Caring for our Country is an Australian Government initiative that seeks to achieve an environment that is healthy, better protected, well-managed and resilient, and provides essential ecosystem services in a changing climate.

Caring for our Country will provide over $2 billion in funding between 2008-09 and 2012-13.

The Australian Government has identified six priorities for investment:

• National Reserve System
• Biodiversity and natural icons
• Coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats
• Sustainable farm practices
• Natural resource management in northern and remote Australia
• Community skills, knowledge and engagement

The government has developed a set of five-year outcomes for each of these priority areas, which set out what it aims to achieve in each priority area by 2013. To help achieve these outcomes, shorter-term targets are identified for each priority area in the annual Caring for our Country business plans.

The 2010-11 business plan is essential reading for anyone applying for funding under Caring for our Country.

In order to best achieve the best Caring for our Country outcomes possible, we have provided a range of application options, or 'investment approaches.' This also provides additional flexibility for applicants. The way you apply and the closing date for applications will vary depending on the target/s being addressed in your proposal. The different closing dates for each investment approach are detailed in the table below.

We assess proposals for Caring for our Country investment on a competitive basis to ensure that the proposals that best meet the program outcomes are funded. It is therefore crucial that you:

• check the method of applying and relevant closing date for your proposed project
• ensure your project meets the eligibility and assessment criteria for Caring for our Country proposals
• ensure you have read the Instructions for completing the online proposal form
• consider any eligibility requirements specific to the target/s that your proposal addresses.

You might also like to consider discussing your proposal with your regional natural resources management (NRM) organisation as they may be able to recommend potential partners or linkages for your project. Contact details for regional NRM organisations are available on the Caring for our Country website.

The Caring for our Country targets reflect the best available scientific information, and were developed in consultation with the CSIRO, the Bureau of Rural Sciences, individual experts and technical staff, including from state agencies, as well as NRM policy experts, regional NRM organisation representatives and various non-government organisations. The targets are revised to reflect continuing improvements in scientific knowledge and achievements made through previous business plan investments.

A review of Caring for our Country targets and processes involved meetings with key stakeholders (including state and territory governments, regional NRM organisations, and non-government organisations) in mid-2009. Additionally, a public online survey conducted in June-July 2009 received more than 300 responses.

A number of suggestions were received concerning the design of targets for future business plans, and these suggestions have helped inform the development of the 2010-11 business plan.

Proposals must contribute to achieving measurable outcomes across one or more of the six priority areas. To achieve this, they need to deliver results against at least one of the targets outlined in the 2010-11 business plan.

We will assess proposals against a maximum of three targets, except in the case of regional NRM organisations. Proponents should therefore carefully select those targets where their proposals can achieve the greatest measurable difference. We recognise that some projects could feasibly address more than three targets, however in your proposal you should only list the three main targets that your project will contribute to.

Regional NRM organisations will be expected to submit proposals for base-level funding for integrated projects, and are therefore able to address more than three targets.

Yes, all Caring for our Country targets are of equal value in the assessment of applications - no individual target has a higher weighting over another.

The 2010-11 business plan however makes clear that proposals which solely relate to community skills, knowledge and engagement activities will not be funded. We expect that proposals will incorporate community skills, knowledge and engagement activities to support other targets they are addressing.

In addition, Indigenous people are well placed in many areas to assist in the delivery of Caring for our Country targets and it is expected that, where it makes sense to do so, all proposals through this business plan will explore and address opportunities for Indigenous people to participate in the delivery of the targets.

Caring for our Country will invest in proposals based in major towns and metropolitan areas subject to the same conditions of eligibility and assessment criteria as outlined in the business plan.

Only some targets in the 2010-11 business plan have specific geographic locations, such as improving coastal hotspots, protecting Ramsar wetlands and high conservation value aquatic ecosystems. Where this is the case, we are not seeking proposals under the 2010-11 business plan for projects outside these geographic locations.

