The Tasmanian Land Conservancy’s (TLC) internship and professional placement program involves emerging professionals in applied conservation activities so they can expand their skills and experience. Students work alongside our experienced team on ecological research, field surveying, data processing and analysis, and land management activities. Usually interns complete a discrete conservation project, often structured by agreement with their course convenor and credited towards post-graduate studies. Upon completion, participants have new insights into nature conservation, new skills and expertise, new industry contacts and often, new ideas and convictions for career pathways. The TLC has an important role to play to facilitate these opportunities and demand is growing, but philanthropic support is needed to sustain the program.
Key partnerships
Since 2013, the TLC has partnered with the University of Tasmania Geography and Environment Faculty, supervising one to three graduate students annually. These ‘work integrated learning’ participants complete a minimum of 80 hours featuring projects that may include drafting reserve management plans, surveying threatened species, ARC GIS mapping, literature reviews and producing reports on sector issues. The TLC also works with various other researchers and institutes as outlined in our 2018–19 Annual Report (page 18).
Case study: Harrison Talarico – Work Integrated Learning Placement, Summer 2019–2020
Harry came to the TLC in his third year of a Bachelor of Zoology at UTAS. Harry took a lead role in the collection and analysis of flora and fauna survey data from the TLC’s newest reserve, Little Swanport, on Tasmania’s east coast. He also made field trips to other TLC reserves including the Vale of Belvoir and Egg Islands and supported assessments of properties being considered for Land for Wildlife membership. Harry is an ongoing volunteer with our Science team, further building his skills and experiences in nature conservation.
Protected Areas Learning and Research Collaboration
The TLC’s involvement with the Protected Areas Learning and Research Collaboration continues to grow capacity for effective management and governance of protected areas in Australia, Asia and the Pacific. The Collaboration is a TLC-supported tertiary and vocational education and research initiative dedicated to natural and cultural heritage protection, stewardship and conservation management and capacity development that facilitates and coordinates protected areas research and disseminate research findings. Get more information about eligible courses.
Banner image: TLC intern Rikke Jorgensen at the Vale of Belvoir Reserve. Photo: Phill Roach
