Hobsons Bay Wetland Centre Inc is a volunteer-driven not-for-profit Registered Environmental Organisation that is passionate about connecting people with nature. HBWC is supported by members and volunteers with diverse experience across sectors including business, education, environmental management and community engagement. A voluntary Committee of Management leads the organisation through regular meetings and information sharing. We have formed partnerships with a number of Government and other organisations to progress the Centre’s development and we also receive support from local community and business organisations.
Volunteers - Ambassadors for Nature
HBWC is successful in engaging the wider community through nature-based activities due to its dedicated and talented volunteers. Our organisation is able to protect and enhance our local natural environment only because of the extraordinary work carried out by our volunteers to connect people with nature through sharing knowledge and enthusiasm about the local wetlands. Our volunteers truly are Ambassadors for Nature!
HBWC provides plenty of opportunities for everyone to get together to share our experiences, enjoy a range of activities with the community and make new friends.
Our volunteers are supported through good governance. The Committee of Management has approved a package of volunteer documents and templates to ensure the smooth running of our activities and assist our volunteers in understanding their roles and responsibilities. These documents include:
Our volunteers are covered by insurance while working at our office at the Truganina Explosives Reserve and when participating in outdoor activities. We hold volunteer training workshops as the opportunity arises.
If you are not already a volunteer and have some time to spare please register here. There are opportunities for very short-term help, such as helping out at one of our Open Days through to serving on our committee of management.
All our volunteers are required to read the HBWC Child Safety Policy and for some activities, will require a current Working with Children Check.
We are also keen to engage with more experienced volunteers to lead an activity or focus on a time-consuming task. If this is you, please contact us at hbwcgroup@gmail.com and let us know what you are interested in.
Committee of Management
Partners
Supporters
Through social media and event participation we have received encouragement from hundreds of local community members who are keen to see the purpose-built centre become a reality.
Other active supporters of the Centre’s aims include Western Metropolitan Tourism, LeadWest, Greening the West, Altona Community Bank - Bendigo Bank, and Friends of Skeleton Creek and Altona Bay Wetlands. More than 20 local organisations have expressed their support including the Altona Rotary Club, Altona Village Traders Association, Port Phillip Ecocentre, Hobsons Bay’s six friends-of groups, Jawbone Marine Sanctuary Care Group and Marine Care Point Cook.
Opportunities
Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre is seeking engagement with a number of corporate, philanthropic and other businesses and organisations to help progress the Centre. If your organisation would like to be a part of this exciting and innovative initiative, email us at HBWCgroup@gmail.com
Testimonials
“The proposed location of the Wetlands Centre will enable it to promote and protect the Ramsar Site and Cheetham and Altona Key Biodiversity Area; sites internationally recognised as biodiversity hotspots for nature.”
Paul Sullivan, Chief Executive
Birdlife Australia
“The Centre would provide an opportunity to showcase our birdlife, native plants and our elusive and endangered Altona Skipper butterfly. Most importantly it would foster a connection to our environment with our local community, national and international visitors.”
Kim Walsh, President
Altona Village Traders Association Inc.
“Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek Inc believes that the Wetlands Centre will offer diverse opportunities for people of all ages to connect with nature. ”
Geoffrey W Mitchelmore OAM
President Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek Inc.
“As a group which spends much of its time enjoying the great outdoors, we are in favour of your work to improve awareness and support for conservation in Melbourne’s western suburbs. Many cyclists come across on the punt to use our local trails and a nature centre would be an excellent addition to a ride by educating the public about the rich natural resources in the West.”
John Stirk, President
BayWest Bicycle Users Group Inc
“A nature centre seems like a very worthy initiative that should complement other community and environmental assets of the local area.”
Bryan Goodwin, Secretary
Rotary Club of Altona City