From Recruits to Leaders: Bootcamp helps drive rabbit control

The Victorian Rabbit Action Network (VRAN) rolled over the odometer on more than a decade of training Bootcamps for people from Landcare groups and networks, agency staff, local government, Traditional Owner groups, commercial contractors and anyone else who has a commitment to effectively managing rabbits across Victoria.

Above: Bootcamp participants get their hands dirty out on site. Images: Supplied.

The recent bootcamp held in Gippsland over three days, drew together a variety of people whose responsibilities include rabbit management on private and public land.

At VRAN Bootcamps, everyone shares the same goal. They have a rabbit problem and they want to learn hands-on all the techniques in managing rabbits more effectively from the team of experienced VRAN mentors.

But the VRAN Bootcamps do more than that. They bring together different people from different organisations and regions to share ideas, build connections and hear different perspectives on the rabbit problems facing each other.

Across the three days of the Bootcamp, participants develop and establish a network of rabbit managers that enables their ongoing learning about effective rabbit management. This builds individual confidence that they aren’t the only ones with these issues, that they are on the right track for success and it fosters ongoing supportive connections between people, with VRAN and around Victoria – people who might never have met otherwise.

Managing rabbits is a long-term prospect for all land managers. The VRAN Bootcamp training ensures participants are encouraged and sustained to do their best work. We all benefit from this approach.

For more information visit VRAN.