About Us

The Australian Environment Network (AEN) is a network of Australian environment civil society organisations which have a purpose that is related to the conservation, protection or restoration of the Australian environment.

The AEN serves to provide more effective consultative mechanisms between the Australian Government and environment groups. The AEN acts as a point of communication between different divisions in the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and environment groups in Australia. This function is performed via the AEN Secretariat, which is based in offices of the Conservation Council ACT Region.

History

The AEN has been established following the cessation of the former National Environment Consultative Forum (NECF). The NECF evolved in the late 1990s from a body called the Peak Conservation Organisations, which was made up of national environment groups and Conservation Councils and formed in the 1980s.

The NECF also became a vehicle for contacting and sourcing representatives from the environment movement for participation in government advisory committees and consultative events.

The position of NECF Secretary lapsed in mid-2007.

In October 2008 a working group of the Mittagong Forum wrote to Mr Garrett, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, with a proposal for more effective interaction between the Australian Government and the environment movement. The Minister responded with a letter offering to contribute to the funding of a secretariat position to act as a point of coordination and information dissemination, for prioritising issues for discussion with the Government, and providing consensus nominations from the sector for positions on Government boards and advisory committees. An Administrative Officer has been appointed for this purpose, and this arrangement will be reviewed after one year.


	Home About Us Contact Us AEN Membership Jobs with AEN Members Member Login Members' Media Releases Members' Events About Us The Australian Environment Network (AEN) is a network of Australian environment civil society organisations which have a purpose that is related to the conservation, protection or restoration of the Australian environment. The AEN serves to provide more effective consultative mechanisms between the Australian Government and environment groups. The AEN acts as a point of communication between different divisions in the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and environment groups in Australia. This function is performed via the AEN Secretariat, which is based in offices of the Conservation Council ACT Region. History The AEN has been established following the cessation of the former National Environment Consultative Forum (NECF). The NECF evolved in the late 1990s from a body called the Peak Conservation Organisations, which was made up of national environment groups and Conservation Councils and formed in the 1980s. The NECF also became a vehicle for contacting and sourcing representatives from the environment movement for participation in government advisory committees and consultative events. The position of NECF Secretary lapsed in mid-2007. In October 2008 a working group of the Mittagong Forum wrote to Mr Garrett, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, with a proposal for more effective interaction between the Australian Government and the environment movement. The Minister responded with a letter offering to contribute to the funding of a secretariat position to act as a point of coordination and information dissemination, for prioritising issues for discussion with the Government, and providing consensus nominations from the sector for positions on Government boards and advisory committees. An Administrative Officer has been appointed for this purpose, and this arrangement will be reviewed after one year.