NCC Member Groups

The Australian Association for Environmental Education (AAEE) is the professional association for environmental educators. AAEE NSW represents environmental educators from all sectors (community, formal and government educators) in discussions, debates and provides recommendations on issues and directions for a sustainable future. For over 30 years, AAEE has worked with government and non-government organisations in the interests of quality education and environmental change. 

AAEE NSW works to assist environmental educators to get involved, improve their knowledge through professional development, assist local networks, share up-to-date news and resources and provides a forum for the NSW environmental education community to share their knowledge and expertise.

The Australian Conservation Foundation - Central Coast aims to inspire and promote a society which is environmentally aware and responsible. Campaigning to protect, restore and sustain the environment. Urgent actions for preventing decision-making that could have detrimental impacts on the environment. Our Central Coast branch concentrates particularly on such environmental impacts resulting from expansive urban planning, tourist developments and escalation of population growth.

The national network that links people, research and action in plant conservation.

The Australian Wildlife Society was formed in 1909 with a commitment to preserve and protect our unique Australian wildlife in all its forms. Before 2013 known as the Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia, it is one of the oldest conservation societies in Australia and probably one of the oldest in the world.

Bellingen Environment Centre is located in the heart of Bellingen town, and it is very much the focus for the environmentally and socially active community groups operating in the local shire. As well as being the home for many of the activities of the various community groups, BEC has also been responsible for a great many environmental success stories in the area.

Bird Observation & Conservation Australia (BOCA) is a major birding and conservation organisation including 49 Branches and Affiliates with members all over Australia. BOCA has been established for more than 100 years, and, until recently, was known as The Bird Observers Club of Australia. BOCA provides educational workshops and teaching resources and has an ongoing commitment to, and active participation in, conservation of Australian native birds and their habitats.

The Blue Mountains Conservation Society (BMCS) helps conserve the natural wonders of the World Heritage Blue Mountains region. BMCS began as the Katoomba and District Wildlife Conservation Society in 1961, when a group of concerned residents met to determine how they could better protect the Blue Mountains environment, and now boasts almost 1,000 members.

The Caldera Environment Centre (CEC) exists to help develop and promote community solutions to our common environmental problems. It has operated in Murwillumbah and the far north coastal region of NSW since 1989.

The Castlecrag Conservation Society aims to preserve the biodiversity of the natural heritage of Castlecrag by means of conservation and proper management of the natural bushland, wetlands and aquatic ecosystems for their intrinsic value to present and future generations as well as protect and promote the non-living resources of Castlecrag such as historic sites, geological features, views and other features of landscape significance.

Chipbusters was formed to fight proposals to expand the Australian woodchip industry by burning forests for electricity.

The Peace, Ecology and Justice Centre of the Columban Institute works in partnership with other agencies, cultures and faith groups, offering in-service, forums and workshops.

Our aims:

• Awareness in the Church and society of the connections between peace, ecology and justice.
• A Culture of Peace as a framework for these connections.
• Action on issues.

The Cumberland Bird Observers Club conducts at least 40 birdwatching trips every year over the greater Sydney region. That's more than three outings per month, rain, hail or shine. Members of the public are very welcome to come along. As well as regular club outings there are also Nestlings outings for families with young children and Weekday Warblers for those who have time during the week.

Dubbo Field Naturalist and Conservation Society has been a voice for environmental responsibility and conservation ethics in the Dubbo region since 1977. It aims to:

• foster interest, knowledge and enjoyment in natural history, particularly in the Dubbo region
• speak out on environmental and conservation issues, particularly those affecting our area, and
• achieve these aims by meetings with lectures, discussions and field trips.

Founded in 1993, EcoNetwork is a Port Stephens based conservation, sustainability and natural heritage network with a vision for an eco-oriented culture for sustainable communities and the transfer of intact eco-systems to future generations.

EcoNetwork-Port Stephens is committed to the conservation of terrestrial and marine environments and to opposing excessive growth and development.

