Parks Victoria - Annual Report 2009-10

HEALTHY PEOPLECurriculum-based programs, supported by theDepartment of Education and Early ChildhoodDevelopment, were held at Wilsons Promontory andthe Dandenong Ranges national parks, SerendipSanctuary and Brambuk – the National Park andCultural Centre in the Grampians National Park. Morethan 15,000 Victorian school students attended aprogram at one of these education centres.INTERNATIONAL HEALTHY PARKSHEALTHY PEOPLE CONGRESSThe inaugural International Healthy ParksHealthy People Congress attracted 1,200participants from 37 countries and 300keynote speakers and presenters. It successfullygenerated discussion and awareness of thegrowing evidence of the connection betweenhuman health and spending time in nature.At the opening of the Congress, Premier JohnBrumby announced that from 1 July 2010, parkentry would be free to encourage people toget active in the great outdoors. The Premiersaid encouraging people to get out and aboutin Victoria’s parks was good for communitywellbeing and good for regional economies.The Congress and its keynote speakersgenerated significant media coverage,positively promoting Healthy Parks HealthyPeople research to a wider audience. Mediacoverage included 37 print articles, 48 radiointerviews and six television stories.The research and experience shared by thekeynote speakers was far-reaching, informativeand practical.The new networks and partnerships formed atthe Congress will be invaluable in taking theHealthy Parks Healthy People agenda aroundthe world.The Environment Corps program provided fundingfor students from five schools to work alongsidepark rangers on a range of conservation projects.Camberwell Grammar joined the program for the firsttime, delivering a tree-replacement program inWattle Park.The partnership between Lara Primary School andSerendip Sanctuary continued. The school holds classesdaily in their classroom at the Sanctuary. During theHealthy Parks Healthy People Congress, students fromGrades 3 and 4 provided guided tours of the Sanctuaryto delegates.Parks Victoria supported DSE’s Summer by the Seaprogram by delivering activities that promotedunderstanding and awareness of Victoria’s marine andcoastal environments. Activities included walks andtalks, rock pool rambles and mudflat meanders at parksincluding Port Campbell National Park, Barwon BluffMarine Sanctuary and Port Phillip.VolunteersFriends groups, individuals, schools, corporatevolunteers and special interest groups provideinvaluable support to Parks Victoria. This year,volunteers dedicated 25,348 days to activities in116 parks and reserves across the state. The timevolunteered is the equivalent of an additional 101full-time employees to Parks Victoria. Of the timevolunteered, 77 per cent was spent on conservationprojects. Many volunteers have contributed years ofvaluable service to the environment such as the Friendsof the Dandenong Ranges National Park and Friends ofHattah-Kulkyne National Park who both celebrated 25years of volunteering with Parks Victoria.26 Parks Victoria - Annual Report 2009-10