For other targets such as reducing the impact of vertebrate pest animals or weeds, increasing native vegetation and sustainable practices there are no identified geographic priority areas and proposals from all areas will be considered.

The $5 million Caring for Our Country Community Action Grants program provides small grants of between $5000 and $20 000 to environmental, Indigenous and sustainable agriculture community groups. The call for 2010-11 Community Action Grants applications is likely to occur in July 2010 and is designed for those groups which are not successful through the 2010-11 business plan.

These maps identify the extent of threatened ecological communities and threatened species. The maps also provide context information on the extent of protected areas. The protected area information has been updated and the maps have been updated to reflect this. In most cases this expands the area shown under protection. The most obvious changes are in Western Australia and in the Northern Territory. Updated copies of the Caring for our Country CD containing the revised maps are now available. To obtain a copy of the updated CD please contact 1800 552 008.

Caring for our Country funding is available to any legal entity to undertake work that will contribute to achieving Caring for our Country targets. Examples of eligible entities are listed in Section 3 of the business plan.

If your proponent organisation is not a legal entity you will need to partner with an organisation that is. In broad terms, a legal entity is an individual or organisation that can legally enter into a contract with the Australian Government to deliver agreed targets.

For the purpose of the business plan and its processes, a natural resource management organisation is one of the identified regional NRM organisations.

Additional eligibility criteria are outlined in Section 3 of the 2010-11 business plan.

Yes. Each business plan will address slightly different targets within priority areas and attract a new suite of proposals. Your proposal will need to address the targets in the current business plan and will be assessed competitively on its merit against other proposals received under that business plan. If you are submitting a proposal for the same project, you should ensure that it relates to the revised targets.

Yes, as long as the new proposal is not for items or activities previously funded. Regional NRM organisations may also submit other proposals in addition to their base-level funding.

Caring for our Country will only fund projects that will contribute to the targets outlined in the 2010-11 business plan. Sections 2 and 3 of the business plan detail which activities will and will not be funded under each target.
Caring for our Country will not fund activities that do not fall under the scope of the initiative, including:

• activities that are funded exclusively through other avenues, such as the $130 million Australia's Farming Future  initiative
• activities that are more appropriately the focus of the Australian Government's $12.9 billion Water for the Future , which is focused on achieving water efficiencies and savings, secure water supplies and buying back water entitlements in the Murray-Darling Basin. The Australian Government will, however, continue to invest in actions to improve water quality through projects that achieve targets under Caring for our Country
• activities such as direct subsidisation of commercial activities, business start-up or where the primary purpose is commercial gain.

Activities that are outside the scope of Caring for our Country, and therefore not eligible for funding, are listed in Section 3.2 of the business plan.

In addition, Section 9.1 of the standard funding agreement that successful proponents will sign clearly states that you must not use Caring for our Country funding to acquire any asset unless:

• the asset is listed in the funding agreement, or
• the Australian Government has given prior written approval.

An extensive list of government community grants can be found on the GrantsLINK website .

The Australian Government will not fund projects through Caring for our Country that are outside the scope of the program, or that are funded exclusively through another program. Similarly, Caring for our Country will not provide funding for activities that have already been funded by any other means.

Projects that are eligible for more than one type of funding may receive funding from Caring for our Country for parts of the project that are not already funded. Evidence of committed funds from other sources will be needed in this case.

We understand that some proposals will contain a mix of private and public benefit. We will focus on the extent to which public benefit exceeds private benefit in determining the eligibility and merit of your proposal. We will also consider the nature of the activities proposed, for example the extent of broader public benefits from a pilot or demonstration project, and whether private contributions are commensurate with the private benefits. In general, we expect public benefits of Caring for our Country investment to significantly exceed any private benefit.

Funding may be available to address salinity issues under Caring for our Country where the overall project will contribute to achieving one or more of the Caring for our Country targets.

There are a range of marine issues addressed through Caring for our Country. These include marine activities undertaken within coastal and aquatic environments, and the ecological sustainability of the commercial fishing sector.

