National Landcare Programme - Regional Funding Frequently Asked Questions

National Landcare Programme - Regional Funding

Frequently asked questions

These frequently asked questions apply to Regional Funding under the National Landcare Programme.

If you have read the National Landcare Programme Regional Funding web page and the National Landcare Programme Regional Funding 2014-15 to 2017-18 Application Guidelines (Application Guidelines) but still have questions, please consult these frequently asked questions.

If your question is not answered here, you can contact us by calling 1800 552 008 or by emailing .

These frequently asked questions will be updated over time so we suggest you check this web page periodically for any updates.

Overview

What is the Regional Stream of the National Landcare Programme?

The Regional Stream is a component of the Australian Government's National Landcare Programme (the Programme). The funding delivered under this stream (Regional Funding) will be managed by regional natural resource management (NRM) organisations to identify the best ways to achieve local NRM and sustainable agriculture priorities and deliver on the Programme’s Strategic Objectives and Outcomes. Specific delivery approaches will not be prescribed by the Government, rather it will be the responsibility of regional NRM organisations to ensure their approach is appropriate.

Each regional NRM organisation will have been notified in writing of the notional allocation of Regional Funding that they can apply for under the Regional Stream. Notwithstanding these notional allocations, all Regional Funding Applications will be assessed on merit against the Application Guidelines and funding is not guaranteed.

What role do regional NRM organisations have under the Regional Stream?

Regional NRM organisations have a significant role in the Programme’s delivery through their delivery of the Regional Stream. They are expected to:

in collaboration with community, landcare and farming system groups, lead regional NRM planning and prioritisation of NRM activities to support environmental protection and sustainable agricultural practices
deliver nationally important outcomes that assist Australia to meet its national and international obligations
broker partnerships, collaborate with networks and support local stakeholders in delivery of regional NRM activities
build local community and industry engagement, skills and capacity in NRM and sustainable agriculture
support Indigenous participation in delivering NRM outcomes
report NRM outcomes at a regional level and contribute to Programme reporting at the national level.

What involvement will local community groups, including Landcare, have under the Regional Stream?

Under the Regional Stream, regional NRM organisations will be expected to engage their local landcare community in prioritising and delivering NRM activities across their NRM region, including assisting them through partnerships and cooperative arrangements.

Delivery of Regional Funding should be designed to maintain or build upon current engagement in landcare and practice change activities, while increasing the engagement and participation rates in NRM and sustainable agricultural activities across a wide variety of groups.

What is the local landcare community?

The landcare community has matured and expanded over the past 25 years since its initial establishment. It is recognised that the composition of the local landcare community will likely differ between NRM regions. Depending on the NRM region, this might include stakeholders such as:

identified Landcare groups and other ‘care’ groups such as bushcare, coastcare, rivercare etc
‘friends of’ groups and other community environment groups
farmer/producer groups
Indigenous communities and organisations

individual land managers working in the landcare / NRM sector.

Local and State government are not defined as being part of the local landcare community. They are however, encouraged to be involved and engage with their regional NRM organisation through partnerships that deliver against the programme’s Strategic Outcomes and Objectives.

What are the requirements for community engagement under Regional Funding?

Under the Government’s reform agenda for the Regional Stream, all regional NRM organisations will be required to:

direct a minimum of 20 per cent of their annual regional allocation to small, on ground projects and related activities that are delivered by, or directly engage with, the local landcare community
not reduce their current level of investment to the local landcare community, including Indigenous specific investment
maintain a Regional Landcare Facilitator to support farmers, fishers and land managers identify and adopt farm practices and land management practices to sustainably manage natural resources, to reduce agricultural emissions and adapt to changing climatic conditions.

Note: Staffing costs, including employment by the regional NRM organisation of a Regional Landcare Facilitator or other community engagement officers cannot be counted as contributing to the 20 per cent requirement.

What activities can be included within the 20 per cent required for community engagement and participation?

Regional NRM organisations must direct a minimum of 20 per cent of their Regional Funding allocation towards small, on ground projects and related activities that are delivered by, or directly engage with, the local landcare community.

Activities that can contribute to this 20 per cent requirement can include, but are not limited to:

local on-ground NRM projects undertaken by local landcare community groups and / or individuals
delivery of activities to farmers relating to farm practice change
activities that lead to increased participation of the community in NRM
local projects and activities can be a part of a bigger project being undertaken (e.g. a local landcare group undertaking $30,000 of works as part of a $700,000 Ramsar project).

Note: Regional NRM organisation staffing costs, including employment of a Regional Landcare Facilitator or other community engagement officers, cannot be counted as contributing to the 20 per cent requirement.

Is Indigenous participation a priority under Regional Funding?

