Beyond the Classroom: Exploring Environmental Careers in the Murraylands and Riverland

Blog story |
Beyond the Classroom: Exploring Environmental Careers in the Murraylands and Riverland

Hello! My name is Liana, and I’m currently a Year 11 student at Berri Regional Secondary College. Recently, I undertook work experience at the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board to broaden my knowledge of environmental fields and learn about the various roles involved in maintaining our natural environment.

I discovered this opportunity through conversations with a family friend who had previous experience at the landscape board, and they helped me get in touch to explore the opportunities they have to offer.

Throughout my time here, I learned not only about the different roles, but also about the importance of teamwork and how both big and small tasks contribute to fostering a positive environment for our wetlands, drylands, flora, fauna and the wider community. Furthermore, I also gained insight into the background work necessary to keep everything running smoothly.

Beyond the Classroom: Exploring Environmental Careers in the Murraylands and Riverland

Sustainable Agriculture

For the first few days, I worked with Sustainable Agriculture Officer Denham Ewens. I explored updates on grants and their availability, learned about various projects the team supports (such as the growth of native grasses and providing support to wine industries and producers to name a few), and attended a meeting where people in this sector discussed limitations, improvements and what is going well for work and the workplace. I also checked weather stations in Renmark and Berri, delivered promotional boards to schools and businesses, and learned about the vital work the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board does.

Beyond the Classroom: Exploring Environmental Careers in the Murraylands and Riverland
One of the landscape boards automatic weather station

Wetlands

Later, I joined Emily Reynolds from the Wetlands team to monitor water quality in Berri, Lyrup, and Disher Creek. This is essential for maintaining conditions that allow threatened fish, such as Murray Hardyhead, to thrive. Using a tool called a Horiba, we measured water temperature, pH levels, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen. The results were then entered into a government app for storage in a database. I even completed a few myself, saw some amazing wildlife I’d never encountered, and visited new places, which was really cool!

Beyond the Classroom: Exploring Environmental Careers in the Murraylands and Riverland
Emily using the horiba to measure water quality

Setting up cameras and photopoints

I also worked with Steph Robinson to set up trail cameras and take photopoints at Beldora Wetland before it was refilled. The trail cameras, positioned on trees around the wetland will capture how the area changes over time as the wetland is refilled. Photopoints, which compare the same wetland area throughout the years, were marked with metal poles to ensure images are taken from the same area. An iPad with images from previous years was used to ensure camera angles were consistent. We also used a drone to get a bird’s eye view of the wetland to see if the surfaces were dry, though there was still some puddles present. It was fascinating to see how much the landscape has transformed over the years. I also learned that carp can survive in wetland puddles as shallow as 40 cm – something I never knew!

Beyond the Classroom: Exploring Environmental Careers in the Murraylands and Riverland
Trail camera set up at Beldora to capture images when the wetland begins to refill

More stories

  1. Dams and Water Management: What Every Landholder Should Know

    Blog story | 05 Feb. 2025
  2. Inspiring Environmental Changemakers, One School At A Time

    Blog story | 04 Feb. 2025
  3. Discounted Bait Available to Support Landholders With Controlling Foxes

    News article | 03 Feb. 2025