Membership
Donate
Heritage Advocacy
National Trust of Australia (Queensland) is defined by the charitable purpose "To promote and advance the conservation, protection and understanding of Australia’s natural and cultural (including built heritage) heritage, including the heritage of First Nations People for public benefit and education.”
As a community-based charity, national trust advocates for the preservation of special places, environments and wildlife. Advocacy is an important part of the National Trust’s core purpose of conservation, and we work with communities to help bring attention to important heritage issues.
National Trust in Queensland advocates for special places in several ways through a number of programs.
Heritage Appeals Program
National Trust supports significant heritage places to restore and conserve natural and built places. Furthermore, the Heritage Appeals program enables these special places to interpret the sites for public education. The Heritage Appeals program is available for community organisations to assist them to fundraise to conserve special places. For more information on apply for a Heritage Appeal, or to support an existing Heritage Appeal.
Queensland Heritage Council Representation
National Trust has representation on the Queensland Heritage Council and is actively involved in managing and adding new places to the State Heritage Register. National Trust works collaboratively with the State Department and the Heritage Council to ensure heritage is accessible and relatable to a broader audience and to develop strategies to reaching to communities to celebrate and recognise heritage in their regions. The Heritage Council was established under the Queensland Heritage Act 1992 and acts independently of government in the public interests - to identify and protect places with special heritage value.
The Queensland Heritage Council decides what is entered in and removed from the Queensland Heritage Register as well as:
- providing strategic advice to the government about cultural heritage matters
- providing information to the community to encourage an understanding of Queensland’s cultural heritage
- encouraging appropriate management of places of cultural heritage significance
- advocating on behalf of owners of heritage places
- assessing applications for development of state-owned heritage places.
National Trust Community Groups
In Queensland National Trust has a community group structure where motivated, and enthusiastic people can join like-minded people proactively supporting the mission and work closely with the NTAQ team to promote and celebrate heritage through the organisation of fundraising or educational events in their region. The community group are well connected with other organisations and with local heritage matters.
National Trust Community Groups
Working with all levels of Government and key stakeholders
Through our Australian Council of National Trusts we work on matters of Federal importance. Advocacy is an important part of the National Trust’s activities; as a community-based organisation, we are here to represent the community and bring attention to important heritage issues. As the oldest heritage organisation in the country, the Trust campaigns on important issues. Currently ACNT is working as stakeholders on the new National Heritage Strategy under development.
At a state level, we work closely with the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation and the Heritage and Environmental divisions, to collaborate and innovate to make heritage relevant to a broader audience. Our Advocacy Guide helps educate the community on the criteria and process of a state heritage listing application.
At a local level – National Trust collaborates with councils statewide for better heritage outcomes. We work with communities to assist and guide local advocacy and the importance of local recognition of heritage places and how they can help us make sure local heritage is not forgotten.
Heritage Education Programs
Education plays a crucial role in advocacy and National Trust believes that when people are educated on the importance of saving special places or special collection items that tell many stories from our history. The same position applies with our natural heritage educational programs promote conservation of habitats, flora, or fauna species. When people are educated on ways to conserve built, natural or cultural heritage, they care more and knows what action to take. National Trust Queensland is committed to education through curriculum-based learning programs at our properties and extends to tertiary and adult learning opportunities. National Trust seeks to continually educate and inform guests to our properties, through interpretation and storytelling.
Heritage Events
National Trust celebrates built, cultural and natural heritage through the Queensland Heritage Awards program.
National Trust also proudly supports the National Heritage Festival held annually across Australia. The festival supports and promotes heritage events state-wide.
Heritage Advocacy Response
Where there are significant matters regarding the conservation of special places, National Trust Queensland will take a stance and advise on preferred or alternate options for action. This includes being a proactive participant in advocacy or advisory panels, committees, or representation. Advocacy aims to raise awareness and assist communities to protect heritage. There are many different methods the National Trust uses for advocacy and awareness raising – including campaigning, organising events, and developing educational programs.
This may also include collating Public feedback and discussing with industry, government, or private stakeholders, to reach better heritage outcomes. An advocacy response is always developed in a considered way, based on factual information, any regulation or legislation governing the matter, public sentiment, and community significance, as well as the desired outcome, highlight alternative action and influencing stakeholders to make positive change.
Influence on Environmental matters
Through our specialist teams based at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Hospital, National Trust often advocates for and advises on initiatives to improve the welfare of animals in the wild. This includes advocating for more responsible road safety initiatives, wildlife fencing, habitat restoration, education programs and collaborations with other community organisations and educational facilities. Through our wildlife research program we work with University partners to ensure we make inroads to our ambition of all native wildlife living without threat of disease, human impact and in an environment where they can thrive. We also have developed sustainability educational programs, and community courses to ensure we share knowledge.
Getting involved in advocacy as a member of the National Trust is one way of helping save Queensland’s heritage places. Or get to know what we do by attending a heritage event.