Effective organisations working to protect and restore Australia’s unique ecosystems are always keen to do more – and there is a staggering amount of work needed to address 200+ years of nature exploitation and mismanagement. While a high-performing organisation will find funds for project work, it is much harder to resource the administrative bones. And as projects and workloads increase, cracks can start to appear.
When Nature Impact Collective began a conversation with Nature Glenelg Trust (NGT) in 2024 around our ‘Inland Waters’ focus, they expressed how difficult it was to access funding to support robust operating systems. And when we gifted them $270,000 in untied funds, we understood they were more likely destined for administrative upgrades rather than the on-the-ground work the organisation is renowned for, including their extensive and successful wetland restoration efforts across south-eastern Australia.
Since their beginnings 13 years ago, NGT has grown from a two-person team based in Mount Gambier, South Australia to an organisation with more than 30 staff across four states. Among their many wider achievements for threatened species, to date they have restored 80 wetlands and established 10 of their own reserves, with remarkable outcomes for biodiversity.
While their expansion was having great outcomes for nature, it was adding immense pressure to their existing administration systems. In particular, their financial management and accounting system needs had changed exponentially since the organisation was formed.
“When we heard the news that Nature Impact Collective was gifting us $270,000 in untied funding, it couldn’t have come at a better time,” NGT founder Mark Bachmann said at a recent meeting with Nature Impact Collective members. “Over the years, the work we were doing had grown quickly in complexity, and was rapidly outgrowing the systems we had in place to manage our projects efficiently.”
NGT had been very fortunate to have a long-term volunteer accountant in Mark’s father-in-law Richard Crew, who has worked diligently to ensure that NGT maintained the highest standard of financial accounting and transparency. While they were very grateful for this dedicated effort, with Richard ready to wind back his volunteer hours, which had evolved to become a full-time role, NGT recognised the need to move towards a new multi-user, web-based project finance management system that could better handle the more than 100 projects they had on the go at any time.
“The untied funding we received has allowed Richard to help us set-up and refine a new system suited to our needs, before he hands over to a new Management Accountant who will take the reins in a paid, full-time role for the first time,” said Mark. “As an organisation with a strong focus on grassroots action and making a difference on-ground, we recognise the importance of securing funding which can be used to meet this type of critical organisational need. I also wish to acknowledge the amazing 13 years of volunteer service provided by Richard, as NGT simply wouldn’t be where it is today without his incredible dedication over such a long period of time.”
Other core operating needs that Nature Glenelg Trust has signalled they are looking to progress include an upgrade to their original native plant nursery and office in Mt Gambier which they are outgrowing; funding to continue partially supporting a Business Manager role that was enabled through a capacity building grant some years ago; and opportunities to develop a trainee program for ecology graduates to gain vital field-based experience in the not-for-profit sector.
In terms of their hands-on work, NGT is currently working towards the purchase of Wirey Swamp, an artificially drained deep, freshwater marsh located in the Strathdownie region of western Victoria. This area was subject to a broad-scale coordinated government and private drainage programs in the 20th century and is an important habitat for the locally endangered Brolga population.
To find out more, or support Nature Glenelg Trust, please contact Lisa McIntyre – Partnership and Community Coordinator, by phone on 0428 749 235, or email [email protected].
www.natureglenelgtrust.org.au
Photo: Mark Bachmann