Victorian Landcare Magazine - Winter 2022, Issue 84
Landcare groups across West Gippsland can now spend less time on managing members and administrations and more time on working towards environmental outcomes thanks to the newly released Landcare membership portal.
The portal was developed during the recent lockdowns and went live in February 2022. It is available free of charge for all Landcare groups and networks in West Gippsland and is attracting enquiries from other groups across Victoria.
Kathleen Brack, Regional Landcare Program Officer with West Gippsland CMA, led the development process. According to Kathleen the main benefit of the portal is efficiency.
“Previously Landcare groups managed their memberships in many different ways, ranging from Excel spreadsheets, renewal reminders in the post and receiving annual fees in an ad-hoc manner throughout the year. The online solution allows Landcare group executives to manage group memberships, collect annual fees automatically into their bank account and generate automatic reminders for annual renewal.
Above: Tash Marty-Cripps (left) and Kathleen Brack from West Gippsland CMA demonstrate how the portal can be accessed anywhere at any time.
“It also allows Landcare members across West Gippsland the flexibility to join their local Landcare group, pay annual fees and change any contact or other details directly at a time that suits them,” Kathleen said.
The portal has the ability to accept credit card, manual cheque and cash payments. Group treasurers can easily see the number of financial members they have in real time.
West Gippsland has five committed and active Landcare networks working across the large region.
“The idea was agreed upon by the five West Gippsland Landcare networks who wanted a portal that was easy to use, safe, secure, accessible to both groups and networks, and helpful for insurance reporting and communication,” Kathleen said.
West Gippsland CMA managed the project, running a tender process for the development of the portal. A local Gippsland software designer completed the job.
Sally O’Neill is Communications Lead at the West Gippsland CMA.
For further information email Kathleen Brack at rlc@wgcma.vic.gov.au
The CMA achieved another milestone recently with its Gippslandscapes podcast celebrating 50 episodes. Launched in 2019, the podcast features the many colourful characters and incredible achievements of Landcare across the region. More stories are planned for future episodes.
All 50 Gippslandscapes podcasts are at www.wgcma.vic.gov.au/gippslandscapes
The portal is at www.landcare.wgcma.vic.gov.au/