The name "Bushcare" was originally adopted in NSW to describe bush regeneration programs which involved community volunteer groups. The adoption of this name for the NHT funded Bushcare program has lead to some confusion. To distinguish between the two, AABR refers to them as Bushcare (community) and NHT Bushcare (Commonwealth).

As bush regeneration became more accepted, professional regenerators pushed for more community involvement. Regenerators recognised that if members of the community understood and were involved in bush regeneration in their local reserve or behind their houses, the extensive urban/bushland interface would stand a chance of being brought to a stable condition. This might also have the effect of reducing degrading impacts such as vandalism, dumping of rubbish and inappropriate use and encroachments.

The growth of Local Government supported Bushcare Programs (as distinct from NHT Bushcare) began in 1989, with Ku-ring-gai Council inviting volunteers to join groups and council providing tools, training etc. The name Bushcare was adopted a year or so later, with the employment of specialist community support bush regeneration staff.

Ku-ring-gai Council still runs one of the more successful Bushcare/ Bushland Programs and has around 700 hundred volunteers supported by a Bushcare Officer, Bushcare Trainers, an Interpretive Officer and 19 professional bush regenerators.

Many of these groups are registered as Landcare groups. However, groups in Bushcare programs often do not need to register, and things such as incorporation, insurance and provision of support are provided by the Council.

The best programs are those where the Council or organisation also has paid staff to carry out work, This allows work to be done where ecological priorities are identified, while the community may only wish to work locally. In addition, the paid staff are there to assist the community when required.

Bushcare programs have been becoming more sophisticated over the last decade, with many volunteers now working on environmental issues as well as ecological. Stormwater management, erosion control, education and environmental monitoring is now undertaken along with flora and fauna management.

In many parts of Australia, program similar to Bushcare exist, with groups carrying out work on public land but with less (or no) support from their local councils, their resources coming from State or Commonwealth government grants or sponsorship.