Jan 2024

Our volunteers hosted two bin stations at the Party in the Park to educate people about waste. The collaboration was a great success with 80% less waste going to landfill than the previous year.

1 event | 5 volunteers | 740L waste diverted from landfill

March 2024

Participants gained accreditation in first aid and were equipped and inspired to be able to deliver first aid if the need ever arises.

1 event | 20 participants now trained in first aid

100% of participants gained new knowledge from this activity and felt more connected other community members.

“Who would’ve thought a first aid training could be so fun!”

March 2024

Students learnt how to collect water samples, test pH levels, electrical conductivity and test for dissolved oxygen levels in the river at Coffs Creek in Coffs Harbour.

1 event | 40 participants | 4 volunteers |. 40 conversations about the 10 ways to help the rivers | 40 hours spent in nature

00% of participants felt more connected with the environment from this activity.

“I loved seeing how much the facilitators enjoy what they do. I wanted to get into science and now even more so.”

March 2024

Students learnt how to collect waterbug samples, and played games such as bug hunt and waterbug bingo on the beautiful Never Never River.

1 event | 26 participants | 4 volunteers | 26 conversations about the 10 ways to help the rivers | 104 hours spent in nature

0% of participants felt more connected with the environment from this activity.

“I will now always look for waterbugs in the river”

March 2024

Informative, hands-on activities, immersion in beautiful landscapes, wisdom-filled stories and unique games to build connections with the river.

1 event | 60 participants | 5 schools | 60 conversations about the 10 ways to help the rivers | 248 hours spent in nature

100% of participants felt more connected with the environment from this activity.

“The info about the river and Elder story were super interesting. Thank you.”

April 2024

We partnered with a vast array of partners and community stakeholders to deliver a jam packed afternoon of fun for the community, featuring local music, interactive activity stalls, free food and planting over 300 trees on the beautiful Bellinger River.

1 event | 400 participants | 300 trees & plants planted | 400 conversations about the 10 ways to help the rivers | 800 hours spent in nature

“What a fantastic community event you brought together. It was such a great day.”

May 2024

A dedicated event where Macro Helpers, Macro Helpers-in-training and Macro Teachers-in-training come together, both to conduct an accurate count of waterbugs at six sites, but also to learn from the Macro teachers, further their knowledge and become familiar with the process for future Musters.

1 event | 24 participants | 6 datasets

100% of participants felt more connected to their community and felt they had new knowledge and skills to help protect the rivers of the Bellingen Shire.

May 2024

Through informative, hands-on activities, immersion in nature and unique games, participants gained a connection with the river and built relationships with students from other schools.

1 event | 62 participants | 3 partners | 2 volunteers | 62 conversations about the 10 ways to help the rivers

100% of participants felt more connected to their community and felt they had gained new knowledge and skills to help protect the rivers of the Bellingen Shire.

“This was so much fun. I loved spending the day outside.”

May 2024

Upon the success of the 2023 Bellingen Show, the Rethink Team were back supporting the big event in 2024. Volunteers manned five bin stations and helped people sort their waste, reducing 58% of waste heading to landfill compared to 2023 with 4500L composted or recycled as a result.

1 event | 25 volunteers | 4500L waste diverted from landfill | 1397 conversations about waste

“Absolutely necessary for proper recycling in a public pace. Good on you for introducing this system.”

May 2024

Volunteers helped event goers to sort their waste, reducing the amount of waste heading to landfill. Over 820 people attended either bin station, with more than 70% needing help sorting their items. 71% of ‘waste’ items brought to the bins were able to be redirected to either the yellow recycling bins, 10c container scheme or collected for composting.

1 event | 7 volunteers | 760L waste diverted from landfill | 819 conversations about waste

71% of people needed help sorting their waste

“Now I know!”

June 2023

World Environment Day

At riveryouthfest in April, 400 local young people planted 300 trees along the riverbank in the centre of Bellingen. mulch ‘n’ mashups was the second event to take place as part of a 3 year riparian planting project. We invited local young people to come back and nurture the trees they planted in April.

1 event | 87 participants

‘I think that this is an awesome event that brings together the younger community & helps our love or plants grow’

February - June 2024

18 Sessions

myhive was an after-school social club that met weekly in central Coffs Harbour. As a group, myhive embarked on a different creative ventures designed to promote healthy social interactions and positive wellbeing.

71% of participants felt ‘more connected to nature’

86% of participants said that myhive made them feel happier

“The activities were so diverse, creative and engaging and many encouraged a sense of teamwork, which drew the students closer together each week”

June 2024

1 Event | 2 Waste Stations | 1 Info Stall

OzGREEN teamed up with the C.EX International Stadium to help manage waste at the massive Sharks VS Titans NRL match. The Rethink team organized two bin stations and an info stall on the stadium grounds, to help patrons sort their waste responsibly and share vital waste knowledge with the massive crowd!

Jan-Dec 2024

(Content coming soon)

12 events | 56 datasets so far | 112 hours spent in nature so far

August 2024

2 Events | 100 Trees Planted | 216 participants

winter riveryouthfest & riveryouthfest tree-planting afternoon were the third & fourth events to take place as part of the 3 year riparian planting project OzGREEN is engaged in.

Winter riveryouthfest moved indoors last minute after a week of rain. While the event was still a massive success, full of live music, laughter and fun, the riverbank still needed to be nurtured.

The planting and mulching at Lavenders Bridge took place two weeks later at 'Riveryouthfest Tree Planting Afternoon'. We enjoyed music, a free BBQ and planting trees with Bellingen Shire's young people.

"I feel very content.”

- Participant at winter riveryouthfest

August 2024

4 Pop Ups | Hundreds of Conversations about Waste

The Rethink Waste team worked with the City of Coffs Harbour Council to help gather vital data and feedback from the community about the current Waste Management System.

The Rethink Team assisted the CCHC to collect information from the community that will inform the new Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy (2025

September 2024

1 Session | 14 Participants | Arthur Keough Reserve, Gleniffer

A cohort of Year 8 & 9 students explored the underwater world of macroinvertebrates in local rivers.

“I am now a better person.”

Working together to protect the River Ganges

Clean water and connection events in East Timor