ISSUES FACING THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL TRUSTS IN 2013 AND BEYOND

1. ISSUES FACING THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL TRUSTS IN 2013 AND BEYOND AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF NATIONAL TRUSTS A paper delivered at the 15th Annual International Conference of National Trusts 30 September – 4 October 32013, Entebbe, Uganda

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3. THE CHALENGES • Commonwealth Government Funding is now project based • Large property portfolios take up much of the financial resources • The membership dilemma - Increasingly difficult for Trusts to secure financial • resources and attract members Woodbridge, WA Strawberry Hill, WA

4. SHIFT IN COMMUNITY ATTITUDES Burra Mine, SA • Increasing concerns with global threats to world environments – climate change • Urgency required to address past environmental degradation • Better lobbying by environmental groups? • Better coordinated community programmes and education by environmental • groups? Herons Bend Reserve Murray River, SA

5. REDRESSING THE DILEMA Strengths of the National Trusts • Substantial community recognition • Volunteer base • Positive regional impacts • Cost-effective property management • Contribution to policy and regulation development • Facilitation of better planning outcomes • Skill development • Education and community advice Polly Woodside, Melbourne, Vic Runnymede, Hobart, Tas.

6. NOW AND THE FUTURE Our heritage is being threatened by natural and human processes and a lack of public sector resourcing that does not reflect the true value of heritage to the Australian community (Australia State of Environment Report 2011) This statement sadly encapsulates successive Australian Government attitude And commitment to Australia's’ heritage

7. THE NATIONAL TRUST PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (NTPP) The National Trusts Partnership Program provides on-going funding to the AustralianCouncil of National Trusts to support activities that increase public awareness, understanding and appreciation Australia's cultural heritage, and enhance and promote its conservation and assist the Trusts to advocate and work for the preservation and enhancement of Australia's cultural heritage. • Government funding has moved away from the traditional grant-in-aid • programme assisting with the financial resources of the Trusts to an annual • ‘fees-for-service’ projects based programme. • This new system for funding has put pressure on all the Trusts, and in • particular the smaller Trusts who are now in the early stages of restructuring • their business models. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Qld

8. TWO PROGRAMMES - NEW INITATIVES Railway Station, Katherine, NT • Directed funding for property management – The Property Conservation & • Management Project. • Education programmes – school education programmes at NT properties • which are consistent with the Australian Curriculum. Old Melbourne Gaol, Vic

9. THE MEMBERSHIP DILEMMA • WE NEED TO: • Provide opportunities for members to actively participate in the functions • of the Trusts • Find out what generations X & Y think are the important • places to conserve and protect • Go Viral!! – Use the social media available and get into the faces • of Generation X & Y • Restructure membership fees to suit the financial means of the • younger generations

10. CONCLUSIONS The pathway forward now for the Trusts lies in: • Developing means to maintain, conserve and interpret properties to the community. • Developing and further implementing education programmes together with government funding • Stepping away from the ‘no-changes-please’ policy and engaging directly with Government and the younger generations. Listen and learn. • But do not shy away from advocacy and step forward when needed and argue sensibly and tactfully for the conservation and protection of heritage places.