Bushcare is a community-based volunteer program supported by Council. It celebrated its 30th year anniversary in May 2023. Bushcare volunteers receive training and guidance from our dedicated Bushcare officers.
Bushcare volunteer Rhonda Daniels won Environmental Citizen of the Year as part of the 2025 Sutherland Shire Citizen of the Year Awards. Rhonda has been a Bushcare volunteer since 2004 and works at several reserves, the community nursery, and Joseph Banks Gardens, as well as attending seed collecting days and leading tours through Joseph Banks. Rhonda is dedicated and enthusiastic about Bushcare, willingly promotes the program and assists new volunteers to learn new skills by sharing her extensive knowledge.
Council’s Community Nursery volunteer propagation specialists won Environmental Citizen of the Year as part of the 2024 Sutherland Shire Australia Day Awards. Four experienced volunteers helped Council’s nursery team in production planning, propagation, and identification of new and endangered plant species. This work contributed to reintroducing native plant species across the Sydney metro area.
With over 3,000 hectares of bushland in Sutherland Shire, volunteers are essential in helping restore and preserve our environment. Currently, our 580 Bushcare volunteers help care for more than 110 bushland reserves. View Bushcare locations.
Becoming a volunteer has many benefits, including:
- gaining valuable experience and learning new skills
- learning about environmental issues
- keeping your mind and body active
- gaining hands-on experience
- meeting new people and making lifelong friends.
Volunteer responsibilities
Volunteers work under the direction of our staff using bush regeneration techniques to:
- protect indigenous fauna, flora and remnant vegetation
- rehabilitate natural areas
- activate community involvement.