LANDCARE FACILITATOR
Landcare Facilitator – Role Summary
Backed by VLFP Guidelines
What They Do
Support governance, compliance, and grant writing — the VLFP guidelines describe this as building the capacity of Landcare and environmental volunteer groups and networks to be sustainable, effective and well‑governed.
Connect landholders, groups, councils, CMAs, and alliances — the guidelines emphasise that facilitators connect groups, networks, landholders, and the wider community with government, agencies and other organisations.
Guide EOIs, site visits, and link to funding — the guidelines note that facilitators assist groups to develop and deliver projects, including identifying funding opportunities and supporting applications.
Communicate opportunities, share stories, and maintain SEA’s profile — the guidelines highlight the role of promoting Landcare and environmental volunteering, including sharing success stories and raising the profile of groups.
Build skills through training, mentoring, and field days — the guidelines state that facilitators support groups to build skills and knowledge through training, mentoring and information sharing.
Advocate for local issues at regional and state levels — the guidelines confirm that facilitators represent and advocate for Landcare and environmental volunteer groups at regional and state levels
What They Don’t Do
Run groups or take over governance — committees remain responsible for governance and decision‑making; facilitators enable, but do not lead.
Do all on‑ground work such as planting, spraying, or fencing — the guidelines make clear that facilitators enable participation but are not a workforce.
Replace volunteers — the role is to strengthen and support volunteers, not to substitute for them.
Guarantee funding — facilitators can assist with applications, but outcomes depend on competitive processes and funder priorities.
Grant Applications—Writing grant applications end to end, administering grants or filling in acquittals.
Provide unlimited administrative services — facilitators may set up systems and templates, but day‑to‑day administration (bookkeeping, secretarial duties, running meetings) remains with groups.
Funded role is strategic support, not event logistics and hospitality, operational management and Administrative tasks outside scope.
Act as personal consultants — facilitators work within SEA’s mission and program priorities, not as private consultants for individuals.
Why This matters
It keeps expectations realistic and prevents role overload.
It reinforces that Landcare is community‑led: facilitators enable, but ownership stays with the community.
It ensures continuity by embedding systems, templates, and contacts, while leaving execution to landholders and volunteers.
It protects facilitators from burnout and multiplies the impact of community effort.
A Landcare Facilitator is the enabler and guide, not the workforce or the committee. They create the conditions for success, but responsibility and ownership remain firmly with the community.
The intent is that Landcare Facilitators work to build capacity of groups and networks, as opposed to creating dependency on the role.