The following marine-related activities are not eligible for Caring for our Country investment:

• the costs of managing Marine Protected Areas
• oil spill cleanup activities
• biosecurity activities related to marine pests
• structural adjustment packages for fisheries.

With the exception of Reef water quality research and development projects, Caring for our Country will not fund projects that are predominantly research.

Where critical and clearly defined applied research is demonstrated to be essential for achieving a target, we may accept a proportionate research component as part of broader actions.

Proposals that seek support only for community engagement activities without contributing to other targets are not eligible for funding under the 2010-11 business plan. Proponents seeking support for community engagement must be able to demonstrate how the activities will contribute to meeting other targets. Activity details will need to be defined, including event type and expected participant numbers.

Yes, where a management plan is considered outside the core business of the landholder.

As there is not currently an identified regional NRM organisation in the Cape York region, any interested legal entity may apply for Caring for our Country regional base-level funding, as well as through the open call, expression of interest and tender processes.

All proponents interested in applying for regional base-level funding in Cape York must contact Geoff Dyne on (02) 6272 4561 or geoff.dyne@nrm.gov.au in the first instance to discuss options.

No. However, proponents will need to consider the specific investment scope and eligibility requirements outlined in Section 2 of the business plan when developing proposals against the invasive species (vertebrate pest animals and weeds) targets.

Yes. The Caring for our Country business plan has identified priority target areas where the Australian Government will invest in control of some identified vertebrate pests. Activities that do not explicitly meet these targets, or where control of pest animals should be undertaken by individual land holders as part of legal obligations or normal business practice will not be considered for funding.

No. This Caring for our Country target is addressing on-ground control of vertebrate pest animals. It is expected that a proportionate part of your proposal would address monitoring and evaluating the success of control techniques. Associated research is not an eligible activity.

No. Caring for our Country investment is specifically targeting the current 20 agreed Weeds of National Significance. A list of these species is provided on page 47 of the 2010-11 business plan.

Yes. Organisations, for example NRM bodies and NGOs can play a coordination role in projects proposed under the Landscape scale conservation (and agroforestry) target. Reasonable costs for this coordination role can be built into project costs. For example, the 2010-11 business plan indicates that 'proposals may also allocate a proportion of funding to employing facilitators to assist achieve project outcomes' (pg.79).

The business plan outlines the investment scope relating to rabbits which is focused on the regeneration and recovery of critically endangered and endangered species and communities as listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), some of which are identified in Table 6 of the business plan. Proponents should be able to demonstrate the impacts of rabbits on one of these species in a particular area and how their project will assist in the rehabilitation of these species through a long term commitment to control rabbits. Projects that best meet this target and can demonstrate "the cost-effectiveness of any control method used" and "how this control method will be measured" would be considered for funding.

Yes. State, territory and local governments are eligible to apply for funding under Caring for our Country. However, funding will not be available for activities that are normal duty of care management responsibilities of land and coastal managers.

All proposals, with the exception of Environmental Stewardship expressions of interest, can be submitted through the application forms available on this website soon.

When you select the type of project you are doing, you will be automatically directed through to the appropriate form, for example an expression of interest or the open call form.

All electronic open call proposals must be lodged by 5pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) on Thursday 15 April 2010. Hard copy applications must be postmarked on or before 15 April 2010.

Closing dates for applications submitted via other mechanisms such as tender and expression of interest may have different closing dates. These dates are listed on the Caring for our Country website.

The online application forms will sequentially become available by the end of January 2010. Proponents without internet access can request a hard copy application form by phoning 1800 552 008.

The Environmental Stewardship tender form is available now on the AusTender website .

Read the business plan and determine the targets that your proposal will address and read the guidelines to determine the information you will need to apply.

• Plan your project, line up any useful partnerships and ensure that you have the information you need to apply.
• Register as an applicant if you have not previously registered.
• Log on and access the online application form using user name and password.
• Save each page as you progress. You may come back to the form at any time by logging on again up until the time you submit the form.
• Submit the form by the due date once you are satisfied with your proposal.
• Print a copy of your application for your records when it has been submitted.

