Canberra Sustainability Map
curated by SEE Change

Biodiversity + Conservation

The Economy

Energy

Food and Growing

Combatting Climate Change

Housing

Building Community

Architects

Travelling Green

Lifestyle

Car Share

Solar suppliers

Food Retail

Sustainable Farming

Urban Planning

Waste & Recycling

Eco Builders/Developers/ Companies

Community Service Agencies (various across the ACT)

Get Creative!

Butchers

Networking and connecting

Local Sustainable Retail

Sharing Economy

Music

Divestment

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Resources

Faith Group activities

Sustainable schools

Community Housing

Several others (you can use this tool for a comparison)

University Activities

Australian National University (ANU)

University of Canberra

Produce Markets

GIVIT Give unused items to those in need

Recyclopaedia: An A to Z guide to recycling, reuse and disposal

Water

Community Gardens

Canberra Organic Growers Society Inc (operates 12 community gardens)

Scoop Wholefoods [Kingston]

ACT Natural Resource Management (peruse the website for more information about multiple projects / iniatives)

Southern Harvest Association (focusing on building local food communities)

Mulloon Institute for Environment, Farming and Society

Open Gardens Canberra
(visiting private gardens)

Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park - within the National Arboretum

Australian Garden History Society ACT Monaro Riverina Branch

Conservation Groups

Molonglo Conservation Group - multiple projects running throughout Canberra and in conjunction with other ParkCare groups

Plastic Free July is a key initiative of the Plastic Free Foundation that works towards a vision of seeing a world free of plastic waste

Members of the community open their homes to demonstrate sustainable building and living practices.

A mobile app with tailored programs to help you cut your carbon footprint

To access local items after you search for an item/category, click Custom under Shop location. Type in Canberra and select from the dropdown!

NatureArt Lab offers unique online and face-to-face art courses for adults and children - as well as national and international nature tours - all inspired by nature.

Sullivans Trail is a public and history project developed to engage the community with the waterways through Canberra.

Green Music organise, facilitate and inspire musicians and the broader industry to make changes to improve environmental performance.

A choir that listen for the wise course and weave the threads of humanity and equity more consciously into the fabric of Australian society - based at Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture..

The Young Music Society Inc. aim is to provide access, education, artistry, inclusion, excellence and enjoyment to the young people of Canberra through quality music-based arts projects, events and activities.

Music for Canberra is a not-for profit organisation with a community focus, and we work towards developing the next generation of musicians and ensuring that music-making continues in Canberra.

There are a variety of Street Libraries across Canberra and the wider area - check out the link to find one close to you!

Meg's Toy Library offers toys, puzzles and games for hire to member families for children aged from three months to five years. Meg's Toy Library is a not-for-profit community organisation located in Hackett.

Members of Noah’s Ark have access to a wide range of toys and educational resources available to hire from our Toy Library. Each item carries a small hire charge. Located in Rivett.

A grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns and neighborhoods.

Local groups form gift economies that are complementary and parallel to local cash economies.

Market Forces believes that the banks, superannuation funds and governments that have custody of our money should use it to protect not damage our environment.


350.org Australia aims to rapidly end fossil fuels by building a global climate movement.


CanberraEV welcomes people who are interested in any or all aspects of electric vehicles

The Electric Vehicle Council is the national body representing the electric vehicle industry in Australia.

Living Streets Canberra is a for-purpose community group working for everyone in Canberra to enjoy public spaces and walk* easily, safely and conveniently.


Second hand bikes for sale

Building a community of international significance, with innovation, diversity and ecological criteria at its core on the ACT/NSW border

The ACT has a number of voluntary, not-for-profit community councils that serve the interests of citizens within their boundaries.
Separate from Local Government bodies.

Creating micro-forests / cool outdoor spaces for community through nature

SolarShare lets you have co-ownership in a community solar farm near you.

Beyond Zero Emissions is an internationally recognised climate change think tank.


Smart Energy Council is the peak body for the solar, storage and smart energy in Australia. We are a not-for-profit membership organisation committed to clean, efficient, cheap and smart energy solutions for all Australians.


Renew is a national, not-for-profit organisation that inspires, enables and advocates for people to live sustainably in their homes and communities.

Solar Citizens is an independent, community-based organisation working to protect and grow renewable energy in Australia.


The scheme sets a Territory-wide energy savings target and obliges ACT electricity retailers to contribute to that target in proportion to their electricity sales. Retailers incur penalties if they do not meet their targets.

Nature Play CBR is about getting more children outdoors more often so they can reap the benefits of unstructured playing, learning and being physically active.

The YAC provides advice on youth issues to the Minister, giving young people a voice in the ACT Government.

We have a vision of an inclusive Canberra, and a mission to foster inclusion by enabling participation and connection.

The ACT Council of Social Service Inc. (ACTCOSS) represents not-for-profit community organisations and advocates for social justice in the ACT.


CAPaD wants a democratic Canberra — where citizens trust their elected representatives, hold them accountable, engage in decision-making, and defend what sustains the public good.

