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.

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 through DEW under the South Australian Finance Authority (SAFA) Personal Accident Cover and Liability Cover insurance. This is most common when doing DEW directed work on DEW managed land. It is ‘activated’ through the Volunteer Safety Procedure (VSP), which is the safety procedure DEW uses to keep volunteers safe. To find out more about what is covered read the SAFA Volunteer Insurance Cover Information and FAQs.

Groups registered for DEW insurance receive their insurance certificate via email to their group. If you have questions, or have not received your insurance, contact DEWVolunteers@sa.gov.au.