Recent Funding Opportunities
Clean Energy Future Plan
The Australian Government released it’s Clean Energy Future Plan in July 2011. As part of this plan is the Land Sector Package creating opportunities for land managers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage.
Biodiversity Fund
A key element of the Australian Governments Clean Energy Future Land Sector Package, provides support to land managers by funding projects which restore, manage or better protect Australia’s biodiversity on public or private land.
Action on Ground
$99 million of grant funding will be available over six years to assist individuals and groups of landholders and research, industry and farming organizations across Australia to trial and demonstrate on-farm ways of reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and/or increasing and maintaining carbon stored in soil.
Community Bush Regeneration Large Project Stream
Grants funded by the NSW Government facilitate local community groups to undertake large, long term bush regeneration projects. Grants of up to $250,000 are available to improve the capacity of communities and organizations to project, restore and enhance the environment.
Caring for Our Country Business Plan
The Government encourages groups and organisations to leverage matching funding from business and industry sectors for projects which directly contribute to Caring for our Country targets and outcomes.
Border Rivers Gwydir CMA Flood Recovery Funding Project
Landholders in the BRG CMA disaster declared areas from January 2011 floods are invited to apply for funding.
Funding for tree planting.
Glenrac now has funding available for native tree and shrub planting for Spring 2012.
This funding has only just been announced by the Australian Government.
Funding will cover the cost of seedlings, stakes & cartons, tree planting by Glen Industries and a limited contribution towards fencing.
Granite Borders Landcare Flood Damage Project
Landholders from Tenterfield, Glen Innes and Inverell districts are invited to submit an Expression of Interest as the first stage of applying for funding under this program. Landholders from Northern & Border Rivers Gwydir catchments are invited to apply.
Low Income Energy Efficiency Program
The Low Income Energy Efficiency Program is a merit-based grant program established by the Commonwealth Government to provide grants to consortia of government, business and community organisations to trial approaches to improve the energy efficiency of low income households and enable them to better manage their energy use.
Energy Efficiency Information Grants
Clear information from trusted sources will be vital in helping small and medium enterprises and community organisations improve their energy efficiency. The Australian Government has established a $40 million program providing grants over four years to industry associations and non-profit organisations that work with small and medium enterprises and community organisations.
Community Energy Efficiency Program
The Community Energy Efficiency Program is a merit-based grant program established by the Commonwealth Government to provide matched funding to local councils and non-profit community organisations to undertake energy efficiency upgrades and retrofits to council and community-use buildings, facilities and lighting.
Applications now open for 2012-13 Community Action Grants
The Australian Government is seeking applications for 2012-13 Community Action Grants from local community groups to help them take action to conserve and protect their local environment.
As part of the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative, Community Action Grants recognise the contribution that community groups make to the Caring for our Country priority areas of:
- Coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats
- Sustainable farm practices, or
- Biodiversity and natural icons.
NRMA Insurance Community Grants Program
NRMA are offering Grants of up to $10,000 (including GST) to eligible community organizations in the categories of Crime Prevention, Road Safety, Emergency Readiness & Response and Environment.
NRCMA 2012 Incentive Program
The Northern Rivers CMA Incentive Program is an annual funding program whereby individuals, groups, NRM organisations and agencies are invited to submit applications (funding requests) to perform on ground natural resource management works or planning. The Program was developed to engage and support the community in maintaining and restoring our northern rivers landscapes.
Eco Schools Program
This program provides grants to schools to give them the opportunity to involve their students and community in developing and implementing environmental management projects. The overall objective of the Eco Schools program is to support schools to develop best practice in environmental education and innovative solutions to environmental issues.
Food Gardens in Schools
The overall objective of the Food Gardens in Schools Program is to provide learning opportunities for students, teachers and other members of the school community about healthy sustainable living through growing and harvesting food in school gardens. This aligns with the Eco Schools Program’s goal to assist schools to be environmentally sustainable. The Program provides funding to establish food gardens in schools and utilise these for teachers’ and students’ learning across curricula. The term ‘healthy sustainable living’ acknowledges the connection between a healthy lifestyle and a healthy environment.
The term ‘food garden’ refers to gardens that grow edible crops such as fruit and vegetables.
Young Farmers Wanted! Woolworths Agricultural Business Scholarships
Woolworths is offering 30 young Australian farmers aged between 20 and 35 years the opportunity to attend the 2012 Woolworths Ag Business Scholarship program.
During the fully-funded 12-day course, participants gain a broad academic perspective on the business of agriculture from key academics, Woolworths business leaders and other industry experts.
