Over 200 primary and secondary students from across New South Wales converged on Inverell, in North

East New South Wales on 19th and 20th November for the 2007 NSW Youth River Health Conference.

The students came together to showcase the presentations they had spent up to 6 months preparing on

issues that concern them about New South Wales’ coasts, rivers, creeks and waterways. They also took

part in a day of on the ground activities to put into practice their knowledge of natural resource

management with Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA managing this day. Volunteers from around Inverell assisted

as group leaders for the environmental project day, and many of our steering committee assisted as

Workshop chairs for the student presentations on the Monday.

The kids also had an opportunity to quiz an expert panel on the topic “How Can Schools encourage their

community to be more environmentally sustainable?” with speakers Kirk Coningham –Communications

Director, Murray Darling Basin Commission, Hon. Rick Colless – Council Whip, NSW Legislative Assembly,

Liz Blair – Environmental Education Officer, Border Rivers Gwydir CMA and Kelvin Brown – Aboriginal

Advisory Committee, Border Rivers Gwydir CMA -This expert panel was facilitated by Arron Wood the

conference MC and allowed students the opportunity to asks questions as wide ranging as how to get

sponsorship to run their school’s own river health conferences, the effects of climate change, politics and

the environment and also local Northern NSW Aboriginal environmental practices.

The 2007 NSW Youth River Health Conference is about a lasting commitment to our youth and the

sustainable use of the environment and the industries it supports. Adults took a back seat at the event as

the Year 5 to 11 kids taught each other about an area of interest or issue relevant to New South Wales

environment, and learn from each other about the most effective ways of dealing with these problems. This

Conference and the lead up months of preparation provided students with skills in natural resource

management, public speaking and the ability to communicate ideas in many different forms.

Students worked with mentors in the months leading up to the event to develop their 40 minute

presentations in a range of formats such as singing, acting, quizzes, art, PowerPoint, films and venue

audits!

The kids chose a variety of poignant issues to highlight at the event including:

• Biodiversity

• Endangered Animals in Northern NSW

• The importance of the Gwydir Catchment

• Water Supply – consumption and wastage in the household

• River Health (Macintyre River)

• Water Auditing in the Conference venue!

• Bats in Tamworth

• Platypus sightings in Inverell

• Copeton Dam

The 2007 NSW Youth River Health Conference was proudly supported by The Australian Government.

Additional financial support came from: The Border Rivers-Gwydir Catchment Management Authority,

Murray Darling Basin Commission, The Inverell Shire Council and The Cotton Research and Development

Corporation. The environmental project day was run by the Border Rivers Gwydir Catchment Management

Authority – through in kind support. Assistance with the Environmental Project Day was provided by Mitre

10 Inverell, as well as volunteers from Inglewood Landcare and Waterwatch NSW. In Kind catering

sponsorship was provided by the conference venue – the Inverell RSM Club. 15 Volunteers from the Inverell

region provided fantastic support throughout the conference. All event sponsors were involved in some

capacity in the lead up to the conference event and supporting the participants in their preparation.

90% of participants responding to the evaluation loved the NSW Youth River Health Conference and 88%

of them loved the Kids Teaching Kids concept as a way of learning! As well as this 74% found the hands-on

Environmental Project Day component of the conference informative and a fun way to learn about the

environment. The entertainment proved an enjoyable element for inclusion throughout the conference and

an opportunity for many students to showcase their performing abilities. A number of teachers suggested

the conference be run every year, with almost all looking to participate in future conferences!