Applications should be sent in hardcopy to:

Landcare Facilitators Initiative
Sustainable Resource Management Division
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry
GPO Box 858
CANBERRA ACT 2601

Street address:
18 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra City ACT 2601

You must also send a copy of your application as an electronic Word document either with the hardcopy or by email to: landcarefacilitators@daff.gov.au.

Up to $150 000 (GST exclusive) per full financial year is available to employ a Landcare facilitator to undertake the duties outlined on pages 5 and 6 of the 'Caring for our Country Landcare Facilitators Initiative Applicant Guidelines'. You should include the costs related to undertaking these activities in the proposal. This could include funding to attend training seminars and conferences to assist the Landcare facilitator to undertake their role more effectively.

Funding cannot be used to purchase capital items such as premises, vehicles and computer hardware/software. However, you can lease (if the contract runs for longer than 12 months) or rent (if 12 months or less) these items.

Host administration costs for managing the Landcare facilitators (the money used to pay staff to manage the contract/budget/salary and similar matters) must not exceed 10 per cent of the budget.

Applications, including the nominated budget, will be considered in terms of value for money, taking into account both matched funding arrangements and the capacity to deliver.

Yes. A separate application must be sent in for each individual NRM region and each submission should be made in accordance with the guidelines. Page 4 of the 'Caring for our Country Landcare Facilitators Initiative Applicant Guidelines' states:

If an organisation or consortium is proposing to apply for funding to employ Landcare facilitators in multiple NRM regions, a separate application must be submitted for each NRM region.

We expect that Landcare Facilitators employed under the Caring for our Country Landcare Facilitators Initiative will continue to work in the original region for which they were contracted even in the event of a CMA restructure.

It is expected that the host organisation will have established networks within the relevant NRM region and that the Landcare Facilitators will work closely with any state funded facilitator in this network. Further, we would expect the host organisation to include in their application, how they would work with groups, organisations and government (including state funded regional Landcare facilitators) to undertake the role outlined in section 2 of the 'Caring for our Country Landcare Facilitators Initiative Applicant Guidelines.'

No. There is no requirement to advertise the role. However, successful proponents will be required to ensure that the Landcare facilitator filling the position has the demonstrated skills to undertake the role outlined in section 2 of the 'Caring for our Country Landcare Facilitators Initiative Applicant Guidelines.'

It is envisaged that funding agreements will cover the period 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2013 as outlined in section 9 of the 'Caring for our Country Landcare Facilitators Initiative Applicant Guidelines'. Applicants are requested to provide the prospective Landcare Facilitator budget for three years, noting that funding agreements will be subject to annual performance review. A three year budget could be presented as follows:

* Security of funds - In hand; Committed; Allocated; Dependent on fund raising; Application submitted.
**Facilitators will be expected to meet at least three times per year with the National Landcare Facilitator
    and to attend Caring for our Country Business Plan information sessions when relevant.

The Landcare Facilitators are expected, amongst other things, to help support the uptake of activities that contribute to the Caring for our Country Outcomes for sustainable farm practices published in the Caring for our Country Outcomes 2008-2013 statement. This would include supporting sustainable farm practice targets under all business plans not just the Caring for our Country 2010-11 Business Plan.

The guidelines do not preclude facilitators assisting with this target.

However, the Australian Government is funding OceanWatch Australia Limited (through the SeaNet project) to help support the delivery of the aquaculture and commercial fishing practices targets as published in the Caring for our Country 2010-11 Business Plan.

Yes, if an applicant is eligible under the guidelines we will accept their application. However, applications will be assessed individually on merit in accordance with the 'Caring for our Country Landcare Facilitators Initiative Applicant Guidelines' and there is no guarantee that both applications would be successful.

The aim of the initiative is to have a Landcare facilitators employed in each of the 56 NRM regions. If there is no suitable application received in a particular NRM region or a funding agreement cannot be satisfactorily negotiated, the Australian Government reserves the right to undertake another call for applications. This may include the government facilitating the development of a suitable consortium of groups to provide services within a region.

In this instance the incorporated organisation is not considered a consortium, but a 'not for profit' entity in itself. Section 5 does not apply to the members of such an entity. Therefore, the incorporated organisation would be considered as eligible to submit an application to host a facilitator.

The lead agency must take responsibility for the activities and conduct of the Facilitator. No particular relationship is required between the lead agency and the Facilitator. It would be advisable for the lead agency to ensure that the Facilitator is aware of, and will abide by, the grant deed as the lead organisation will be responsible for the administration, management and reporting of the grant.

If you are experiencing difficulty with filling out the form please type as much information in the text box as practicable and then state that the remainder will be at attachment x. If you are still experiencing difficulties please email landcarefacilitators@daff.gov.au or call (02) 6272 4981.