Proponents may submit proposals for more than one project, or more than one element of a project, as long as each project is a stand-alone, eligible project that contributes to the targets and could go ahead independently of other proposals receiving funding. Each proposal will be assessed solely on its own merits.

We received feedback from our online survey which suggested a number of changes to the Caring for our Country application process to make it easier for applicants.

We have worked to improve the proposal forms, and the instructions for completing the forms to provide you with more comprehensive guidance.

We recognise that it takes significant effort for applicants to prepare proposals and have used tick boxes and drop-down menus where possible to reduce the amount of typing. However, because there are a wide range of available funding opportunities we have also used separate forms where they are needed. These are for:

• the open call
• Indigenous Protected Areas
• regional base-level funding (for regional NRM organisations only)
• Environmental Stewardship (an AusTender submission)
• Sustainable practices (an expression of interest for projects greater than $300 000)
• Reef Rescue-Reef water quality research and development (an expression of interest)
• National Reserve System acquisitions.

The online form directs you only to the questions relevant to the targets your project will address. However in the hard copy open call form it is necessary to list all questions for all types of projects. If you are completing the hard copy form, make sure you follow the instructions carefully to ensure you aren't completing unnecessary questions.

No. Projects funded under the 2010-11 business plan must commence within the 2010-11 financial year, that is, between 1 July 2010 and 30 June 2011. If you have received single-year funding, your project must also be completed within the 2010-11 financial year.

However, NRM organisations who have already committed all their 2010-11 base-level funding on previously approved multi-year projects may apply for some or all of their remaining five-year funding under the 2010-11 business plan, even if the project(s) won't commence until 2011-12.

We welcome proponents working in partnership with others in both the planning and delivery of their projects where this adds value to the project. Likewise we are also happy to receive proposals from a single applicant. Section 1.5 of the business plan details the different types of organisations you may like to partner with, and provides guidance on the expectations of partnerships.

Some examples of potential partnerships may include:

1. A regional NRM organisation may partner with a number of local governments and Landcare groups to implement a management plan to contain the spread of weeds of national significance.
2. A local government may seek to partner with a local Indigenous group to protect the environmental and cultural values of an aquatic ecosystem of outstanding high conservation value.
3. A non-government organisation may partner with a state government and some regional NRM organisations to establish conservation linkages on private land that provide connectivity across the landscape.

Further information relating to Caring for our Country can be accessed by:

• reading these frequently asked questions
• emailing the Caring for our Country Business plan team at business.planning@nrm.gov.au
• calling the Caring for our Country information line on 1800 552 008 between 9am and 4pm AEDT/AEST
• contacting the Caring for our Country facilitators who are located in each state to answer questions relating to specific proposals.

Australian Government staff, including the Caring for our Country facilitators, can clarify issues you have and provide general information on the business plan such as its processes, the targets and their meaning, location and priorities and the scale of projects.

Australian Government staff cannot offer comment on the merits or likely success of individual proposals, and contact with and assistance from the Australian Government Land and Coast team does not guarantee that any proposal will be funded. Australian Government staff, including the Caring for our Country facilitators, cannot complete application forms or provide guidance toward the development of specific proposals or related elements, such as specific information on targets or appropriate partnerships for the competitive investment process.

We recommend that any multi-regional or multi-partner project be submitted as a single proposal that identifies the lead partner who would be responsible for overall project management and contracting with the Australian Government. There is a risk that if a multi-partner or multi-regional project seeks funding through separate proposals, only some components of the project may be successful.

Yes. A specific opportunity is provided through the open call for proposals which require matching cash co-investment.

Under this approach up to a further $2 million will be invested for up to four proposals that bring with them a matching corporate and/or philanthropic organisation contribution. These proposals will require a specific commitment in writing from the co-investors, which can be conditional on the co-investment proposal receiving government funding.

