In the lead-up to World Conservation Day (28 July), two Indigenous TAFE NSW students, Melanie Martin from TAFE NSW Lake Cargelligo and Fredrick Bennett from TAFE NSW Menindee are following their passion for conservation and land management with the aim to preserve Australia’s natural beauty.

No small task when Australia is home to 680 national parks, the most of any country in the world and making up a total of 30,000 square Km.

In this year’s budget, NSW will receive more than $2 billion invested in programs focusing on protection and conservation, from that $598 million over 10 years for the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Melanie had little interest in education until she met the team at TAFE NSW Lake Cargelligo, she has now worked her way up from Statement of Attainment in Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) to a Certificate II in Conservation and Land management.

Melanie said, “studying wasn’t my thing until I met the team up at Lake Cargelligo, and now I have completed six courses with them.”

Rita Hough, TAFE NSW Teacher for Natural Resource Management said “the training provided by TAFE NSW gives students the practical skills and knowledge for a range of careers within the sector.

“Fred and Mel are great examples, we couldn’t be prouder of how far they have come and the impact they have had on the community and land.

“The course is specially tailored to teach learners to collect, prepare, and preserve plant specimens, carry out natural area restoration, maintain cultural places and maintain wildlife habitat refuges. There is so much to learn, all of which is practical to the job you want to do working with the land”.

Fred enrolled at TAFE NSW to help expand his hands-on skills and knowledge of Conservation and Land Management at TAFE NSW Menindee and is employed as a park ranger in Barkandji.

Next Fred hopes to move into a Certificate III and work his way up through the ranks while carrying on his employment as a Barkandji ranger.

Melanie hasn’t finished with education and is spreading the word about her own success with TAFE NSW and has both her daughters enrolled and her niece.

“Since studying with TAFE NSW I have found my calling, want others to know about what they can achieve with TAFE NSW too. I want to keep improving my education and looking at studying Horticulture next”.

For more information about courses at TAFE NSW or via TAFE Digital, visit www.tafensw.edu.au or phone 131 601.

Media contact: Callum Darby-Linfitt, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, 02 7921 1823 callum.darbylinfitt@tafensw.edu.au