Regional funding
Regional funding under the National Landcare Programme is only available to the regional NRM organisations listed on the Regional NRM organisations page. Other stakeholders should contact their regional NRM organisation to discuss opportunities to be involved in delivery of the National Landcare Programme.
Regional NRM organisations are instrumental in working with their communities to identify and set local priorities for investment, and are required to allocate a minimum of 20 per cent of their annual Australian Government funding to local, on-ground projects and related activities that are delivered by or directly engage with the local community, including landcare, Indigenous groups, agriculture groups, other community groups and individual land managers.
The 20 per cent investment through regional NRM organisations will ensure a minimum of approximately $90 million over four years is directed towards local projects under the National Landcare Programme. This means that farmers, Landcare and other community groups have access to funding so that they can continue to undertake important on ground works in local communities.
Under the regional stream of the Programme, regional NRM organisations, in consultation with their local communities, including landcare, have greater autonomy in decision making for NRM activities, including identifying the best ways to achieve local NRM and sustainable agricultural priorities and deliver on the Programme’s Strategic Objectives and Outcomes. The Australian Government does not prescribe delivery approaches; rather, it is the responsibility of regional NRM organisations to ensure that these are appropriate, and that they consult with other parties with NRM and sustainable agricultural interests and responsibilities to determine delivery mechanisms.
Australian Government Performance Framework for Regional NRM Organisations
Regional NRM organisations are expected to monitor their performance and capacity, be accountable for and transparent in decision making, and identify measures to achieve continuous improvement in both the delivery of regional funding and organisational performance. In 2014, the Australian Government introduced a performance framework as a key quality assurance and risk management tool for the delivery of the National Landcare Programme. All regional NRM organisations should be meeting the performance expectations or have strategies in place to meet them. The Department has recently undertaken a review of the 2014 performance framework and self-assessment process and has updated the performance framework and its various processes.
Applications for Regional funding are now closed. The application period was open from Thursday 13 November 2014 to 2.00pm (AEDT) Thursday, 4 December 2014.
These documents are provided for your reference.
National Landcare Programme Regional Funding 2014-15 to 2017-18 Application Guidelines
The National Landcare Programme Regional Funding 2014-15 to 2017-18 Application Guidelines contain important information about eligibility, the Application process and what can be funded.
Regional Funding 2014-15 to 2017-18 Application Guidelines (PDF - 1.99 MB)
Regional Funding 2014-15 to 2017-18 Application Guidelines (DOCX - 166.19 KB)
Supporting documents
Frequently asked questions
Regional Funding frequently asked questions (PDF - 290.78 KB)
Regional Funding frequently asked questions (DOCX - 123.55 KB)
Indigenous participation in planning and delivery of National Landcare Programme investment
Indigenous participation is expected in the planning and delivery of all regional funding. It is expected that Indigenous people will be involved at an early stage of design to ensure that activities are accessible, relevant and appropriate to Indigenous people and organisations.
Indigenous participation in planning and delivery of National Landcare Programme investment (PDF - 128.9 KB)
Indigenous participation in planning and delivery of National Landcare Programme investment (DOCX - 120.42 KB)
Sample funding agreement
Applicants should read the sample funding agreement in conjunction with the Application Guidelines and familiarise themselves with the terms and conditions of receiving funding under the National Landcare Programme Regional Funding 2014-15 to 2017-18.
Funding Agreement - Part A (PDF - 117.08 KB)
Funding Agreement - Part A (DOCX - 102.41 KB)
Funding Agreement - PART B (PDF - 168.67 KB)
Funding Agreement - PART B (DOCX - 119.13 KB)
National Landcare Programme monitoring and reporting requirements
Applicants should familiarise yourself with the monitoring, evaluation, reporting and improvement (MERI) approach and responsibilities of National Landcare Programme funding recipients and the Australian Government.
See National Landcare Programme Monitoring and Reporting Plan to view the Plan, Programme Logic and Regional Delivery Key Performance Indicators.
Under the Programme, project MERI plans have been simplified and are now included in the online Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement Tool (MERIT). Applicants will be able to outline the contribution to be made to the Programme’s Strategic Objectives and Outcomes and how baselines will be developed and the approaches for collection, monitoring and evaluation of data.
Contact us
Contact details for Departmental contact officers are provided to Applicants when they are notified of the notional regional funding allocations for their NRM regions.
Programme information is also available from the following sources:
Phone: 1800 552 008
Email: nationallandcare@environment.gov.au
To ensure the query is dealt with promptly, include ‘Regional Funding’ in the subject line.
Address:
National Landcare Programme
Regional Funding
Department of the Environment
GPO Box 787
CANBERRA ACT 2601