Sunshine Coast Environment Council

03/11/2026

Caring about the environment can be rewarding, inspiring and empowering, but it can also be exhausting. The ongoing scale and urgency of the climate and biodiversity crises can take a toll on the mental health and wellbeing of those working, volunteering and advocating for nature.

That's why the Sunshine Coast Environment Council (SCEC) is partnering with ECOMIND to bring the ECOMIND Certificate: Wellbeing Training to the Sunshine Coast.

Join us for a day of connection, learning and practical strategies to help us care for ourselves, support each other and sustain our commitment to protecting the planet.

We'll explore the impacts of climate and environmental challenges on our wellbeing, practical ways to build personal and community resilience, and how we can remain engaged and effective without burning out.

Whether you're a conservation professional, environmental volunteer, community advocate, activist or simply passionate about protecting nature, this workshop is for you. 💚

📅 Thursday 19 November 2026
🕤 9.30 am – 4.30 pm
📍 Sunshine Coast Environment Council, 3 Porters Lane, Nambour

🎟️ Sliding scale fees: $25–$50
Scholarships may be available – contact [email protected] to enquire.

Places are limited and bookings are essential.

👉 Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/ecomind-certificate-sunshine-coast-conservation

19/10/2026

💧 National Water Week | Water Connects Everything
Our rivers, wetlands, waterways and coastal waters are the lifeblood of the Sunshine Coast.
But healthy waterways don't happen by chance. Urban development, land clearing, polluted stormwater, sediment runoff and climate change all place pressure on the rivers, creeks, wetlands and coastal environments we treasure.
🌿 Protecting water means protecting the landscapes that sustain it.
Here on the Sunshine Coast, we can all play a part by:
💧 Keeping litter, chemicals and garden waste out of stormwater drains.
🌱 Protecting and restoring native vegetation along creeks and riverbanks.
🐸 Supporting the conservation of wetlands, which provide vital habitat and help filter water.
🌳 Advocating for responsible planning that protects catchments, waterways and natural floodplains.
🤝 Getting involved with local environmental and waterway restoration groups.
At the Sunshine Coast Environment Council, we know that protecting our region's natural environment means looking at the whole picture, from the health of our catchments and freshwater systems to the seagrass meadows, mangroves and marine life of our coast.
This National Water Week, let's recognise that healthy waterways begin on the land and that the choices we make today will shape the health of our rivers, wetlands and oceans for tomorrow and generations to come.
💙 Love our waterways. Protect our catchments. Keep Sunshine Coast waters heathy.

07/10/2026

One for the Sunny Coast crew 💙

Join us for a screening of this remarkable film Taking The Channel proudly presented by Rising Tide

🗓️October 22, 2026 at 5:30pm - 8pm

📌 University of the Sunshine Coast (Room TBC-Sippy Downs, QLD 4556

🏷️ $5 nibbles during networking

🙂 RSVP: https://www.risingtide.org.au/filmttc-sunshinecoast or scan the QR code below

✉️ Jay: [email protected]

28/09/2026

Celebrating the amazing and inspirational work of the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee 💚

Community effort transforms a degraded waterway, reducing erosion, increasing fish breeding and improving the quality of water that flows into the Great Barrier Reef.

25/09/2026

Big shout out to Night Eyes Water and Land Care Group, who do such a wonderful job in cleaning up our waterways and foreshores 💚

21/09/2026

Nominations for the Les Hall Young Conservationist Award 2026 are now open!

The award recognises a young person or group who has demonstrated vision, innovation, passion and commitment to wildlife conservation, achieving meaningful outcomes for nature on the Sunshine Coast.

The award honours the legacy of Dr Les Hall AM, whose remarkable career in wildlife research and conservation was grounded in a simple philosophy: knowledge matters most when it is put into action.

Nominations are open until 5pm, 18th October, 2026

We are looking for young people who are:
🌱 taking practical action for conservation
🦇 raising awareness of environmental challenges
🐨 finding innovative ways to protect native wildlife
🌿 making a tangible difference in their community.