The course is practical as well as theoretical, and covers topics such as:
• Business strategy and planning
• Agricultural value chain
• Successful business leadership
• Business finance
• Logistics and supply chain management
• The role of government
• Doing business with retailers
• Sustainability and environmental issues
2012 Coles Junior Landcare School Garden Grant
Since 2008 Coles has been providing School Garden Grants of up to $1,100 to schools and youth groups to help create gardens in their grounds or community, such as bush tucker gardens, water wise gardens or veggie gardens.
These programs encourage students to learn about the environment through “outdoor learning” and interaction in developing their own school gardens.
Turf Australia Junior Landcare Perfect Patch of Green Grant
Landcare Australia has teamed up with Turf Australia to help refresh, rebuild, or revive 15 school grounds across Australia with natural grass through a new program -Turf Australia Junior Landcare Perfect Patch of Green. The new Junior Landcare program highlights Turf Australia’s commitment to making a positive difference to the environment for schools and youth groups.
Turf Australia is giving schools and youth groups the opportunity to win a free green makeover. Schools and youth groups across Australia have the chance to have their sports field or recreational area revitalized with new turf.
Schools, students and teachers are invited to enter by telling us how natural turf will enhance your environment and how your school ground, recreational area and/or sports field will benefit from a real green makeover. We want to know how real turf will make a positive difference to your school and student community.
Volunteer Grants 2012
Volunteer Grants 2012 recognises the valuable work of Australia’s volunteers. This initiative forms part of the Australian Government’s ongoing commitment to organisations whose volunteers assist disadvantaged communities and encourage inclusion of vulnerable people in community life.
Funding of $16 million is available to support and encourage volunteering. Eligible not-for-profit community organisations can apply for grants between $1,000 and $5,000 to:
- Purchase portable, tangible, small equipment items to help their volunteers
- Contribute to the reimbursement of fuel costs for their volunteers who use their own car to transport others to activities, to deliver food, assist with medical appointments or help people in need
- Contribute to the reimbursement of transport costs incurred by volunteers with disability, who are unable to drive
- Contribute to the costs of training courses and/or undertake background screening checks for their volunteers.
nib Foundation community grants 2012
nib foundation's Community Grants program aims to support locally-based initiatives which will make a difference to the health and wellbeing of the communities they serve. Through the Community Grant program, nib foundation will partner with up to 10 organisations each year. These grants will be awarded for a period of one year only.
Expressions of Interest in MLA support for on-farm producer communications and engagement event and activities
We are currently inviting expressions of interest from those seeking financial and/or in-kind support for non-MLA on-farm producer events and activities (workshops, field days, seminars) in the 2012-13 financial year.
Small Grants for Small Rural Communities Program
The Small Grants for Small Rural Communities is a collaborative program supported by various partners.
The program will offer up to $400,000 per round in grants up to $5,000 for projects and activities that offer clear public benefit for communities, with populations of 10,000 or less, living in small rural and remote locations in Australia, contributing to their development in social and community welfare, economic, environmental, health, education or cultural areas.
Applications are invited from not-for-profit, incorporated community organisations. Organisations should have an ABN or Incorporation Certificate and projects must be for a charitable purpose (benefit the whole community). Deductable Gift Recipient status (DGR) is not required for this grant program.
RASF Rural Scholarships
Rural Scholarships are available to support individuals in NSW who demonstrate a passion for rural and commitment for any career that will ensure the future success of rural and regional NSW.
JB Fairfax Award for Rural Journalism
The JB Fairfax Award for Rural Journalism aims to encourage university students to pursue a career in rural journalism upon graduation. The Award was established through a private donation from Mr John B Fairfax AO.
The Award includes a scholarship of up to $10,000 and practical work experience at Rural Press and the 2013 Sydney Royal Easter Show. The winning article is published in a major rural publication.
Fish Habitat Action Grants.
The Habitat Action Program supports the improvement of recreationally important fish populations, engages recreational anglers in fish habitat actions through the Fisheries for Fish Habitat project, provides devolved habitat action grants to enhance fisheries in NSW. The Habitat Action Program is funded by the revenue raised by the NSW recreational fishing fee.
Habitat rehabilitation projects which may be funded include: removal or modification of barriers to fish passage, rehabilitation of riparian lands (river banks, wetlands, mangrove forests, saltmarsh), re-snagging waterways with timber structure, removal of exotic vegetation from waterways, bank stabilisation works and reinstatement of natural flow regimes
2012 NSW Farmer of the Year award
The NSW Farmer of the Year Award is designed to recognise excellence in farming within NSW. A joint initiative by NSW Farmers and NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), and supported by the Royal Agricultural Society and The Land newspaper, the awards have a particular focus on acknowledging farmers who combine sustainable environment practices with profitable production.
