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A Day in the Life of Janine Young, CVA’s Hobart Project Officer

At Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA), our mission is being implemented by passionate people on the ground. This includes volunteers and our dedicated and experienced field staff, project managers and project officers.

To give you an inside look at how we build back biodiversity and create lasting impacts for people and nature, we’ve been sharing insights from our staff about what it’s like to manage conservation projects. This includes day-in-the-life stories about CVA staff Iris Cosgrove and Rosie Newman.

In this article you can find out more about Janine Young, our Revive Our Wetlands Project Officer in Hobart, and how she is working with volunteers and corporate sponsors to restore wetlands.

From navigating early morning field prep to managing groups of volunteers, Janine shares what it really takes to manage restoration projects along Tasmania’s foreshores.

How Janine Young Become Involved in Restoring Hobart’s Wetlands

Janine was drawn to working in conservation and is driven by a deep sense of stewardship for nature.

“I love nature and the environment, and I have always wanted to play a part in protecting it,” says Janine.

For many people working in the conservation sector, gaining hands-on practical experience can be both professionally and personally rewarding. Janine spent several years working as a volunteer before joining CVA. There she gained practical experience in coordinating conservation projects around the world. Janine also studied Ecosystem Management, which provided a wealth of relevant knowledge and skills for working in nature conservation.

Janine works as a CVA Project Officer delivering the Revive Our Wetlands initiative in Hobart. “To someone outside the sector, I would say that I organise and run volunteer events that are focused on conservation and building back habitat. I also work closely with communities, other organisations and key people,” explains Janine.

What’s It Like To Be a Conservation Project Officer?

You may be interested to know what it’s really like to be a conservation project officer and dedicate your career to helping restore and protect nature. Janine spends around 2 to 3 days a month working in the field, and the rest of the time is spent in the office on admin, project planning, and paperwork.

When Janine is out in the field, her days start early — leaving home at around 5.30am. She loads up tools and materials at the office and then heads to the field site where she’s working. These project sites are “typically along the river, and we work mostly along the foreshore. Usually here in Hobart, the native saltmarsh has been filled in (in the 70s usually) and we plant onto this infill to create a buffer zone,” explains Janine.

Next, Janine helps set up and brief volunteers, followed by several hours of working to restore wetlands. There are usually between 10 and 20 volunteers — sometimes more (especially for planting). “I get them all signed in at the start of the event, make sure they wear the appropriate gear, give an induction and on-site demonstration of our activities, and once we start work I keep an overview to make sure everyone is safe and is working in a safe way, and I manage materials, logistics, answer questions, talk about future events, and most important of all (and sometimes the hardest part!): make everyone have a break for morning tea.”

Office days are a bit different. These days start around 8.30 in the office and typically involve checking urgent emails, responding to messages, and either planning new events or conducting post-event reporting and data capturing. The planning phase of events can be exciting and includes meeting with stakeholders, councils or guest speakers to organise on-site work and any special activities.

Skills Needed For a Career in Volunteer Conservation

While knowledge about ecosystems, the environment and conservation are critical — people management skills are also vital for anyone working with volunteers on conservation projects.

“I think the people management matters most. The technical stuff is something we just pick up, and we usually have council or other people there to advise. Safety is a big one and is something that I learned while being at CVA”, says Janine.

When it comes to managing people, the ability to both keep volunteers motivated and safe is important. “Being aware of everyone’s limitations and trying to delegate them to different areas/jobs depending on this. And managing expectations, as well as creating a fun atmosphere with plenty of breaks,” says Janine.

The Rewards of Community Conservation Work

Working with volunteers in conservation can be highly rewarding work. “Interacting with genuine, kind and generous volunteers who come out in all weathers and on public transport” is part of what makes the job so special for Janine.

Observing the incredible and transformational impact of our community and conservation work is also incredibly rewarding and a highlight of the work. “We have one site where we’ve been planting for years (even before I was PO), and we’ve now finished planting a buffer zone along a lagoon. We go back to weed, remove guards etc. There is a native saltmarsh grass that has volunteered to grow between our plantings and fight the aggressive non-native grass,” says Janine with a great sense of pride in this accomplishment.

Advice From a Conservation Project Officer

When asked what is something she wished more people knew about conservation work, that is often a little misunderstood, Janine explains that the time to start taking action for nature is now.

“That we need to start planting and building back habitat now, to balance out everything else that’s happening, but also because trees and shrubs in particular can take time. Also the fact that we need to link natural spaces to create corridors for wildlife,” says Janine.

Janine’s hope is that “all the plants grow healthy and large, and that our future (planned) plantings all take place”. She also hopes that people will enjoy these plants, and see the benefits for themselves and for nature.

How to Join Janine Restoring Nature in Hobart and Beyond

We are always looking for passionate volunteers to help us restore Australia’s iconic wetlands. Find a volunteering event near you and sign up today!

If you’re interested in getting into the environmental industry, which can be competitive, Janine notes that getting practical experience by working with CVA can be helpful: “start volunteering and leading volunteers in their free time, maybe even consider leading a landcare group etc.,” suggests Janine.