School education

River Guardians offer FREE Junior Dolphin Watch incursions for primary and high schools located around the Swan Canning Riverpark. The incursion covers the “Dolphin Watch” citizen science project, how we identify each individual dolphin and their behaviours, and the threats dolphins face living in a heavily urbanised environment. Students learn practical ways they can help protect the dolphins. The incursions consist of an interactive presentation with hands on activities. At the end of the session, the class will get to keep a hard copy of the latest FinBook Guide (One copy per class).

High School:

Junior Dolphin Watch incursions are modified for High School Students to meet needs of the year level. The incursion also covers information about the Marine Fauna Sightings App that our citizen scientists use to record dolphin sightings. Students are encouraged to download the App (please discuss with the Project Officer if this is appropriate for your students).

To make a booking, contact the Education Officer here

Drains to Living Streams Excursion

An excursion investigating strategies to address the impacts of landcover change on the Swan-Canning River. The excursion aims to address the Year 12, Unit 3, Depth Study 2 syllabus objectives:

• explain two strategies designed to address the impacts of land cover change on local and/or regional environments
• evaluate the two strategies designed to address the impacts of land cover change, using the concept of sustainability

During the excursion, we will investigate the impacts of sedimentation and eutrophication on the Swan Canning River as a result of land cover change across the catchment. By collecting water samples, students will measure the water quality to see for themselves how the Living Streams strategy work to reduce these impacts on the river. Students will also learn about a second strategy, the artificial oxygenation plant at Canning River, and then evaluate the efficacy of each strategy.

The excursion begins at Curtin University Boat Club, Salter Point and concludes at Canning River Eco Education Centre, Wilson. Price is $5 per student, no minimum required (max. 30 students). Schools are responsible for organising transport to each location. For more information or to make a booking, click here. Or contact the River Guardians Project Officer here

This excursion was developed in partnership with Trinity College, Perth NRM and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) as part of the Swan-Canning River Recovery Stage 3 and funded by the Australian Government Environmental Restoration Fund. The excursion will be delivered by River Guardians (DBCA).

• Perth’s rainfall is declining due to climate change.
• Streams and wetlands are drying up.
• There is less flushing of pollutants out of our rivers and estuaries and water temperatures are increasing. This results in more algal blooms and less oxygen in the rivers and estuaries.
• Urban temperatures are increasing, resulting in more heat-related health impacts for people, plants and animals.
• Sea level rise is inundating and eroding coastal areas and estuary foreshores.
• More intense rainfall events are resulting in higher incidences of road, building and river foreshore flooding.

• The south-west of Western Australia is a biodiversity hotspot. We have a high concentration of plants and animals that occur nowhere else in the world, but they are threatened by habitat loss. Our gardens and neighbourhoods can be designed to bring nature back into our urban communities.
• By bringing nature back into our gardens and verges, we can create neighbourhoods that are healthier for wildlife and people.
• Local native plants are not only suited to our environment (reducing the need for watering and fertiliser), but they also help improve biodiversity and can provide habitat for birds, insects and other native animals.
• Animals need to move between natural areas to find food and shelter. This is difficult in cities, where natural habitat has been cleared to make way for development. We can create nature links that are a wildlife-friendly corridors connecting areas of bushland, rivers and wetlands.
• Drainage networks can be used to support local biodiversity by improving water quality and habitat by using local plant species and improved stormwater management practices.
• We are all responsible for protecting our precious Derbal Yiragan (Swan) Djarlgarro (Canning) river system, wetlands and coastal waters.
• Wetlands, rivers and bushland are important ecosystems that support a large range of Perth’s plants and animals.
• Removing weeds and revegetating with local native plants helps to improve the water quality and habitats of wetlands, rivers and bushland.

• Street stormwater drains have separate pipes to the wastewater system. Street drains often flow to rivers, wetlands and the ocean without any or very little treatment. That’s why it’s important that only rain goes down the drain.
• You can play a part in protecting water quality by improving your home, car and garden maintenance. Rainwater runoff picks up rubbish, fertilisers, lawn clippings, dog poo, detergents, petrol, oils, sand and other pollutants from driveways, footpaths, verges and roads. These pollutants flow through the stormwater system and into rivers, wetlands, and the ocean.
• Leaves from deciduous trees and lawn clippings that are swept onto the road go down the stormwater drain and provide unwanted nutrients to rivers and wetlands.
• Rubbish, leaves, sand and other materials can block stormwater drains and cause road and building flooding.

• Rivers, wetlands, bushland, vegetated parks and vegetated stormwater systems are great places for people to connect with nature, which has been proven to have mental and physical health benefits for people.
• Being a part of a community and/or volunteer group is good for community connection and personal connection (Act, Belong, Commit).
• Bring nature back to your home. Choose to maximise the number and variety of local native plants around your home – it will improve liveability for you and your family, as well as provide habitats for native animals.
• Retaining vegetation and water in the landscape provides a cooling benefit. Trees are nature’s air conditioners, cooling the landscape through evapotranspiration and shade provision.