Under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, one of the BCT’s four tasks is to promote ‘public knowledge, appreciation and understanding of biodiversity and the importance of conserving biodiversity.’
BCT Education Program Objectives
The BCT is focusing its education efforts on private land conservation. We are taking an approach of designing and delivering educational projects in partnership with expert organisations, including Landcare NSW, the Australian Museum and Petaurus Education Group.
The BCT’s education projects to date have reached over 1780 students and provided professional development to 172 teachers across the state. See all Biodiversity Conservation Education Program outcomes below.

Schools
Conservation Champions is a free education project run by the Biodiversity Conservation Trust with the help of Petaurus Education Group.
The project includes curriculum-linked class lessons, excursions, resources and professional development opportunities for NSW schools, providing regional students with the opportunity to learn about the importance of biodiversity conservation across a range of different landscapes.
Elements of the project aim to connect motivated students to a champion landholder who is promoting biodiversity conservation, as well as scientific experts in biodiversity and sustainable agricultural practices.
A series of ‘Biodiversity on my land’ boxes developed with the Australian Museum are used throughout the Conservation Champions program, and contain additional engaging activities and resources including games, puppets, bush treasure hunts and picture books.
An online interactive unit targeted at year 11 agriculture students is also used as part of classroom activities, adding flexibility to the project. This interactive unit includes a cause and effect module, highlighting the ecosystem services conservation areas can provide to an agricultural landscape.
Conservation Champions is aligned with NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) curriculum requirements and involves a range of free primary and secondary resources (available for download below). The resources and lessons are linked with the curriculum for stages 1-6 and excursions linked for stages 5-6.
The entire project is free for schools, including assistance with travel arrangements. All presenters have their WWCC & First Aid.
If you have any questions or are interested in getting involved in Conservation Champions, please get in touch by filling out this short online form.
An overview of the key elements that make up the word biodiversity

An overview of the categories of ecosystem services that support primary industries and landholders
Enjoy the games below by printing and cutting out!

A native animal version of classic game - celebrity heads!

A biodiversity conservation edition of traditional 'snakes and ladders'
A biodiversity conservation edition of Monopoly! See game and pieces plus card decks below.

An in-depth game with a focus on biodiversity conservation in an agricultural setting

Card decks to print and cut out as part of Conservationopoly game
Enjoy the activities below by printing and cutting out!

Match native species with their habitat in a woodland ecosystem

Cut out, staple and wear!

Cut out, staple and wear!

A fun colouring activity

A fun and simple learning activity

A story about the special features of threatened native species

Resources to support the activities included in the Biodiversity on my land - museum in a box

A selection of quick activities to support the Biodiversity on my land - museum in a box
A biodiversity conservation edition of Monopoly! See game and pieces plus card decks below.

An in-depth game with a focus on biodiversity conservation in an agricultural setting

Card decks to print and cut out as part of Conservationopoly game
Landholders
Learn conservation management activity you can do on your property via our free online learning program of themed modules. The modules can be completed via your computer, tablet device or mobile. Completion contributes towards a Certificate IV in Conservation and Land Management.
The BCT’s conservation management video series is for landholders participating in private land conservation or considering doing so. They provide best practice management advice to landholders and complement the BCT’s conservation management guidelines available here.
A deck of grazing management 'cards' to assist with measuring healthy condition vegetation and ground cover, identify who's grazing in your paddock, and set up photo monitoring points. Print, cut out and attach together as a handy guide.
Print and cut out this ruler (double-sided) to assist in measuring average sward height of native grasses in your conservation area.
Print and cut out this ruler (double-sided) to assist in measuring average sward height of native grasses specific to the Central West NSW in your conservation area.
The BCT’s BioBites video series featuring BCT staff was created in 2020. These short videos for kids and big kids at heart who love learning about biodiversity without having to travel.
Keep up to date with upcoming events and webinars, as well as past recordings in case you miss out on the day of viewing - https://www.bct.nsw.gov.au/info/events
Partnerships
The BCT and Landcare NSW are working with regional Landcare networks to raise awareness and support private land conservation efforts across the state.
A co-managed and community-guided program, Partnering in Private Land Conservation Program aims to work collaboratively to build understanding and skills regarding biodiversity, educate private landholders on conservation efforts, and increase participation in private land conservation.
The 2-and-a-half-year program will build on, and further, the successful work already undertaken by the NSW Landcare community and the strength of partnerships and understanding of the importance of biodiversity at a grass roots level.
Key objectives of the project include:
- Building understanding and capacity between the BCT and local Landcare groups to complement each other’s knowledge and skills and plan how to work together.
- Building biodiversity conservation knowledge with landholders through communication and education initiatives. This will be delivered through grant funding to eligible groups who wish to participate.
- Increase the participation of landholders in private land conservation programs.
Regional Landcare Networks Projects
Across the state, Regional Landcare Networks have been funded to develop networking, education and communication activities with private landholders. These projects will build understanding of private land conservation and increase opportunities for regional Landcare and BCT staff and volunteers to meet and share their knowledge and skills.
Private landholders will be provided with opportunities to network, participate in education and training activities and share their stories of conservation on their own land.
Visit the Landcare NSW website to read about upcoming regional projects.
We encourage you to contact Landcare NSW or your regional Landcare Network for more information on how to participate.
The BCT has partnered with the Australian Museum (AM) on their world-leading citizen science project, FrogID.
Developed by the AM, FrogID is a free mobile app for iOS and Android devices that enables anyone to help monitor frogs by recording their calls. Frogs are highly sensitive to changes on land and in water and declines in frog populations are shown to have large-scale, long-term ecosystem-level impacts.
The BCT is encouraging landholders to get involved in this important initiative to help track changes in frog populations, fill knowledge gaps, gauge the effects of environmental change and inform landholders about the state of the environment.
See the resources below for more information and how to get involved.
Learn about why frogs are important for biodiversity and how to download the FrogID app to monitor for frogs on your land
A simple guide to downloading and using the FrogID app
Past projects

A book by students Isabella Piper, Ella Mcintosh, Emma Craig and Carrie Smith.

A book by students Holly Reinke, Jack Dunlop, Larissa MacDonald and Luke Krvavac from Macarthur Anglican School, Cobbitty.

A book by students Emma McCallum, Patrick Taggert, Hayden Kelvey, Austin Schofield, Bella White, Carly Fisher & Sophie Stringer.

A book by Year 5/6 students of St. Joseph’s Primary School, Jerilderie

A book by Year 5/6 students from School of the Air, Broken Hill and Hay.