Nominations can be made by the young person or group themselves, or by a third party.

If you know a young conservationist who deserves recognition, we encourage you to nominate them and help shine a light on the next generation of environmental leaders.

👉 Nominations and further information: https://www.scec.org.au/les_hall_young_conservationist_award

Les Hall Young Conservationist Award

03/09/2026

🌊 GREEN DRINKS: MARINE CONSERVATION 🐋

What does it take to create healthier oceans and safer beaches?

Join us for a special Green Drinks evening exploring marine conservation, coastal restoration and the future of our oceans.

🎤 Associate Professor Andrew Olds from the University of the Sunshine Coast will share insights from marine conservation projects across the Sunshine Coast, including wetland restoration and offshore reef biodiversity and conservation. Andrew will also explore research into the impacts of shark nets on marine wildlife across Queensland.

From wetlands and reefs to coastal wildlife and shark control, this will be a fascinating evening about the challenges facing our marine environment, and the practical solutions that can help create a healthier future for our oceans and our communities.

🌱 Green Drinks is a relaxed, informal networking event for people who care about the environment and want to connect, collaborate and create positive change.

📍 The Seed Pod, Mooloolah River Landcare
📅 Thursday 10 September 2026
⏰ 5.30pm – 7.30pm

🍛 Vegan curries and drinks available for purchase.

RSVPs are essential — come along, meet some great people and join the conversation about protecting our oceans, coastlines and marine wildlife. 🌊💚

RSVP Here: https://www.scec.org.au/green_drinks_sep2026

28/08/2026

🐦🌏 THE EASTERN CURLEWS HAVE ARRIVED!
August marks the return of one of Australia’s most remarkable migratory shorebirds.

The Eastern Curlew is the world’s largest migratory shorebird, growing up to 66 cm long and instantly recognisable by its dramatically down-curved bill.

💔 Listed as Critically Endangered under Australia’s EPBC Act, Eastern Curlew populations have declined dramatically.
After travelling more than 10,000 km from their northern breeding grounds, these incredible birds arrive in Australia exhausted and hungry. They rely on coastal wetlands, mudflats and estuaries to rest and refuel before their long journey north.

🌿🌊 The Pumicestone Passage is critical habitat.
Its intertidal mudflats, sandbanks and mangroves provide vital feeding and roosting areas for Eastern Curlews and many other migratory shorebirds. Queensland Government records have recorded thousands of Eastern Curlews using the Pumicestone Passage wetland.

But these birds face growing threats:
⚠️ Habitat loss and coastal development
⚠️ Disturbance from people, dogs and other activities
⚠️ Loss of feeding and roosting areas
⚠️ The emerging threat of H5 bird flu
🦠 H5N1 has now reached Australia and has been detected in wild seabirds, sadly including here on the Sunshine Coast

🐾 WHAT CAN YOU DO?
💚 Give shorebirds plenty of space to rest and feed.
🐕 Keep dogs under control and away from feeding and roosting birds.
🚫 Never touch sick or dead birds — keep children and pets away.
📱 Record, avoid and report sick or dead birds and wildlife:

Emergency Animal Disease Hotline: 1800 675 888
Biosecurity Queensland: 13 25 23
👉 Find H5 bird flu information from BirdLife Australia https://birdlife.org.au/h5-bird-flu-avoid-record-report/

🌿 Support protection of the wetlands and coastal habitats these extraordinary birds depend on.

After travelling thousands of kilometres to reach our shores, Eastern Curlews need safe places to rest, feed and recover.
The Pumicestone Passage and our coastal wetlands are critical habitat for threatened and migratory wildlife — not development zones.

💚 Protect the places Eastern Curlews depend on.
Image credit: Far Eastern Curlew. Robert Bush. 2026
Take Action for Pumicestone Passage - TAPP Inc
Wildlife Queensland - Sunshine Coast & Hinterland Branch
Sunshine Coast Council
Twin Nies

28/08/2026

What a wonderful way to spend a beautiful morning!