Positive Aspects of Community Partnerships

A personal view on the value of community work to our environment - Danny Jones

In my role as Field Ranger for Parklands Albury Wodonga, I have had experience in working with a diverse group of people. One of the groups I regularly work with is the community service order participants who come with a range of life experiences and indeed different levels of hands on experience when it comes to working in the environment. I have had community workers that are business owners, white collar workers, blue collar workers and the unemployed. They are from various age groups ranging from 18 years through to about 65 years of age.

The variety of tasks that are undertaken by the community workers and myself range from tree planting, tree guard removal, rubbish removal from some of our beautiful riversides, fencing, woody weed removal, painting, plenty of brush cutting over the spring months, walking track construction and maintenance as well as bollard and sign installation. The crew members gain many skills, knowledge, and experience working within a team.

The simple fact that the community worker must be on time to attend each day's work is also helping to instil time management and self motivation. Working within a group also not only promotes team work but also makes the worker more understanding to other people's views and ideas.

I realise that it is not by choice that they attend these programs; however I have a number of community workers who have mentioned to me that they enjoyed a particular task or had a good day. In fact a few of my clients have indeed done several hundred volunteer hours with Parklands after they have completed their community work obligation.

The fact that we are working in the local community also has positive implications for the community workers in that a sense of pride and ownership is gained when particular projects are completed. The clients feel that a particular area is theirs and many have told me that they have taken their families to look at a particular area. Another client rang me to report that a fence had been cut the next day after he took his partner out to show her our handy work. He was most upset, and suggested several bollards be put in to stop future access, which was implemented the following week by our team.

These community workers also work in conjunction with other Parklands rangers, volunteers and work groups.
All in all, the community work program benefits the clients, Parklands and most importantly the environment.