Yes. Closing the Gap on Indigenous Disadvantage (Closing the Gap) is a commitment by all Australian governments to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians. NRM programmes contribute to the Closing the Gap goals and provide opportunities for stronger Indigenous participation in the planning and delivery of investment outcomes and contribute to wider social and economic benefits.

Regional NRM organisations have a central role in supporting Indigenous people and organisations to participate in the delivery of NRM and contribute to wider economic and social benefits. They can achieve progress in this area through activities such as planning support, utilising and respecting Indigenous ecological knowledge, capacity building and the delivery of on-ground activities including employment and contracting opportunities.

Under Regional Funding, it is expected that Indigenous people and organisations will have opportunities to participate in the delivery of priority NRM and sustainable agricultural activities. Indigenous participation is expected in the planning and delivery of all Regional Funding. It is expected that Indigenous people will be involved at an early stage of Regional Funding delivery design to ensure that activities are accessible, relevant and appropriate to Indigenous people and organisations. This will ensure that Indigenous engagement and participation features strongly as an investment, project and employment outcome for the National Landcare Programme. Regional NRM organisations should investigate and identify opportunities in conjunction with Indigenous communities and either include these as a part of their projects or provide a satisfactory reason for not doing so.

For further information refer to Indigenous participation in planning and delivery of National Landcare Programme investment.

Performance assessment of regional NRM organisations

What are the Australian Government’s performance expectations for regional NRM organisations?

Regional NRM organisations will be expected to monitor their performance and capacity, be accountable for and transparent in decision making, and identify measures to achieve continuous improvement in both the delivery of Regional Funding, and in their organisational performance.

The Australian Government has developed performance expectations for governance and NRM delivery of Australian Government investment by regional NRM organisations.

These performance expectations are a key quality assurance and risk management tool for the delivery of Regional Funding. They are intended to complement and draw on existing governance requirements, not duplicate, including statutory and contractual obligations as well as voluntary governance review processes; and to build on previous standards and expectations provided by the Australian Government.

The performance expectations cover the following areas:

financial governance
organisational governance
regional NRM planning
community engagement
monitoring and reporting.

What is the self-assessment process?

Regional NRM organisations will be required to complete an annual self assessment of their performance against the performance expectations to allow the collection of comparative data over time and to promote continuous improvement.

The performance expectations and this self-assessment aim to help organisations identify strengths and opportunities for improvement in light of changing circumstances, and regional NRM organisations are encouraged to consult with their stakeholders in undertaking their self-assessment. Best practice would be to consult widely in completing the self-assessment.

The self-assessment requires regional NRM organisations to consider the expected practices and advanced practices listed for each performance expectation and to make an assessment of their current level of practice against that performance expectation using the following scale:

Developing
Meets all expected practices
Meets all expected practices and some advanced practices
Meets all expected and advanced practices.

Regional NRM organisations will be required to provide evidence in support of the self-assessment.

Identifying current performance levels as ‘developing’ will not have a negative impact upon the regional NRM organisation, as the intention is to use the self assessment process as a tool to ensure that all regional NRM organisations have the skills, or appropriate support, to perform at a best practice level.

What is the annual performance review process?

The Departments will undertake an annual risk and performance based review of regional NRM organisations that will inform a performance review schedule for the coming year. The schedule of targeted annual performance reviews will be determined using information including, but not limited to:

self assessment by regional NRM organisations of their governance (performance and corporate), performance and compliance, including to identify any predicted or emerging gaps and risks to be addressed
consideration by the Departments of performance and compliance, including the timeliness and quality of reports provided to the Departments, taking into account mitigating circumstances that may be beyond a successful Applicant’s control
the Australian Government’s risk assessment of regional NRM organisations’ Regional Funding delivery
relevant information about regional NRM organisations’ delivery of Regional Funding, including provision of a Regional Landcare Facilitator, and third party stakeholder feedback where this can be verified as credible and relevant.

Following performance reviews, the Departments will work with regional NRM organisations to identify follow up actions for improvement and regional NRM organisations will be required to implement these actions. High-performing regional NRM organisations will also be reviewed to facilitate sharing of best practice.

Will members of the local landcare community be able to provide input to the self-assessment process?

Regional NRM organisations are encouraged to consult broadly with their stakeholders, including the local landcare community, in undertaking their self-assessment. In conducting performance reviews, the Departments may also take into account third party stakeholder feedback where this can be verified as credible and relevant.

Is further information available on the performance expectations?

Further information, including a table setting out the expected and advanced practices, can be found in the Australian Government Performance Expectations for Regional NRM Organisations.

Regional Landcare Facilitators

Will a Regional Landcare Facilitator position continue under the new arrangements?