These proposals will be selected from the pool of open call applications that have ticked the 'Co-investment' box and if unsuccessful in this category will then continue to be included in the stream of open call proposals.

No. Once your application has been submitted you can not make further changes to it. If you want to make changes to a submitted proposal you will have to submit a completely separate proposal form by the relevant deadline.

Before your application is submitted you can make as many changes as you need, then simply save the application again before exiting.

Proposals for investment through the 2010-11 business plan will be assessed based on eligibility and merit. Proposals will be ranked based on their contribution to the assessment criteria outlined in the business plan. An assessment tool has been designed to assist in comparing the merits of proposals.

Further assessment of proposals will take into account cost per unit benefit, risk factors, and consideration of target achievement within budget profiles. This approach is consistent with the Administration of Grants: Better Practice Guide (ANAO 2002) and the Grants Management Manual (DAFF 2007). The government may seek the advice of technical experts and relevant stakeholder groups in finalising its assessment process.

More information on the assessment criteria is available in Section 3.3 of the business plan.

The Australian Government will assess proposals submitted under the 2010-11 business plan in a timely manner so successful projects can start early in the 2010-11 financial year. All applicants will receive a letter advising the outcome of their proposal soon after the completion of the assessment process.

Once Ministers announce successful projects, funding deeds will be prepared and sent to successful proponents.

Under the terms of funding deeds, successful proponents will be required to provide performance information on the results of their actions.

The Caring for our Country Monitoring, evaluation, reporting and improvement (MERI) strategy has been developed to monitor, evaluate and report on project performance. This enables us to ensure consistent evidence is available about the impact, effectiveness, efficiency and legacy of investment.

Funding deeds will clearly identify the results that we expect to be delivered. Proponents with projects valued over $80 000 are required to develop and implement a MERI plan. Projects under $80 000 are required to develop a program logic.

Guides on how to develop a MERI plan and program logic can be downloaded from the MERI page of this website.

Under the 2010-11 Caring for our Country business plan $171 million will be available for investment in new single-year and multi-year projects. In addition, $138 million per year is allocated as base-level funding to regional NRM organisations.

The Australian Government has provided over $2 billion for Caring for our Country between 2008-09 and 2012-13. Many proposals approved in 2008-09 and 2009-10 have funding committed to multi-year outcomes and will receive funding over a number of years. This means that some funds for 2010-11 and subsequent years have already been committed and are not available under this business plan.

The Australian Government is careful to balance the needs for and outcomes of longer term projects with ensuring flexibility for future years. At this stage we are not expecting that more than 30 per cent of 2011-12 funding, and 10 per cent of 2012-13 funding, will be committed in this current process.

Generally, funding for individual projects ranges from $20 000 to $1.5 million. Applicants can apply for any amount of funding between these figures. For some targets the ceiling on proposals is $300 000.

If your project is valued at less than $20 000, you should apply for a Community Action Grant. It is anticipated that the 2010 Community Action Grants round will open for applications in July 2010.

The funding limit identified for projects against each target is the maximum amount of money we will provide for the life of a project, not a yearly maximum. For example, if you are proposing a project over three years, you are eligible for $1.5 million in total, and if you are proposing a one year project, you are eligible for $1.5 million in total.

Please refer to the GST questions later in this section for information on how the GST impacts your budget.

Some targets have a different application process and where this is the case your proposal needs to address the single target only. Therefore, if you are submitting an expression of interest (e.g. your proposal relates to Protecting the Reef - research and development, sustainable practices greater than $300 000 in value, Indigenous Protected Areas, or a complex National Reserve System project), you can only select that single target.

However, if you are submitting a proposal for targets through the open call application form, you can integrate up to three different targets in your project.

The maximum amount available for proposals submitted through the open call is overall upper funding limit of $1.5 million, (except for National Reserve System acquisition projects). Within that $1.5 million cap, other funding limits may apply, depending on the targets you are addressing.

