Victorians want to help the Birrarung but don't know where to start. The Birrarung Institute is that starting point: guided programs in ecological leadership, river clean-ups, night-sky and cultural learning that turn goodwill into time on - and for - the river. Outcome: practical skills, real river-care hours, and a community that acts on the Yarra Strategic Plan's 50-year vision rather than just reading it.
Programs run from our Birrarung base in Melbourne and on-river. Formats include 2-hour public sessions (from $19.80 river clean-ups), the 5-day Ecological Leadership Course ($1,685), and custom programs for schools and workplaces. All sessions are led by Parks Victoria-licensed guides in partnership with the Yarra Riverkeeper Association.
River degradation and human disconnection share the same root - separation from self, others, and the living world.
What’s good for the Birrarung is good for everyone isn’t metaphor. It’s practical reality. Our health is intimately entwined. When we connect with Birrarung, and engage in its restoration, everyone, and everything, benefits.
Up The Creek create immersive experiences where people develop a relationship with Birrarung through direct experience - simultaneously addressing river health, organisational challenges, and human wellbeing.
Birrarung Institute/Hub serves as an entry point to the Birrarung, facilitating citizens’ desire for connection with the Burndup Birrarung burndup umarkoo Yarra River Strategic Plan intentions.
The Hub provides accessible, welcoming entry. Citizens curious about the Strategic Plan, organisations seeking meaningful environmental action, schools wanting outdoor learning, individuals hungry for connection - all find their pathway through the Hub.
Ready to get on the water?
Discover experiences that reconnect you with the Birrarung through guided paddles, river care, and immersive learning. Every journey helps build a deeper relationship with the river while contributing to its restoration and the wellbeing of the communities it supports.