Community Action Grants
2012-13

Caring for our Country Community Action Grants are targeted towards established local community-based organisations that have successfully delivered projects to support sustainable farming or protect and enhance the natural environment. Both established and emerging Indigenous organisations may also apply for funding.

Organisations applying for a Community Action Grant will need to be a legal entity, such as:

• an incorporated association
• a body corporate
• a company
• a cooperative society
• an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander corporation, council or incorporated association
• a duly constituted trust.

The community group must have voting and/or financial membership of at least five individuals. In the case of a trust, the community group must have demonstrated community support, including at least five volunteers.

The community group must also have been in existence for at least 12 months prior to the closing date for applications, with the exception of Indigenous organisations.

The following organisations are not eligible to apply for Community Action Grants but may sponsor or support an eligible local community group, including where applicable any eligible groups that fall under their organisation:

• Regional natural resource management organisations
• non-government organisations (NGOs) with a national focus (and their state/territory branches), peak industry groups, or umbrella bodies
• non-government organisations (NGOs) with a national focus (and their state/territory branches),
• peak industry groups, or umbrella bodies
• all levels of government (Commonwealth, state/territory and local)
• organisations currently directly operating under state legislation, such as Livestock Health and Pest Authorities, and Committees of Management for crown land reserves

The following are not eligible to apply for Community Action Grants, and are not eligible to sponsor a project:

• individuals
• organisations that have at the application closing date any overdue final reports and/or acquittals for previous Australian Government NRM funding, including Caring for our Country, the Natural Heritage Trust, Envirofund, National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality and the National Landcare Program

Community groups which are not legal entities must be sponsored by a legal entity (such as a local government, peak industry body or regional natural resource management organisation) who can apply on their behalf. The legal entity will be legally responsible for meeting the contractual obligations of the grant.

A peak body is defined as ‘a non-government organisation whose membership consists of smaller organisations of allied interests, offering a strong voice for the specific community sector in the areas of lobbying government, community education and information sharing between member groups and interested parties’ (Melville, R., and Perkins, R., (2003) Changing Roles of Community-Sector Peak Bodies in a Neo-Liberal Policy Environment in Australia. University of Wollongong.)

Community Action Grants are not available to peak bodies (except as a sponsor) because the aim of the program is to support local community groups.

No. Applications may only be submitted for new projects or for further distinct stages of an existing project which has been, or is currently being, completed. There should be no duplication of funding between existing projects and Community Action Grants applications.

Public Schools cannot apply for Community Action Grants as it is an eligibility requirement that the group must have either voting and/or financial membership of at least five individuals and Public Schools are usually identified as a State Government entity. However, public and private schools may partner with or sponsor a parents and citizens committee or another eligible community group.

The committee must be able to demonstrate that they have successfully delivered projects that are:

• Protecting and/or enhancing the natural environment, or
• Practicing and/or promoting sustainable farming and/or land management.

Groups other than Indigenous groups need to have been in existence for 12 months or more to be eligible to apply. The program is aimed at established groups who have had experience in project implementation. New groups may partner with existing eligible groups.

Yes. While Community Action Grants are generally only available to community groups that have been established for 12 months or more, the grants are available to both established and emerging Indigenous organisations.

No. If you have at the application closing date any overdue reports and/or acquittals for previous Australian Government NRM funding you will be considered ineligible for Community Action Grants funding.

Yes. Groups who received Business Plan Open Call Grants funding are eligible to apply for 2012-13 Community Action Grants, providing the group meets all the other Community Action Grants eligibility criteria.

Yes. If your organisation is incorporated you can submit an application but you must provide the incorporation number in the application submission. (A drop-down box is provided for this entry in the form once the incorporation question has been answered).

Some examples of the types of eligible activities that projects may include are:

• educational activities and raising community awareness (trials/demonstrations, workshops, field days, website development and community monitoring)
• development of natural resource management plans that improve the local environment
• invasive species control
• on ground projects for improved land management practices
• infrastructure construction (for public access management, protection of Indigenous heritage and/or off-stream watering points for stock only)
• revegetation (e.g. for habitat, biodiversity corridors/linkages, erosion control)
• fencing that provides environmental benefits
• community group administration support.

