ISSUES FACING THEAUSTRALIAN NATIONAL TRUSTS

IN 2013 AND BEYOND

AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF NATIONAL TRUSTS

A paper delivered at the 15th Annual International Conference of National Trusts30 September – 4 October 32013,

Entebbe, Uganda

1964

1976

1955

1963

1945

1956

1960

1976

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

Strawberry Hill, WAWoodbridge, WA

SHIFT IN COMMUNITY ATTITUDES

• 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?

Burra Mine, SA

Herons Bend ReserveMurray River, SA

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.

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 attitudeAnd commitment to Australia's’ heritage

THE NATIONAL TRUST PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (NTPP)

The National Trusts Partnership Program provides on-going funding to the Australian Council 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 andwork 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 inparticular the smaller Trusts who are now in the early stages of restructuringtheir business models.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Qld

TWO PROGRAMMES - NEW INITATIVES

• 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

Railway Station, Katherine, NT

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 theyounger generations

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.