ECCO was launched in 2006, in response to widespread community environmental concern at a time when the city of Orange was experiencing significant residential expansion and commercial development. ECCO has subsequently embarked on a broad program of environmental education, awareness and activism in the Orange community, with an increasing emphasis on climate action initiatives through its sub-group, Orange Climate Action Now (OCAN).

Friends of Berowra Valley Regional Park are community volunteers interested in making the Park more accessible to the broader public. The Friends group was officially established at a Hornsby Shire Council meeting in 1993. The group operated for many years as a Special Committee of Hornsby Shire Council and enjoyed considerable support from Council during those years.

In 2006, Council reduced its involvement in the management of Berowra Valley Regional Park. As a result, The Friends became an incorporated Community Service Organisation to more fully support its own operations as an independent group dedicated to assist the managers of the Park.

Friends of Malabar Headland formed in 2000 to protect the natural and cultural heritage of Malabar Headland in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. Malabar Headland is home to Sydney’s most diverse and high quality coastal bushland (the endangered Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub) supporting over 283 native plant and 200 bird species, boasts spectacular views and dramatic sandstone cliffs and contains World War II infrastructure and Aboriginal sites.

We were formed in 1986 and have been licensed to rescue, rehabilitate and release koalas since 1989. Our mission is to conserve koalas, particularly in the Northern Rivers Region of New South Wales, in recognition of the contribution the species makes to Australia’s biodiversity. Our core business includes habitat protection, rescue, rehabilitation and release, community education, advocacy and policy reform and research.

We are a society of people based in New South Wales, Australia, who have a genuine interest in frogs and tadpoles. FATS Group members span a wide range of interests - naturalists, herpetologists, pet keepers, professional scientists and private people with a desire to learn more about frogs and our environment. It is our mission to increase the awareness and appreciation of the natural world.

The basic principles for the Hunter Environment Lobby are that it is a non political, non profit and independent organisation.  It functions on the principles of democracy and equal opportunity and is guided by the need to achieve constructive improvements to the environment. The objectives of the Hunter Environment Lobby are:

(a) To promote the protection and enhancement of the environment of the Hunter Valley, and to be concerned with all matters affecting the natural ecosystems of the Valley;
(b) To prevent further degradation of the natural ecosystems of the Valley and to promote the rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems;
(c) To encourage ecologically sustainable development, employment, energy use and land management practices;
(d) To ensure co-ordinated environmental planning and management of the Valley;
(e) To co-operate and exchange information with other groups supporting the above objectives;
(f) To achieve the above objectives by all appropriate means.

Ironstone Community Action Group formed in 2007 to defend against a "proposed Magnetit mine" taking in properties in Limeburners Creek, Allworth and Booral. They speak out about unsatisfactory mining approvals through meeting Government Departments, holding public hmeetings, roadside rallies, and using photos, film, and water samples to show people what is actually happening to our valley's. This coming year they plan on more roadside information tables, public meetings, and fundraising.

The Jervis Bay Regional Alliance is a broad coalition of conservation and community groups formed to protect and enhance the environment and the social and cultural heritage of the region.

A non profit community organization working for the conservation of all bat species especially the Grey-headed Flying-fox

The aims of the Society:

• to preserve the biodiversity of the natural heritage of Lane Cove Municipality by means of conservation and the proper management of the natural bushland, wet lands and aquatic ecosystems
• to ensure that air, land and water pollution controls in Lane Cove are of a sufficiently high standard and are adequently implemented so as to prevent harm to human health and the natural environment

The Lithgow Environment Group seeks to preserve the balance of nature in our region. This is especially important given the impacts of the area's industrial heritage. The Lithgow region contains some of the most biodiverse bushland in the Greater Blue Mountains. We would like to promote this rich natural heritage, especially given that it has often been under recognised.