Indigenous groups may also apply for funding for land and sea country planning and activities to record and use traditional ecological knowledge.

Ineligible activities include:

• Purchase of major capital items. Major capital items are defined as building improvements and items of equipment, furniture, vehicles, computer hardware and software, media equipment and the like with a useful life of three years or more and an individual cost of $1000 or more. Note, however, that up to $4000 may be approved for media and recording equipment for the specific purpose of recording Indigenous ecological knowledge.
• Activities where the primary purpose is to beautify or improve amenity rather than protect the natural environment or enhance biodiversity.
• Paid labour supplied by the community group or sponsor, other than for project coordination, management and administration.

Please refer to the Applicant Guidelines for further information on ineligible activities:

• Caring for Our Country 2012-13 Community Action Grants Applicant Guidelines (PDF - 2.8 MB) |  (Word - 91 KB)

Community Action Grants funding can be used to fund project coordination, management and administration labour costs. Community Action Grant funding cannot be used to pay the wages of staff in the community group and/or sponsoring organisation other than for these activities.

The focus of Community Action Grants is on achieving environmental outcomes through community participation. The Government's contribution to projects covers materials, equipment hire and associated costs that enable on ground works and community engagement to be completed. All applicants must demonstrate value for money in the activities and expenses proposed and there is an expectation that groups will also contribute towards the project. This includes volunteer labour or other in-kind contributions.

Contractors can be hired for specialised tasks associated with: invasive species control; fencing; on ground projects for improved land management practices; infrastructure construction; revegetation; Indigenous land and sea country planning; or the recording and use of Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge. For example, funding could be used to pay for contractors to operate heavy machinery, erect fencing or use chemicals for weed removal activities. Community Action Grants funding can be used for contractors and consultants as part of education activities and raising community awareness, for example paying an expert to speak at a field day or event. However, funds cannot be used for participants' travel associated with attending education or community awareness activities (e.g. travelling to a workshop of field day).

Fencing costs will be funded only where it provides high environmental benefits, for example the protection of a sensitive riparian area, remnant native vegetation, critical habitat areas or as a means to reduce soil erosion.

Funds cannot be used for standard boundary fencing, for replacing existing fencing, or fencing for paddock subdivision (except where it is used to create a demonstration site or control soil erosion). The quality of fencing proposed should reflect the issue being addressed and the task for which it is required.

Activities may include public access management, protection of Indigenous heritage, off-stream watering points or earthworks for erosion control. Infrastructure should not be developed for the primary purpose of progressing tourism or for improving amenity.

You should only use native plants found in your project's area. You should seek advice from an Australian Government natural resource management officer, your regional natural resource management organisation or a local nursery on the best revegetation methods and species mix for your area.

• Caring for our Country contacts

Revegetation should be undertaken for the purpose of protecting the natural environment or enhancing biodiversity. Community Action Grants should not be used for revegetation where the primary purpose is to beautify or improve amenity. Funds should not be used to plant agricultural plant species.

All weed control activities are eligible as long as:

• the activity has a public benefit, such as reducing impacts on biodiversity, protecting the values of wetlands or enhancing sustainable farm practices
• the primary benefit will not be for production purposes.

A list of WONS can be found on the Australian Government's Weeds in Australia website 

All pest control activities are eligible as long as

• the activity has a public benefit, such as reducing impacts on biodiversity, protecting the values of wetlands or enhancing sustainable farm practices
• the primary benefit will not be for production purposes.

Yes, as long as the projects fit within the eligible activities outlined in the applicant guidelines. Eligible activities of particular relevance include education and community awareness, invasive species control and on ground projects for improved sustainable management practices.

Fisheries, aquaculture and other marine resource management outcomes are a key component of Community Action Grants. Maintaining sustainable fisheries is important to ensure the long term health of marine biodiversity and delivery of ecosystem services.

Community groups can, for example, engage and develop the network of fishers, aquaculture farmers and other marine resource managers to improve knowledge and skills in natural resource management and increase the adoption and improvement of sustainable practices.

Funds cannot be used for travelling to a workshop or field day for education purposes. If it is difficult to acquire volunteer support for field trips or on ground activities in remote locations, funding to support such activities can be requested. Funding may be used for costs associated with expert advice for educational and/or raising community awareness purposes. Any travel expenses included in your application will be evaluated by assessors on a value for money basis.

