Earlier this year I was incredibly fortunate to be able to apply and be offered a position in the head office of the Jane Goodall Institute Australia. My role as the Embrace the Wild Project Officer was to assist colleagues in the development of a comprehensive resource kit that encourages young people aged 12-24 living in urban areas to create habitat in their own backyard or local area through projects such as frog hotels, lizard lounges and vegetable gardens. This role involves working closely with teams at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, Taronga Conservation Society and TAFE NSW. Collaborating with these external partners, I am planning and designing a short course TAFE program in environmental science related fields for successful participants and sourcing work experience placements for participants who prove to have a strong interest in pursuing a career in environmental conservation.

​

Key organisational and project management skills have been critical to this role to clearly communicate with team members. Working in a small team of head office staff, including working closely with the CEO, has exponentially improved my teamwork skills as I listen and learn but equally share my ideas with confidence. Many of these staff members have over 10 years experience in environmental non-profit management and education and I learn from them every day. This role has taught me to be more efficient and adaptable in an environment that requires quick thinking and plenty of teamwork. I used creativity and innovation in all of the content I have produced from the resource to the launch videos. The 400 pilot participants from around Sydney will make a tangible difference to the biodiversity or their project site, benefitting animals, plants and people. 

​

This program is something I really believe in, it connects hundreds of youth from diverse lower socio-economic backgrounds to environmental conservation while simultaneously connecting them with their local communities and improving their mental health. Attached is a reference letter from my manager, Ben Howes. 

Below is an exert from the ETW resource kit, I can't show you more yet as we are launching the pilot initially for New South Wales in late 2021!