Projects and campaigns we have been involved in include Stream watch (monitoring local streams for reporting to the Sydney Catchment Authority), Clean up Australia Day (both as a group and as individuals), 'The Lithgow Heritage Gang' (maintaining tourist attractions of Lithgow), Landcare projects, Platypus watch, as well as Save our Swamps workdays on the Newnes Plateau. We also continually campaign against proposed mining in the Gardens of Stone.

A strong community alliance opposing destructive mining activities in the Nambucca Valley has been launched.  Calling itself ‘Lock the Nambucca Valley’ (LNV), the group began as the Nambucca working group formed at a public meeting about mining at Macksville in July 2012.

To raise awareness, promote and respect the natural environment and its biodiversity

The Native Bird Liberation Alliance (NBLA) was set up in the late 1990s as a lobby group focusing on and campaigning against the industry of hunting, trapping, transporting and caging Australia's beautiful native birds for "pets" and for export.

NBLA is opposed to the exploitation and commercialisation of native fauna, particularly bird species known to be endangered in NSW

Rivers SOS is an alliance of over 40 environmental and community groups concerned with the wrecking of rivers in New South Wales by mining operations.

Formed in 1976, we are the peak umbrella environment group in northern NSW.

The NSWTF is the registered trade union which covers NSW public school teachers, representing all teachers in New South Wales public education. The total membership stands at about 67,000 in 2007.

The Federation policy adopted at the 2011 Annual Conference calls for continued support for the ACTU and AEU environment policies and activities, including lobbying in support of a sustainable low carbon economy which includes a price on polluters and pollution.

WIRES aims to actively rehabilitate and preserve Australian wildlife and inspire others to do the same

Orange Field Naturalist & Conservation Society Inc. has been established since the 1980s. The aims of the society are:

• To hold public meetings to educate members and supporters about nature conservation.
• To produce newsletters aimed at informing members and the public of the activities of the Association.
• To organise field trips and working-bees aimed at studying and conserving Australia’s natural environment.
• To conserve and replace native trees and other flora.
• To monitor human impact on the natural environment and to advise public and private institutions of the environmental impact of their activities.
• To enter joint activities with other groups sharing similar objects.

ORRCA is the most experienced and successful whale rescue organisation in Australia.

Palerang Local Action Network for Sustainability Inc. (PLANS) is a group aiming to "increase the sustainable development capacity of Palerang communities by providing adcocacy and secretariat support for local initiatives." Initaitves include innovations in local power production, food supply, public transport, waste reuse and recycling, and much more.

Our mission is to gather together community effort on climate action, and to support our political and business leadership in taking corrective action.

Aims of the committee include:

1. The long term protection of the Berowra Valley Regional Park to protect it`s high bio-diversity and in particular the lands our members were responsible for having included into the park through our lobbying efforts  in 1987 and in 2003 now known as Stringybark Ridge.  

2. We have established two volunteer bushcare groups --one to work on the Endangered Shale Sandstone Transition forest along the shale lens on the ridge top and the second group which was set up to work on the Endangered Turpentine/Ironbark forest at Redgum Ave.

3. The gazetting of the BVRP to National Park status.

4. The protection of the rich habitat qualities of the Stringybark Ridge bushland and the protection of populations of bird life and other fauna.

5. To keep active sports use out of future POMs for the park including the exclusion of dog walking and horse riding

Ryde Community Alliance represents the views of a number of local groups and concerned residents. We are developing an alternative vision for Ryde to retain ownership of the site and build a new Civic Centre that respects the community and the environment, and campaign against inappropriate development. We are fighting for true community consultation and representation from Ryde council.

The Ryde Hunters Hill Flora and Fauna Preservation Society had its beginnings in 1965, with local residents concerned about the future of the Field of Mars bushland.

Rylstone District Environment Society Inc. (RDES) is the local environment group for the rural townships, villages and localities around Rylstone and Kandos in the NSW Central West.

SCRAP stands for School Communities Recycling All Paper Ltd.