Yes, a minimum of one full time equivalent (FTE) position is required. We would expect this to be delivered by no more than 3 part-time positions. The position or positions must be clearly badged as Regional Landcare Facilitators.

Will the duties of the Regional Landcare Facilitators remain the same?

We expect the Regional Landcare Facilitators to contribute to developing a skilled and capable local landcare community within their region. The Regional Landcare Facilitators are expected to support farmers, fishers and land managers identify and adopt farm practices and land management practices to sustainably manage natural resources, to reduce agricultural emissions and adapt to changing climatic conditions. The primary focus should still be on supporting sustainable agriculture groups and activities; however this may be expanded to include a wider range of Landcare, Indigenous and NRM groups and activities where appropriate to meet regional needs. The duties will not be as closely specified as previously.

How will the Regional Landcare Facilitators be funded?

Regional Landcare Facilitators are to be funded through the Regional Funding component of the National Landcare Programme. They will not be funded within the minimum 20 per cent required to be invested in small, on ground projects with the local landcare community.

Will Regional Landcare Facilitators still participate in state and national Regional Landcare Facilitator networks?

Yes, Regional Landcare Facilitators are expected to attend at least one state and one national Regional Landcare Facilitator forum each year and are encouraged to contribute to maintaining the valuable Regional Landcare Facilitator networks.

Is there still a mandated funding amount to support a Regional Landcare Facilitator?

No, but regional NRM organisations will need to factor in a sufficient budget to cover Regional Landcare Facilitator wages and operating expenses, activities and attendance at the state and national network meetings.

Will a steering committee still be required to support Regional Landcare Facilitators?

No, a steering committee is no longer mandated, but the overwhelming evidence is these have been highly effective in supporting and guiding the work of Regional Landcare Facilitators and helping them to be effective in their regions. Regional NRM organisations are encouraged to continue steering committees or reference groups that include industry and community representation as part of their community engagement and program improvement mechanisms.

Will the Regional Landcare Facilitator positions need to be readvertised?

No, the current employees and contractors can be continued. If over the period to June 2018, it is required to readvertise the position, it is expected that regional NRM organisations will recruit the Regional Landcare Facilitator through a transparent process which is open to external applicants. This includes situations where the position is contracted out to an external provider.

Programme integration

What is the relationship between the Regional Stream and other NRM initiatives?

The Australian Government will invest over $2 billion in complementary NRM programmes over the next four years. These include the National Landcare Programme, including the 20 Million Trees Programme, the Green Army, Reef 2050, Working on Country and continuing investment through the Land Sector Package.

For example, the 25th Anniversary Landcare Grants 2014-15 is a one-off grants round targeted towards local community NRM and Landcare groups and individuals. The round is part of a transition to the reformed delivery approach under the Regional Stream of the National Landcare Programme whereby community engagement will be a key focus. Community groups who are successful in obtaining funding for a 25th Anniversary Landcare Grant may wish to liaise with their regional NRM organisation to discuss opportunities to build upon their projects using the community-targeted Regional Funding.

The 20 Million Trees Programme will support revegetation in urban, peri-urban and regional areas, on both public and private land, to establish green corridors and urban forests. Regional Stream funding can be used to fund non-labour costs such as materials for on ground works to support these projects.

From 2015-16, the Government will roll out an integrated programme model that allows proponents to submit innovative proposals that maximise opportunities available through the National Landcare Programme, including 20 Million Trees, and the Green Army Programme.

Applicant eligibility

Who can apply for Regional Funding?

To apply for funding under the Regional Stream of the National Landcare Programme, the Applicant must:

be one of the 56 Australian Government recognised regional NRM organisations identified at http://www.nrm.gov.au/regional/regional-nrm-organisations, and
have received notification from the Australian Government of their Regional Funding notional allocations.

Can individuals and / or community groups apply for Regional Funding?

No, under the Regional Stream funding is only available to the 56 Australian Government recognised regional NRM organisations. However, individuals and community groups are encouraged to contact their regional NRM organisation regarding opportunities to deliver projects under the requirements of the 20 per cent direct funding for community engagement.

Our regional NRM organisation has an overdue report for an Australian Government funded NRM project. Are we eligible for Regional Funding?

You may apply for funding however, if your Application is successful, at the time of contracting you must not have any overdue final reports and/or acquittals for previous Australian Government grants. If you do, the Department will not enter into a funding agreement with you.

Are groups who have previously received Australian Government NRM funding eligible to receive funding for projects through their regional NRM organisation’s Regional Funding?

Yes, provided your proposed project is approved for funding by your regional NRM organisation and it is not for activities that have already been undertaken or are substantially the same activities as those funded by another initiative or programme. Potential projects will need to be communicated to your regional NRM organisation who will determine funding priorities in consultation with the local landcare community.