UnionsACT is the independent voice of the Canberra Trade Union Movement

The Australian Garden History Society promotes awareness and conservation of significant gardens and cultural landscapes through engagement, research, advocacy and activities.


We rescue excess food from licensed food businesses and retail outlets.

Urban homesteading is also known as ‘backyard or urban farming’ is about making self-sustainable choices.

At Soils For Life, we support farmers and land managers across Australia who are successfully implementing these regenerative practices and profile them so that everyone can learn from their experiences.

The Mulloon Institute is a research, education and advocacy organisation located 40 minutes drive east from central Canberra. It actively regenerates landscapes and both demonstrates and shares regenerative methods of land management.

Gundaroo Tiller is the farm based tool, equipment & information supply business

Canberra City Farm is a not-for-profit group incorporated in April 2012. Since 2013 we have been establishing a demonstration education centre in Fyshwick Canberra.

Open the door to sustainable living by touring some of Australia’s most environmentally progressive homes on show at Sustainable House Day

SEE Change has complied some useful resources on sustainable housing here

When you're thinking about renovating or building a home that will deliver health, efficiency, comfort and connection to your local community, the Liveability Features are the property features which really matter.

Check out the conversion of a tumble down shed on the Canberra City Farm (CCF) site on Dairy Road, ACT into an inviting, energy efficient educational space for CCF volunteers, schools, community groups and all visitors to use and learn from.

To provide a new way of housing ourselves that encompasses the whole of the life cycle.

Communities@Work’s sustainable food rescue program involves rescuing excess food from licensed food businesses and retail outlets

Ever wondered what happens to your recycling when it leaves your yellow recycling bin? Why not find out!


OzHarvest is Australia’s leading food rescue organisation, collecting quality excess food from commercial outlets and delivering it directly to more than 1300 charities supporting people in need across the country.


Lids4Kids rescues plastic lids and other small items from landfill and recycles them into sustainable, closed loop products and education programs.

We collect bread tags nationally in Australia. The tags are recycled locally, raising funds to buy wheelchairs for disadvantaged people in South Africa.


We are Australia's only national institution focused exclusively on the diverse history, cultures and heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia.


The Ngunnawal Centre supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through a range of academic and pastoral support programs.

Yurauna is CIT's dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Educational Centre of Excellence. We are a student support centre, providing tailored Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander courses, study support and cultural advice.


the National Centre for Indigenous Studies (NCIS) promotes and initiates cross-disciplinary research and teaching in a wide range of areas of relevance to Indigenous Australians.

Burrunju Art Gallery is a not-for-profit organisation that specialises in authentic hand-made Aboriginal arts and crafts.

The Yarramundi Cultural Centre is a unique piece of Canberra’s history. Originally the temporary home of the National Museum of Australia the site was handed to the ACT Government for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Centre in 2000.


Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services (WNAHCS) is an Aboriginal community controlled primary health care service operated by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community of the ACT.

Gugan Gulwan is an Aboriginal youth centre located in the ACT suburb of Wanniassa. It works with its clients through a range of programs that go well beyond the services provided by most youth centres


ANTaR ACT is the local branch of ANTaR – Australia’s main non-Indigenous organisation for reconciliation. We’re dedicated to supporting the rights of Indigenous people through public campaigns and advocacy.


We support our people, and their communities through partnerships to make good things happen, as determined by the community.

The Healing Foundation is a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation that partners with communities to address the ongoing trauma caused by actions like the forced removal of children from their families.

The Tjabal Indigenous Higher Education Centre provides a meeting place and support-base for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff at ANU.


Tjillari Justice Aboriginal Corporation provides a range of support services, case management and programs to address the toxic stress and trauma that children and families experience when they have a parent involved in the justice system.

Yeddung Mura was initially started to address a number of gaps identified by Aboriginal elders in the community. It is a grassroots organisation that works directly in the community to meet the needs of Aboriginal people.

Citizens' Climate Lobby Australia is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots advocacy and education organisation focused on accelerating solutions to climate change through democracy.

Australian Parents for Climate Action is the voice for all parents, grandparents and carers of children in Australia to show their deep concern about the impact of climate change on our children's safety and survival, now and into the future.

KNAG draws on a broad history of knitting used as a tool for non-violent political activism.

We are a non-government, not for profit environmental education centre that empowers people to create a sustainable future for the Canberra community by supporting lifelong behavioural change.


A grassroots movement to end fossil fuels and create community-led solutions to the climate crisis.


Green Drinks Canberra is a monthly event for socialising and professional networking, created for those interested in environmental sustainability and eco-efficiency.


AAEE is Australia's peak professional body for Environmental Educators.


We are 940,000 women & girls from every corner of the planet building a lifestyle revolution to fight the climate crisis.

The ANU Environment Collective (EC) is for students who want to engage with environmental issues.

The Centre for Sustainable Communities (CSC) aims to contribute to sustainable social, cultural and economic development by providing research and professional development services to communities, government and the private sector.


The Parliament of Youth on Sustainability is a program that culminates in a one day mock-Parliament event.