For example, if your project reduces the impact of Weeds of National Significance, increases Indigenous participation and fosters sustainable practices - each of which have a funding cap of $300 000 -the maximum value your project can have is $900 000.

However, if your proposal aims to reduce the impact of weeds of national significance, and also addresses two other targets that do not have specified funding caps, you may request a maximum of $300 000 for weeds of national significance, and up to $1.2 million to the other two targets.

In general, in-kind contributions are not specifically taken into account. However, where a proposal includes an in-kind contribution it will usually be more cost-effective than a similar project that has no in-kind contribution.

If you are applying for funding under the sustainable practices targets, you should refer to the business plan for guidance on cash and in-kind contributions.

For proposals against the sustainable practices target where it could be expected that a proposal will lead to future private benefits, there is an expectation that contributions (either cash or in-kind) will be included in the budget.

For other targets there is no requirement for contributions, however the Australian Government is seeking to leverage funds where possible and value for money is one of the key assessment criteria.

A specific matching contribution applies to proposals which are seeking funding under the co-investment opportunity.

Grants are subject to normal taxation treatment and no special arrangements will apply. Applicants should seek independent advice on the taxation implications of receiving a grant. All applications for funding will be GST exclusive. Payment of GST on the grant will be dependant on the organisation's GST status.

No. GST-registered proponents should list the 'real' cost of the project. As you are entitled to claim the GST amount through back from the Australian Taxation Office, you should prepare your Caring for our Country project budget on a GST-exclusive basis.
Grants are subject to normal taxation treatment and no special arrangements will apply. Applicants should seek independent advice on the taxation implications of receiving a grant.

Yes, you should include the 'real' cost of your project. As you are not entitled to claim the GST amount from the Australian Taxation Office you should prepare your budget on a GST-inclusive basis.

Grants are subject to normal taxation treatment and no special arrangements will apply. Applicants should seek independent advice on the taxation implications of receiving a grant.

The Australian Government understands that administration is an integral part of delivering a Caring for our Country project and accepts a proportionate amount in the budget for that purpose.

The Australian Government does not fund retrospectively, so costs incurred during the application process will not be funded.

Yes. Monitoring requirements are outlined in Section 4.1 of the business plan. Proposals should include proportionate costs for monitoring against targets in their budgets.

In accordance with Australian Government grant guidelines, payments will be made upon meeting agreed project milestones, as negotiated with the contract management team handling your proposal.

For investments with a value of up to $80 000 that have been assessed as low risk, full payment may be made at the start of the project, (but not exceeding 18 months in advance for multi-year projects).

Full payment of the Australian Government contribution toward the acquisition of land to be added to the National Reserve System may be made upon execution of the acquisition contract.

Indigenous organisations can participate in Caring for our Country in several ways, including, but not limited to:

1. proposals from land councils, groupings of land councils or as groupings of smaller Indigenous organisations
2. by joining in proposals with partners such as regional NRM organisations, non-government organisations and the industry and commercial sector

In addition, Indigenous people are well placed in many areas to assist in the delivery of Caring for our Country targets more generally and it is expected that, where it makes sense to do so, all proposals through this business plan will explore and address opportunities for Indigenous people to participate in the delivery of the targets.

There are also two targets that aim to assist in systematically recording traditional ecological knowledge at a cultural landscape scale, and implementing existing land and sea management or equivalent plans.

Potential applicants should contact one of the Caring for our Country Indigenous Land Management facilitators to discuss their proposal before applying.

Traditional ecological knowledge refers to a cumulative body of knowledge, know-how, practices and representations maintained and developed by Indigenous peoples with extended histories of interaction with the natural environment. These sophisticated sets of understandings, interpretations and meanings are part and parcel of a cultural complex that encompasses language, naming and classification systems, resource use practices, ritual, spirituality and worldview.