The winner of the NSW Farmer of the Year award will be granted $10,000 which includes the opportunity for agriculture-related overseas travel.
2013 NAB Rising Beef Industry Champion
The aim of the Cattle Council Rising Champion Initiative is to inspire, empower and support young people, who are passionate about the Australian beef industry and to provide them with an opportunity to be directly involved.
Those who are wanting to create networks amongst beef industry leaders and are aged between 21 and 35 then the NAB Agribusiness Rising Champions is for you. State finalists will travel to Canberra to share their views on the 'real-life' beef industry challenges with Cattle Council, attend tailored workshops, meet with politicians and tour Parliament House.
RIRDC Rural Women's Award
The Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural Women's Award (RWA) has entered its second decade as one of the most successful and enduring leadership and capacity building initiatives in rural Australia. The award is one of the special ways we can celebrate the significant achievements of rural women across our state. Winners of the award from each state and territory will receive a $10,000 bursary to provide the resources to develop your vision into a project or initiative that will benefit primary industries and rural Australia.
Be Natural Landcare Grants Program 2012
The Be Natural Landcare Grants Program 2012 is open to all environmental groups including the Landcare Community across Australia (Landcare, Bushcare, Coastcare groups and “Friends of” groups), Junior Landcare projects and community groups that work on environmental issues in Australia. If you’re interested in getting a local environmental project off the ground, like a community garden, greening an urban space, the Be Natural Landcare Grants could be just for you.
20 grants of up to $2,500 are available for volunteer community groups to work on projects such as building local community gardens or creating indoor edible gardens within community centres while aiming to get more volunteers involved across community oriented environmental projects.
RAS Rural Achiever Award
The RAS Rural Achiever Award is a state-wide leadership program run by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW to recognise future young leaders who are working hard to make a significant contribution to their local community and to rural Australia.
Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA Sustainable Farming Practices Funding
This project aims to assist landholders implement management changes to complement agricultural production and build resilient landscapes for future generations. We would like to support neighbouring landholders (2 or more) to improve landscape resilience beyond the scale of one property.
This funding is only available to groups. Groups in this context are defined as two or more adjoining landholders who want to undertake work to achieve a shared goal.
Community Building Partnership 2012
The Community Building Partnership (CBP) program provides funds for community groups and local councils to invest in community infrastructure throughout the State. Incorporated not-for-profit community organisations and local councils are invited to apply for funding to build and improve community facilities in their local area. Grant funding of $200,000 will be made available for every electoral district with an additional $100,000 for electorates identified with higher unemployment rates.
2012 Yates Junior Landcare
Backyard Challenge
The 2012 Yates Junior Landcare Backyard Challenge will ask kids (aged 8-16 years) to enter a short video or photograph around the theme of “how does your backyard grow?”
The challenge will give kids the opportunity to share with other kids about their
backyard and the environment in their local community. Their ‘backyard’ could
be anything from an outback farm, to a suburban veggie patch or an apartment
balcony.
Science & Innovation Awards
for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry
The awards aim to encourage science, innovation and technology in rural industries
and to help advance the careers of young scientists through national
recognition of research and ideas.
The awards are open to people aged between 18 and 35, who can apply for up to
$22,000 to fund an original project on an innovative or emerging scientific
issue to benefit Australia’s rural industries.
There are twelve award categories: cotton, dairy, fisheries and aquaculture, grains,
viticulture and oenology, animal welfare, red meat processing, pork, new and
emerging rural industries, meat and livestock, sugar and horticulture. Each
category is generously supported by the research and development corporations.
There is an additional award for one outstanding project—the Minister for
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s Award. This award provides an additional
$33,000 to one recipient of the industry awards to extend their project.
MLA Invitation for expressions
of interest in support for on-farm scientific and goat event and activities
Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) invests producer levies into R&D and
marketing activities to increase productivity and grow demand for Australia's
cattle, sheep and goat industries.
A key component of our service to industry is to demonstrate the relevance and
value of R&D outputs to stimulate producer adoption of R&D tools,
technologies and practices.
We are currently inviting expressions of interest from those seeking financial
and/or in-kind support for non-MLA on-farm scientific and goat events and
activities (workshops, field days, seminars) in the 2012-13 financial year.
Weed control opportunity
GLENRAC is now calling for Expressions of Interest from landholders to control Blackberry or Lantana along the Mann River or Severn Rivers.
These weeds are the target of this Caring for Country funding, as they are listed as Weeds of National Significance.
The banks of the Mann and Severn Rivers are the focus area, as local River Reach Plans have recently been completed for each.
