Caring for our Country - Working on Country
Working on Country is part of the Caring for our Country initiative that builds on Indigenous knowledge of protecting and managing land and sea country. It provides funding for Indigenous people to deliver environmental outcomes to the Australian Government.
National priorities
Working on Country projects will contribute to Caring for our Country national priorities by:
- protecting biodiversity and natural icons
- protecting and rehabilitating coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats
- supporting natural resource management in northern Australia
- enhancing community skills, knowledge and engagement.
Working on Country is currently funding 23 projects across Australia.
Applications for funding in 2008-2009 closed on Monday 11 August.
Who could apply?
Those who could apply for funding in 2008-2009 were:
- an Indigenous group or organisation wanting to work on country
- an Indigenous organisation that is legally incorporated that can manage the contract
- a not-for-profit body that is legally incorporated in Australia that can act as a contract manager for an Indigenous group or organisation
- a local government authority or a natural resource management body that can act as a contract manager (however works that are considered part of the local government's normal responsibility are not eligible)
Non-Indigenous groups or organisations must demonstrate support from the relevant Indigenous community group and/or Traditional Owners to jointly undertake the project. Generally, those not eligible to apply or to manage a contract are an Australian, state or territory government department or agency.
All on-ground workers must be Indigenous people.
When is the closing date?
Applications closed on Monday 11 August 2008.
What size are the grants?
There is no limit on the amount of funding for which applicants in 2008-2009 could apply. Applicants were able to apply for up to five years funding. A total of up to $6 million will be available for on-ground work in 2008-2009.
What type of tenure?
Currently Working on Country is focused on Indigenous-held or leased lands. Projects on private lands will be considered in certain circumstances where:
- an Indigenous individual, group or organisation has a written access agreement with the landholder
- there is demonstrated Indigenous support for the project
- the environmental activities proposed are not legislated requirements that are the primary responsibility of the landholder; for example, feral animal or weed control
- the landholder contributes toward the total cost of the project in cash and/or in-kind, and
- the environmental activities meet at least one of the key focal areas identified for 2008-2009.
A range of sea tenures will be eligible for funding. Initially this will exclude sea country managed as a declared marine park by the Australian Government and the state/territory government.
Projects on land owned and/or managed by the Australian, state, territory or local governments will not be eligible for funding.
What projects are eligible for funding?
In 2008-2009 Working on Country will fund projects that make a contribution to the environment in at least one of these key focal areas:
- Keeping country healthy: undertaking work to identify, conserve, maintain, manage and repair the land:
- threatened species, ecological communities and their habitats
- culturally or regionally significant species, ecological communities and their habitats
- major environmental pests, weeds and diseases
- wetlands of national and international significance, including inland rivers
- migratory species, including migratory waterbirds.
- Looking after sea country: undertaking work to identify, conserve, maintain and manage sea country:
- threatened species and their habitats
- culturally or regionally significant species and their habitats.
- Protecting heritage: undertaking work to identify, protect, conserve and celebrate Australia's Indigenous heritage:
- places on the National Heritage List; or
- Indigenous heritage values that Indigenous communities have identified in an existing environment or heritage plan.
Pre-requisites
To be eligible for funding, the area where the project will be carried out must have a current environmental management plan. This plan must be at an appropriate scale for the work to be undertaken. Generally, this will be at a local property scale, rather than a regional scale.
For examples of environmental management plans, refer to Attachment B of the Guide for Applicants below.
What can be funded?
Funding can be spent on wages and administrative costs. Some funding is available for training and travel costs, for vehicle lease, and for buying equipment and materials like traps, chemicals, safety equipment and tools.
Questions?
For further information about Working on Country please see the frequently asked questions or contact us:
Email: workingoncountry@environment.gov.au
Phone Caring for our Country: 1800 552 008
Further information
Other sources of funding
Key
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