With the ageing of key traditional knowledge holders and the potential for much knowledge to be lost forever, it is important for traditional ecological knowledge to be recorded. Through Caring for our Country, the Australian Government may support Indigenous communities to gather traditional ecological knowledge.

Under the 2010-11 business plan we are seeking proposals from Indigenous groups to systematically record traditional ecological knowledge that can be used to support biodiversity, coastal and other conservation outcomes for Caring for our Country. We will ensure that Intellectual Property rights and protocols are developed in consultation with traditional owners and are in place before any approved activities begin, where such activities incorporate traditional ecological knowledge with the delivery of Caring for our Country targets.

We are also keen to support proposals that incorporate traditional ecological knowledge and land and sea country NRM plans with the delivery of other Caring for our Country targets. There is a particular focus on projects that draw together the use of traditional ecological knowledge with local knowledge and western science to underpin biodiversity conservation outcomes.

This initial focus reflects the fact that most of the research and on-ground evidence on the carbon sequestration benefits resulting from traditional burning practices has been gathered from the tropical savanna area of Australia. Caring for our Country is exploring opportunities for Indigenous land managers to enter emerging voluntary or other emissions trading markets.

Working on Country is the element of Caring for our Country that provides Indigenous people with jobs to do environmental work and care for country. The Australian Government has committed $90 million in Caring for our Country funds over five years to employ and train up to 300 Indigenous rangers to manage and conserve the natural and cultural features of Indigenous lands and waters, including Indigenous Protected Areas.

Indigenous rangers are involved in a range of environmental activities across Australia such as fire management, threatened species survey and management, weed and feral animal control, water quality monitoring, transfer of traditional ecological knowledge and cultural heritage management.

No funding for new Working on Country projects is available under the 2010-11 Caring for our Country business plan. Funding currently available for the 2010-11 financial year has already been allocated to approved multi-year projects.

Funding for these projects is available over three years, up to June 2013.

For the two Indigenous participation targets, the Australian Government is keen to support Indigenous organisations to systematically record traditional ecological knowledge at a cultural landscape scale, and implement existing land and sea management or equivalent plans.

Examples of organisations include:

• land councils
• community councils
• land management agencies
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land trusts or representative bodies.

To apply for funding and enter into legal agreements such as contracts, Indigenous organisations must be legally incorporated.

Where an unincorporated Indigenous organisation or group wishes to submit a proposal, they can be sponsored by an incorporated organisation that can manage the contract. This might be helpful for smaller communities or other groups such as Indigenous land managers or green teams who can do the work but may not be incorporated.

Non-Indigenous organisations, regional natural resource management bodies and local governments with experience in working with Indigenous people are also able to sponsor Indigenous organisations.

The 2010-11 business plan includes two new targets that aim to assist Indigenous communities to implement existing Indigenous land and sea country plans and for the use and recording of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) where the plans and knowledge will contribute to biodiversity, coastal and other conservation outcomes for Caring for our Country.

Only Indigenous organisations can apply against these two targets. However, they may choose to include non-Indigenous organisations as sponsors or partners in their application. Regional natural resource management (NRM) organisations can also direct their base-level funding to the achievement of these targets as long as they can demonstrate a strong partnership with relevant Indigenous organisations

The targets will be delivered through investing in TEK projects that support biodiversity, coastal and other conservation outcomes and projects implementing land and sea country management plans contributing to biodiversity, coastal or other conservation outcomes for Caring for our Country. An eligible land and sea country plan can include any plan endorsed by the relevant community/ies which seeks to address priority land and/or sea management issues on a landscape scale. It is possible to submit a proposal which solely addresses one of the Indigenous participation targets. However, it is expected that proposals which also contribute to other biophysical targets would be more likely to succeed in what is expected to be a highly competitive process

Up to $300 000 over three years is available against these two Indigenous participation targets.

In addition, to ensure that Indigenous participation opportunities are addressed in the delivery of other targets, it is expected that all other proposals seeking funding through this business plan will explore opportunities for Indigenous people to participate in the project where it makes sense to do so.

