with our objectives.

Application for Membership

Your group would need to simply send an email to the Friends of Parks and Nature Inc. Board (which meets on the first Thursday of every second month  –  February, April, August, October, and December) to apply.  You would need to state your group’s existence, what it does, who would be the contact, and that you have read and agree with the objectives of the Friends of Parks and Nature Inc. Constitution.  If approved, the cost is:

$10 a year for full membership and five votes at the AGM (to rise to $20 per year from 1/1/2022)

$15 a year for affiliate membership and one vote at the AGM (to rise to $30 per year from 1/1/2022)

You may choose to pay for multiple years.

This is depending on the Board’s decision, and following the Board meeting, you would be advised of the outcome.

Advocacy

If your group has an issue and needs support or advice from the Friends of Parks and Nature Inc. Board, there is an advocacy process where you can put forward your issue, which the Board will discuss and try to provide advise, support, or assistance.

Incorporation

If your group is not incorporated, it would need to have a sponsor to apply for grants etc.  Friends of Parks and Nature Inc. can be a sponsor for unincorporated groups (on request).  Groups that are already incorporated do not need this assistance.  Over thirty (30) member groups are incorporated in their own right, and are warmly welcomed as members.  It is entirely up to each group to consider if it wants to be incorporated, but the majority of groups would not need to be incorporated (which means writing a Constitution, forming a Management Committee, etc.).

Australian Business Number  –  ABN

Most Friends of Parks and Nature Inc. member groups do have their own Australian Business Number  –  this makes it much easier to receive grant funding/do business.  If you are not sure if you have an ABN, or wish to apply for one, visit:  https://abr.business.gov.au/

Goods and Services Tax  –  GST

Friends of Parks and Nature Inc. is registered for GST, as are about 10% of larger Friends of Parks and Nature Inc. member groups that deal with gate takings, souvenirs, etc.  It is entirely up to each group to consider this, but the majority of groups would not need to be registered for GST (which also means lodging quarterly BAS statements etc).

 

Training

Friends of Parks and Nature Inc. does fund some training opportunities, and your members would be able to access this training after being endorsed by the President or Secretary.  Also, we have membership with Volunteering SA&NT, so you can access training and services provided.

 

Website

This membership gives you a postcard on the Friends of Parks and Nature Inc. website which you can manage yourself, and use for advertising of upcoming events, sharing newsletters, information about your group etc.  https://www.friendsofparkssa.org.au/home

There is also a Members Shop, where members of the public can purchase Friends of Parks and Nature Inc. merchandise, online.  Groups are welcome to also sell their merchandise in the shop.

Networking

We receive lots of information from other groups about upcoming planting days, guest speakers, plant sales, etc.  Generally we put this information on the website, and every week or so we send out a list to Member Groups, of new additions to the website, via email. 

Current Membership

The membership of Friends of Parks and Nature Inc. is currently 102 member groups, and 38 affiliate groups (135 member groups).  You might also like to ‘like’ our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/Friendsofparkssa and you can also ask us to post information on your group’s behalf.

Unique Code Number for Online Bookings

All Friends of Parks and Nature Inc. Member Groups receive a Unique Code Number, to issue to active members (must attend working bees or be involved with admin duties), to use for online bookings for camping etc.

 

The Friends Unique Code Number allows the holder a concession to the following facilities of DEW:

• Free entry to all parks in the State where vehicle entry fees apply (excluding the Simpson Desert).
• 25% concession on the Desert Parks Pass.  (50% concession on the Desert Parks Pass for Desert

Parks Friends Groups.  You must buy your own booklet with the pass.)

• 25% concession on the cost of personal access and guided tours in parks, state-wide, where such

tours are operated by the Department for Environment and Water).

• 25% concession on the use of facilities in parks, statewide.
• Free camping for up to five nights in any one location, state-wide.

 

FoPN sponsors training annually for example bush care, bird id, bird photography and plant id. In addition, volunteers accumulate a wealth of knowledge over time from other volunteers in fauna, flora, history, heritage or geology by participating in group activities.

DEW and NPWS assist with essential WHS training opportunities for DEW directed volunteer groups. This training can include things such as first aid, chainsaw use, 4WD, flora identification, and safe use of chemicals.

Enjoy your volunteering experiences, respect the park in which you are working and look after your own and others safety. Each group will have requirements to ensure volunteers have an enjoyable and safe time, make sure you understand these and work within them.

Apart from your group activities, you can also consider volunteering on the FoPN Board. For information on how to apply, contact contact@friendsofparkssa.org.au.

Whilst the Volunteers Protection Act 2001 gives legal protection from personal liability to volunteers doing voluntary work for an incorporated community organisation or government organisation, it does not cover additional matters such as personal injury.

 

To ensure protection for the organisation and volunteers in relation to personal injury, organisations may need to consider obtaining specific insurance cover. This additional cover can provide benefits to volunteers following injury, disability or even death while carrying out duties for their organisation.

A volunteer is not protected under the Act if they:

1. act illegally
2. are affected by alcohol or illicit drugs
3. defame someone
4. act outside or contrary to activities authorised by the organisation
5. In effect, the Act transfers personal liability from the individual to the organisation

Insurance with the Department for Environment and Water (DEW)

Some groups will be covered under the DEW Personal Accident Cover and Liability Cover insurance, this is most common when doing DEW directed work on DEW managed land. Groups registered for DEW insurance will receive their Confirmation of Insurance here via email.

Information regarding the DEW insurance can be in the following: Insurance for DEW directed Volunteers and SAFA Volunteer Insurance Cover Information and FAQs. For information regarding DEW insurance, contact DEWVolunteers@sa.gov.au.