Call for Applications: Victorian Landcare Grants (Australia)

Deadline: 30-Apr-24

The Victorian Government is providing funding to support Landcare and environmental volunteer groups and networks undertaking on-ground works, education, and capability building projects to protect and restore the land and natural environment.

The Victorian Landcare Program supports liveable, inclusive and sustainable communities. The Victorian Landcare Program supports a Landcare and environmental volunteering culture that is diverse in ability, gender, sexuality, age, socio-economic status, and cultural and linguistic background. The Victorian Landcare Program believes everyone has the right to feel safe, welcome and have their life experience valued. Fostering diversity and inclusion helps people to learn from each other and develop new ways to work effectively.

The objectives of the Victorian Landcare Grants are:

• To fund projects that address local, regional, and state land and environment priorities through delivery of:
  • On-ground works
  • Capability building activities
  • Community education and engagement
• To sustain Landcare and other environmental volunteer groups and networks by providing support grants, particularly for groups whose continuing existence will benefit from this support.

Type of Grants

• Project Grants
  • Up to $20,000 may be provided to eligible groups and networks for:
    • On-ground works, capacity building activities, community education and engagement that protects, or improves natural assets such as native vegetation, native fauna, waterways, wetlands and soils.
  • Note: Projects must be completed and reported on by 30 November 2025
  • More than one application can be submitted.
• Support Grants
  • Up to $500 may be provided to eligible groups and networks for start-up and support funding for:
    • Assistance with costs such as insurance, incorporation and operational needs, meetings and events, newsletters, websites and other communication.
  • Note: groups and networks can apply for both Support and Project Grants, however if successful in receiving a Project Grant they will not receive a Support Grant.

Project Location and Mapping

• Projects can be on private or public land in Victoria.
• Applicants will need to map the location(s) of the on-ground component of their project, and label their project sites with a site ID, if working on more than one site. Applicants must provide a large-scale and site-scale map (eg Google Maps image) and attach the map to their application.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible, applicants must be:
  • A Victorian Landcare or environmental volunteer group/network that is community-based and have a focus on on-ground land and natural environment improvement work. This includes Landcare groups and networks, Friends of groups, Conservation Management Networks, Coastcare groups, Committees of Management and Aboriginal groups and organisations working on Country.
• Additionally, eligible applicants must be either:
  • An incorporated association registered through Consumer Affairs Victoria.
  • Affiliated with Landcare Victoria Incorporated as a member group.
  • Registered as a not-for-profit organisation with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).
  • An incorporated association registered through the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations.
• Applicants must also:
  • Hold insurance sufficient to safeguard volunteers and participants involved in the funded activities, including public liability insurance of at least $10 million and personal accident insurance.
• Groups and networks that do not meet the above requirements can still apply for funding but must operate under the auspices of a sponsor organisation that meets these requirements. You will be required to supply written approval (such as supporting letter) from your sponsor (auspice) as part of your application.

Ineligible

• Ineligible applicants include Commonwealth Government agencies, private companies, private individuals, Catchment Management Authorities, industry bodies, State Government statutory bodies/authorities, water authorities and Local Government.
• Previous recipients of VLG funding with outstanding reporting requirements are ineligible for further funding until reporting requirements are met.

For more information, visit North East Catchment Management Authority.