Impact Café: Environment, Conservation & Sustainability Edition

A (FREE!) Full‑Day, Practical Workshop for WA’s Environmental Changemakers

Calling all conservation champions, sustainability practitioners, bushcare volunteers, environmental NFPs, community gardeners, climate innovators, wildlife protectors, circular‑economy thinkers and eco‑minded doers - this workshop is designed just for you. 🌱🐾🌏

Join us for a full‑day Impact Café: From Issue to Impact workshop crafted specifically for the environment, conservation and sustainability sector. This hands‑on, practical session helps you strengthen your project ideas, sharpen your funding story, and build confidence in demonstrating the real‑world environmental impact of your work.

Whether you’re planning a habitat restoration project, running a local sustainability initiative, coordinating a conservation program, designing a climate‑action activity, or revitalising a community environmental group - this workshop will give you the tools to make your impact clear, measurable and fundable.

What we’ll dive into:

🌿 Good project design – frame your idea for maximum environmental and community benefit
📍 Defining need and impact – show why your work matters (and how it makes a difference)
📏 Outcomes measurement – track real change, from biodiversity gains to behaviour shifts
🔍 Collecting meaningful data & evidence – without overcomplicating your workload
📝 Acquittal planning – make reporting to funders smooth, smart and stress‑free
📣 Telling your impact story – communicate environmental change with clarity and confidence
🌏 Planning for long‑term sustainability – ensure your project and its outcomes endure
🤝 Collaboration & connection – meet others doing incredible work across WA’s environment sector

This is not a dry, academic workshop. It’s lively, interactive, conversational and grounded in real projects you bring on the day. You’ll learn practical tools that you’ll use immediately to design or refine a project you care about.

Who is it for?

Environmental NFPs • Bushcare and Landcare groups • Conservation organisations • Urban greening groups • Sustainability educators • Climate action organisations • Wildlife and habitat groups • Local environmental networks • Community‑driven environment projects • Circular economy and resource conservation initiatives.

You’ll walk away with:

✔ A strengthened project concept and clearer logic
✔ A simple logic model and outcomes plan you can reuse
✔ Tools to support grant applications (Lotterywest, Healthway, environmental funders and others)
✔ Confidence to communicate your environmental impact with strong evidence
✔ New connections and shared momentum with peers in your field

Bring your passion, your project ideas (big or small), and your commitment to a healthier planet - and leave with the tools to turn impact ambition into environmental action.

BYO laptop to enable you to work online using the tools and tips from the Community Impact Hub.

Facilitator: Melanie Bainbridge
Melanie Bainbridge is a social impact, arts and sustainability professional with over 20 years’ experience in strategy, policy, and community engagement. As Senior Manager, Impact Design and Capability at Lotterywest, she helps organisations design for measurable, meaningful impact. Mel has worked extensively with local governments and community groups to develop strategies focused on sustainability, equity, wellbeing, and culture. She’s passionate about turning big ideas into practical action and helping groups define their goals, plan their path, and share their story with clarity and heart.