Regional NRM organisations have formed a partnership with the Australian Government to facilitate the integrated delivery of Caring for our Country at the regional level. They provide support and access to knowledge and skills for landholders, coastcare and Landcare groups and the broader community. They also work with local and state governments to deliver region-wide outcomes and maintain the capacity of the regional community to address the Australian Government's targets.

Regional NRM organisations are required to submit online expressions of interest for regional base-level funding. They can also submit competitive proposals for additional funding under the open call.

Regional NRM organisations may partner with other organisations submitting proposals or expressions of interest, and they may act as a sponsor for unincorporated community groups submitting applications.

The Australian Government will provide the 56 regional NRM organisations with secure, annual base-level funding until 2012-13. Regional NRM organisations are required to submit an online expression of interest for their available base-level allocation. They will then be contacted by an Australian Government officer to negotiate the detail of their proposal. To apply organisations must submit the regional base-level expression of interest form by 31 March 2010.

Regional base-level proposals must demonstrate how they will deliver on the Caring for our Country outcomes, through coordinating projects at the regional and local levels to address the targets outlined in the 2010-11 business plan. Proposals must clearly state the quantity of each target (where quantifiable) that the investment will achieve.

We expect that regional programs will provide opportunities for local community groups to seek funding through devolved grants as part of their regional base-level funding. These activities will form part of annual reporting requirements for regions.

The Australian Government is also seeking significant investment in engaging Indigenous communities through base-level allocations. Many regional NRM organisations are well placed to interact with Indigenous groups and increase Indigenous participation in environmental protection and natural resource management at a regional and local scale. Wherever possible, Indigenous communities should be involved in the delivery of regional programs to address Caring for our Country.

In addition, non-statutory regional NRM organisations may also seek funding through their base-level proposals to improve specified governance arrangements of their organisations. Funding for this purpose is capped at 5 per cent of their annual base-level allocation.

Yes, we expect that regional NRM organisations will provide opportunities for local community groups to seek funding through devolved grants to community groups and others.

Additionally, under the increasing coastal community engagement target, organisations wishing to engage a number of community groups across a broad geographic region, for example through a process of targeted devolved grants, can apply for up to $1.5 million to do this.

Small community groups and individuals are encouraged to liaise with their regional NRM organisation to gain knowledge of regional plans before submitting applications with a view to forming strategic partnerships to better deliver on Caring for our Country outcomes wherever feasible.

No. However, we recognise that the updated targets in this business plan may provide regions with opportunities to undertake 'better' projects that achieve more appropriate or significant outcomes in their region, and we support this. You should consult with the relevant Australian Government Regional liaison officer for Caring for our Country in your state to discuss varying your existing Caring for our Country schedule.

Yes. Please refer to Expressions of interest for regional NRM organisations' base-level allocations in Section 3.1 of the business plan for further information on this.

All legal entities, including individuals, are eligible to apply for funding under the 2010-11 Caring for our Country business plan.

In many cases, an individual's best chance of obtaining funding through the 2010-11 business plan may be by partnering with an organisation such as their regional NRM organisation or Landcare group to develop a proposal that will deliver more significant results across many properties.

Yes, community groups and networks such as Indigenous, Landcare and coastcare groups are supported under Caring for our Country.

Coastal community groups and networks seeking smaller amounts of funding are encouraged to contact their regional NRM organisation to discuss local grant options or to identify other groups with whom they could form partnerships to submit a proposal.

Community groups such as Landcare and coastcare groups can also directly contribute to national targets by collaborating with regional NRM organisations and other consortia to become part of larger projects.

Environmental Stewardship, which is currently focusing on protecting the Box Gum Grassy Woodlands listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, will continue to build enduring partnerships with farmers and other land managers. As well as contributing to the biodiversity and natural icons national priority area of Caring for our Country, Environmental Stewardship will contribute to the sustainable practices priority area by increasing the number of farmers adopting stewardship practices to improve the environment on and off their farms.