The ParkCare Initiative is a partnership between environmental volunteers in the ACT region and ACT Parks and Conservation Service which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2019. The ACT is unique to other states and territories in Australia with ACT Parks (the ACT Government) managing 60% of the land in the ACT. This includes Namadgi National Park, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and a network of reserves through the Canberra Nature Park. This is an enormous task and the landscape includes everything from endangered ecological ecosystems (EEC’s), alpine areas, 66km of the Murrumbidgee River and a wealth of Aboriginal and European heritage sites.

The Canberra Nature Park where the bulk of ParkCare volunteering takes place is home to some of the best examples of lowland native grassland and the EEC of Yellow Box-Red Gum Grassy Woodland left in Australia. There are currently over 800 volunteers who are registered with ParkCare and these volunteers work with and alongside ACT Parks employees to care for, protect, enhance and promote the parks and reserves of the region.