The Community Zero Emissions Grants Program provides funding to eligible community groups and sponsored individuals to lead initiatives which support the ACT’s transition to net zero emissions by 2045 at the latest.

Canberra's wildlife care group

Sea Shepherd is an international, non-profit marine conservation organization that campaigns to defend, conserve and protect the world’s oceans.

ACF is Australia's national environment organisation.

Conservation Volunteers Australia makes it easy for people to care for nature by getting involved in conservation action across the country.

The team provides hands-on, locally-based waterway education with nets, trays, buckets, water quality kits and storybooks designed to cover various freshwater topics.

The Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park is a regional botanic garden, education and conservation centre demonstrating southern tablelands species within the National Arboretum Canberra.


Bush Heritage Australia is an independent not-for-profit that buys and manages land, and also partners with Aboriginal people, to conserve our magnificent landscapes and irreplaceable native species forever.


the Association works to promote national parks, their good management, and the protection of our fauna and flora, scenery, natural features and cultural heritage.

Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) is the largest environmental legal centre in the Australia-Pacific, dedicated to protecting our climate, communities and shared environment by providing access to justice, running groundbreaking litigation and leading law reform advocacy.


The Conservation Council ACT Region campaigns and advocates for climate action, protecting nature and waterways, improving urban sustainability, stopping waste and building a circular economy, and reaching zero emissions transport. We are the peak body for community environmental groups in the ACT.

At Greening Australia, we work to solve bold and complex environmental problems through conservation on a massive scale, with programs and projects covering millions of hectares of land and protecting hundreds of native species.

Click the link to view a list of all local working groups located in the Ginninderra Catchment area.

Click the link to view a list of all local working groups located in the Southern ACT Catchment area.

Icon Water Care For Water

Icon Water Educational Resources - Learn about Canberra's water system

Icon Water Community Support Program - financial support for community activities

Canberra Student Housing Co-Op centred around ideals of community and sustainability

Make the Switch, helping Canberra households get off gas. A resource by the Conservation Council ACT and Region

Make the Move, a Conservation Council ACT and Region program promoting zero emissions and active travel especially in workplaces

Box Divvy is a food box service designed to lower food miles, reduce packaging and food waste while establishing local food communities.

Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary is Australia’s largest single Box-gum Grassy-woodland area managed for conservation.

The Invasive Species Council campaigns for better laws and protections for our native plants and animals from weeds, pests and feral invaders.

ACT Gov Everyday Climate Choices website has a range of resources on energy efficiency and government rebates

Get up to 3 quotes for solar, batteries or EV chargers Solar Quotes

Fix It Chicks: Two science/energy efficiency chicks helping you fix, do, change, learn and share things to be energy-smart

Electrify Canberra: A SEE Change group advocating for electrification of Canberran homes

Zero Waste Revolution: Resources on how to reduce waste

Switched on Cycles Canberra electric bike retailer

Peak body for cycling in the ACT

Map of cycling routes in Canberra

Borrow from 1000 tools and items for making, fixing and finding adventure

NENA is a network of organisations and individuals working to create an ecologically healthy and socially just society by transforming Australia’s economic system.
NENA works by providing a platform for knowledge sharing, peer to peer support, cross-pollination of ideas and collaboration.

WSC is passionate about creating opportunities for women to feel empowered.Our mission is community cohesiveness, mentoring and environmental sustainability through trades skills.

We are a group of people in the Canberra region who are concerned about climate change and want to catalyse an emergency response to the climate crisis. We often focus on whats happening in Federal parliament.

We are a coalition of climate action groups working together to take a stand against the negligence of the Australian government in failing to take real, meaningful and urgent action to address the climate and ecological crisis.

A peaceful climate defense movement Australia wide, calling for government to end new fossil fuel projects

Backyard growers can bring in excess fruit or veg from your gardens and exchange them for in-store goods at Two Before Ten

Promoting the conservation, interest and study of native birds in the ACT

A SEE Change group advocating for safer, accessible streets for everybody.

Creatives for the Environment

A SEE Change group that undertakes activities to advocate for climate action and collaborate with various environmental organisations using creatives skills such as photography, video, and various art forms. Email astridbreuer@seechange.org.au to get invloved

Also run local produce box subscriptions

Goodies Junction Accepts and sells reusable goods, cutting waste and helping local charities in ACT.

A SEE Change project creating demonstration verge veggie gardens

Fiona and Michael run an urban farm from their Ainslie home and run courses, workshops and tours of our property from time to time.

This small business provides garden advice and designs for both urban and nearby rural properties.

We collect from homes, councils, and businesses, connecting items with our reuse and recycling partners.


Good Omen Goodeze (affectionately known as GOG) is a grassroots charity that started about 5 years ago to engage Canberrans of all walks of life to craft beautiful comfort items for patients, families and staff in the ACT health services.

We swap and share seeds, learn and teach about seed growing and saving, and together build a resilient community seed sharing network – a ‘living seed bank’

Here is a list of repair cafes in Canberra, where you can get your broken household items fixed for free