Sally Paulin

Finding the gaps; interrogating the discourse of who cares for the environment as designed by the policy writers and experienced by the do-ers...the group. This thesis traces the outcomes of some of the environmental legislation and government programs initiated in Australia under the Natural Heritage Trust between 2003 and 2008 as they were experienced by the community — the do-ers. This story is told from the perspective of the group and highlights the implications for community groups of ever-changing government priorities, policies and funding models. It highlights the issue of concerting community/bureaucratic relations and identifies a gap between what was designed by the policy writers and what actually happened on the ground.