RASF Community Futures Grant
The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Foundation (RASF) is offering an opportunity for young people to attract up to $25,000 in funding for a community project in their local area. Under the RASF Community Futures Grant program, the RASF will consider an idea that delivers strong and broad community benefit and results in enhanced economic and social outcomes, especially if the idea involves collaboration between people in your community and delivers a sustained benefit over a period of time.
WIN A KITCHEN FOR YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY
RAS Foundation 2013 Community
Kitchen Program Now Open
The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) Foundation is giving rural and regional NSW community organisations the chance to win a kitchen worth $25,000 courtesy of Bunnings
Warehouse.
The donated kitchen includes all of the cabinetry, cook tops, sink and oven, as well as a smaller kitchen, suitable for use indoors our outside undercover. A new program for 2013, applications are open for the 2013 RAS Foundation Community Kitchen.
Applicants are asked to answer a series of questions explaining why their community needs a new kitchen, who would utilise the kitchen and how it would enhance their community. Those eligible to apply include community centres, welfare organisations, churches, men’s sheds, service clubs, sporting clubs, CWA branches and show societies.
The inaugural winner of the RAS Foundation Community Kitchen Award will be announced in early March, with the presentation to take place during the Sydney Royal Easter Show, 21 March – 3 April 2013.
$5,000 Scholarship for 1st year
agriculture students
The horizon scholarship is an initiative of the Rural Industries R&D Corporation in partnership with industry sponsors and not only offers students financial support but also work placements, mentoring and professional development opportunities.
To be eligible students must be entering their first year of university and studying a degree related to agriculture such as agriculture science, rural science, vet science or agribusiness.
NSW Farmers Tertiary Scholarships now open
NSW Farmers Tertiary Scholarship program is now also open for students attending university in 2013. The scholarships are open to students who are Members or come from a family that are Members (see Eligibility Criteria for full requirements), undertaking full time courses in
their second or subsequent year of tertiary study (exceptions for the vocational scholarship). They are available to students studying any course at any recognised tertiary institution, and are not limited to studying in NSW.
Women On Boards
Looking for the next generation of corporate female leaders
Women on Boards has opened applications for the 2013 intake of its high level learning and development program for women aspiring to leadership roles.
The Next Generation of Corporate Female program aims to increase the visibility of high potential women within their organisations and sectors and provide them with the confidence and capacity to successfully engage with senior leadership and boards.
Women on Boards - 2013 Conference Scholarships
In 2013 Women On Boards (WOB) will provide four (4) half scholarships.
These will be available to WOB subscribers with preference to women from a rural or regional area.
Each scholarship will entitle the holder to attend the full two days of the conference plus the conference dinner for the payment of one daily rate (total cost $880). Travel and accommodation to be paid at own cost.
Community Landcare Grants 2013
Grants ranging between $5,000 and $50,000 are available to support local sustainable agriculture and community engagement projects, as part of the Australian Government’s $2.2 billion Caring for our Country initiative. Community Landcare Grants make it possible for local community-based groups to take action to help achieve a sustainable, productive, profitable and resilient agricultural base.
Small grants for small rural communities
The Small Grants for Small Rural Communities is a collaborative program supported by various partners. It is the longest running and broadest program offered by the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal
The program will offer up to $400,000 per round in grants up to $5,000 for projects and activities that offer clear public benefit for communities, with populations of 10,000 or less, living in small rural and remote locations in Australia. This national program helps grassroots community groups implement projects that will improve their local community's: health, social welfare and well-being; educational opportunities and outcomes; arts culture, tourism and heritage projects; environmental and natural resource management outcomes; and/or sustainable economic base, through community led economic development and social enterprise activities.
Biodiversity Fund
The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities aims to support projects that reduce Australia's carbon pollution and improve the resilience of our ecosystems to the impacts of climate change. The Biodiversity Fund is an ongoing program under the Australian Government's Land Sector Package of the Clean Energy Future plan. The overall objectives of the Biodiversity Fund are to help land managers establish, manage and enhance native vegetation on their land, increase our stores of carbon in the landscape and, in so doing, maintain ecosystem functions and improves the resilience of our ecosystems to the impacts of climate change.
The Biodiversity Fund's targeted investment approach provides an opportunity to focus on environments that are rich in biodiversity but facing increasing pressures. Such pressures include loss of habitat connectivity through land use change and declining ecosystem function due to fragmentation and proliferation of invasive species.
The Horizon Scholarship
The Horizon Scholarship is an initiative of the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation that, in partnership with industry sponsors, supports undergraduates studying agriculture at university by providing:
