Connecting Communities with Landcare

Landcare Tasmania has partnered with Centacare Evolve Housing (Community Housing Provider) to run a series of food security and nature connection workshops in tenant communities across Tasmania. The aim is to improve tenant mental health, connection, well-being, community cohesion and sense of belonging through growing food and connecting with nature.

Each tenant community will inform workshop content and project direction based on their specific interests and needs, which will allow them to continue their project well into the future. Tenants will be able to connect with external specialists and local community leaders who present at workshops and develop connections with the general community. Relevant partner organisations will assist in project delivery and monitoring so outcomes can be value-added. At the heart of this program is connection and sustainability for tenant communities.

Activities may include

  • Creating or rejuvenating common space areas to be more pleasant spaces to enjoy
  • Planting trees and plants
  • Improving community garden areas to be productive and user-friendly
  • Working bees to trim or remove overgrown/unsuitable vegetation and replace with more manageable plants
  • Workshops to learn about a range of topics including weed control, gardening, pruning, composting, indoor plant care and aspects of sustainable living
  • Field trips to meet with local Landcare groups and participate in their activities

About the grant

Strong and Resilient Communities Activity - Inclusive Communities Grants aims to better address emerging community needs.

The focus of the SARC Activity is towards services that support vulnerable and disadvantaged people, to more equitably participate socially and economically in society. The program supports the following four priority cohorts:

  • Young people aged 12 to 18 years who are or are at risk of, being disengaged, marginalised and having limited engagement with education/training
  • People with disabilities and/or mental health ill health to participate in their community, and work towards becoming and/or remaining independent and engaged
  • Vulnerable women who experience, or are at risk of, isolation or discrimination to participate in their community and increase their sense of self agency and empowerment
  • People who are unemployed to address individual barriers to social and economic participation and employment by increasing their capacity for engagement with existing employment, community supports and training services, as they work towards gaining meaningful employment.

The intended outcomes of the program relate to strengthened community connections, economic and social participation and increased levels of self-reliance, wellbeing and mental health.

Updates

You can read the latest updates about the project here.