By phoning 1800 552 008, you can request an application pack which includes the following:

• Community Action Grants application form (hard copy version)
• Community Action Grants Applicant Guidelines 2012-13

No. Australian Government staff, including the Caring for our Country regional officers, can clarify any issues you have with the application form. However, it is not their role to complete your application form.

The applicant is the legal entity (either community group or sponsor) that enters into a funding deed with the Australian Government. If the project is successful the applicant becomes the grantee who receives and administers the grant.

Only one. If you submit multiple applications only the first one received will be considered. However, you may submit more than one application if you are sponsoring projects for multiple community groups.

No, supporting documentation and attachments are not required in the initial application. You may declare in your group's proposal any support, history, community links, etc. Assessors will consider whether verification of statements is required and you may be requested to provide supporting documentation at a later date.

No. By submitting the application, you certify that all details provided are true and correct. However, we reserve the right to clarify any details on your application form.

You must consider all aspects of your project and ensure all relevant costs are included in your application. Items that were not budgeted for in the original application will not be funded. Additional funds are not available to meet costs that may have increased after the application was submitted.

No, in-kind contributions are not required and you are not required to provide details of other contributions within the application form. If you want to include any in-kind contributions because you believe it increases the merit (value, feasibility, etc.) of the activities you are applying for, you can identify this in section 8 (project details) of the application form for assessors to consider.

Yes, you can. Answer YES to the World Heritage site question and enter any one of the preselected answers. Once your application has been submitted please email communityactiongrants@nrm.gov.au and provide your application number and the correct World Heritage site listing for your project in the email. We will then manually input the correct details for you. You will receive an email to notify you once the change has been made.

Check the errors list at the bottom of the page and ensure all the required fields have been completed. If the budgeted figure for administration is equal to 15% of the total budget requested the form will not submit. Reducing this figure by a minimum of $10.00 will allow submission of the form. If the budgeted figure for administration is greater than 15% of the total budget requested the form will not submit. Reducing this figure to less than 15% will allow submission of the form.

All applicants will receive a letter in the post notifying them about the outcome of their application. Successful projects will also be listed on the approved grants page.

If you would like to receive feedback on your unsuccessful application you can send an email with your phone number, receipt number (e.g. CAG-111222-01) and the name of your organisation, including your sponsor's name, where applicable, to communityactiongrants@nrm.gov.au.

Alternatively you can contact the Community Information Unit on 1800 552 008and they will pass your enquiry on to the Community Action Grants team. A member of the Community Action Grants team will call you to provide feedback within two business days.

There is no appeals process for Community Action Grants. You are encouraged to seek feedback on your application and to apply again for future funding.

The person identified as the authorised person in the application form needs to sign the funding deed. If this person has changed, you will need to provide a letter from your organisation outlining the new contact's role and that they are authorised to represent the group.

If you are successful, the Australian Government will send you a funding deed that will need to be signed and returned. Any conditions of funding specified in the funding deed will need to be met before the payment for the project can be processed and for the project to commence.

If you are successful under the 2012-13 Community Action Grants round your project must be completed by 30 June 2013. The sooner you return your funding deed, the sooner you can start. If your funding deed is returned to us late you will have less than 12 months to complete your project.

You can update your contact details for your Community Action Grant project by sending an email to communityactiongrants@nrm.gov.au with your project ID in the subject line. Alternatively call 1800 552 008 and ask to speak to your project officer.

You can notify the Community Action Grants team by email communityactiongrants@nrm.gov.au or phone 1800 552 008 if you wish to withdraw from funding. Please do so as soon as soon as possible.

The Australian Government places a high priority on monitoring and reporting for all Caring for our Country projects. You will be required to submit a simple project progress report on your project during your project which outlines the activities that have been completed to date.

You will also need to provide a final report within eight weeks of the agreed completion date of your project. The final report will outline project outcomes and you will be required to sign a statutory declaration confirming you have spent all funds in accordance with your funding deed.

Additionally, a qualified accountant will need to examine your records and sign a certified statement that all funds have been expended in accordance with your funding deed. This forms part of your final report.