We are a non-profit company and we exist to help schools, other educational, government, non-profit bodies and private individuals and companies become environmentally-friendly and encourage you - whether you are a student, a teacher or a member of the wider community - to understand how to do this better.

Step is a community-based environmental organisation with over 400 members from Ku-Ring-Gai, Hornsby and surrounding suburbs of northern Sydney. Our primary aim is to preserve all natural bushland within the area from alienation and degradation

Sutherland Shire Environment Centre was set up in 1991 by concerned Shire residents. The objectives of SSEC are:

• to act to defend the environment of the Sutherland Shire and associated bio-regions, by supporting members and local community organisations in their efforts to protect and improve their local areas
• to develop and conduct enviornmental education initiatives, to encourage behavioural change to achieve a sustainable enviornment in the Sutherland Shire and its bio-regions.

The Bush Club came into existence on 19th September 1939, mainly as a result of the initiative of Marie Byles and Paddy Pallin. Marie Byles was concerned that the rather rigorous tests to obtain entry to bush walking clubs existing at the time excluded genuine lovers of the bush who were unwilling or unable to pack walk and camp out overnight. She believed that the essential qualifications for members should be a genuine love of the bush, a desire to protect it and a willingness to extend the hand of friendship to other bushwalkers.

The Coastwatchers Association work for:

• The creation of environmentally friendly jobs, for which there is plenty of scope
• Maintaining our clean healthy catchments and coasts
• Recognition that people are part of the environment, and not separate from it
• Planned development with as little environmental destruction as possible
• Ecologically sustainable management of our forests
• Empowering our community to live and work together sustainably
• Planning to avoid the piecemeal detrimental impacts of development which so often occurs
• Ensuring the community's hard won environmental gains are not lost
• Fair international trade, because the present WTO rules are a threat to the environment and a just society.

The Colong Foundation, the successor to Myles Dunphy’s National Parks and Primitive Areas Council, is Australia’s longest-serving community advocate for wilderness.

The Wilderness Society (TWS) is a national, community-based, environmental advocacy organisation whose purpose is protecting, promoting and restoring wilderness and natural processes across Australia for the survival and ongoing evolution of life on Earth.

TWS is a national, community-based, environmental advocacy organisation whose purpose is protecting, promoting and restoring wilderness and natural processes across Australia for the survival and ongoing evolution of life on Earth.

The Total Environment Centre (TEC) has been campaigning for environment protection since 1972.

TEC works to protect this country's natural and urban environment, in the city and country, changing government policy, advising the community and challenging business, by flagging the issues, driving debate, supporting community activism and pushing for better environmental policy and practice.

TEC uses targeted research, publications, forums, persistent lobbying and community action to work for long-term solutions, addressing the cause as well as the symptoms of environmental stress.

Founded in 1971 the Ulitarra Conservation Society aims to provide education in natural history together with a voice on matters of conservation and environmental concern. Members promote bushwalking and foster appreciation and conservation of the environment and support the establishment and maintenance of national parks and wilderness areas.

The name Ulitarra comes from the all-powerful Aboriginal god who was the creator of the Gumbaynggirr people who inhabited the coast between the Nambucca and Clarence Rivers. Ulitarra believed it was a crime to misuse the environment and this would invoke his wrath. The society adheres to his philosophy.

The Western Sydney Conservation Alliance Inc (WSCA) is a not for profit volunteer group that seeks to protect Western Sydney's dwindling Natural Heritage by:

• opposing inappropriate development
• lobbying politicians
• community education, and
• fostering initiatives such as bush care.

Wingecarribee Landcare & Bushcare Network aims to preserve the integrity of the natural environment of the Wingecarribbee Shire.

The Wombat Protection Society Ltd. is a non profit company developed to benefit the protection, advocate and care for, conserve and study Wombats. Through education it aims to improve the community's moral feelings towards Wombats. They plan on establishing better public education on Wombats including the publication of factsheets.