MORNINGTON Peninsula Koala Conservation is calling for volunteers to support its 2026 tree planting season. The community group works to restore indigenous habitat for the peninsula’s koala population.
Founder and president Dirk Jansen said the initiative, which runs from May to September, is entirely dependent on community support and volunteers.
“We actually can’t do it without the community,” Jansen said.
“It’s 100% volunteer based. We’re really trying to look after our own backyard with what we can control.”
Tree planting days usually begin at 9am, finish at around 12pm, and are designed to be accessible to all ages and abilities.
“It’s amazing,” Jansen said.
“It really does restore your faith when you see how people get together in the morning, all volunteer based, even the landholders and you know that everyone is giving their time for this.”
The first event is on 3 May, which coincides with Wild Koala Day, although that event has reached full capacity. However, Jansen said there are many opportunities for people to get involved over the winter months.
“What happens is at the start, there’s a lot of enthusiasm and then volunteers start to drop off,” Jansen said.
“We want to encourage people to register for lots of different events throughout the season.”
A key challenge for the group is attracting volunteers to larger planting sites in Flinders, which Jansen supposes is due to the travel distance.
Since its formation in 2018, the group has grown to over 200 members and planted over 100,000 indigenous plants on the peninsula. Their goal is to plant around 30,000 trees annually to help connect fragmented biosystems and restore koala habitat.
Despite ongoing efforts, the future of the koala population on the peninsula remains uncertain.
“We know from the wildlife carers that they’re getting less and less animals into care,” Jansen said.
“So, we definitely think either the population is stabilised at a very low level, or that they are still declining.”
The organisation is also seeking volunteers to step into leadership roles as tree planting coordinators who can help organise events throughout the working week.
Jansen said the work is incredibly positive and uplifting and teaches volunteers about local flora and fauna.
“You start off in the morning with an empty paddock, and then by lunchtime, you will have planted 1,000 plants, and it just looks amazing,” Jansen said.
“It makes you feel good and it connects you with people that are like minded and that also care about the environment.”
Volunteers can register for upcoming events on Eventbrite and find more information on their website at mpkoalas.org.au.
First published in the Mornington News – 28 April 2026
