THREATENED SPECIES RECOVERY FUND
Frequently Asked Questions
Contents
Application and Assessment Process 3
1. I’m having trouble opening up the online Application Form. What can I do? 3
2. What do I do if I receive error messages when I click on the Submit button? 4
3. I’m having trouble with the Legal Entity field 4
4. I have tried to address the error messages but it is not working 4
5. I have addressed the error messages but my Application Form still won’t submit 4
6. If an Applicant organisation has different branches/offices/sections are they limited to submitting five Applications overall? 4
7. My Application is going to be late - I need to ask for an extension 4
8. Can I provide or attach additional information in my Application? 5
9. How will I know my application has been received or is successful? 5
10. Can I get help from the Department with my Application? 5
11. I made a mistake on my application form – can I change it? 5
12. I don’t have access to the internet and can’t access the online Application Form 6
13. I don’t understand in-kind contributions. I’m having trouble with the budget table 6
The Threatened Species Recovery Fund Open Grant Round. 6
14. What is the Threatened Species Recovery Fund? 6
15. How can I apply for the Threatened Species Recovery Fund? 6
16. Is my organisation eligible? 7
17. How many years will the grants run for? How many grant rounds will there be? 7
18. How will the Government decide which Projects to fund? 7
19. Can I apply for more than one Project? 7
20. What types of activities will be funded? 7
21. Will my project need to be referred to the Department of Environment and Energy for Environmental Assessment/approval? 7
22. When will I be able to start my project? When does it have to be completed? 7
23. I need to start my project now – can I get funding for work I’ve already done? 8
Project Budget considerations 8
24. Will the Programme fund contractors or labour for completing project activities? 8
Monitoring and Reporting 8
25. What reporting requirements will grant recipients have to undertake? 8
Providing feedback 8
26. I would like to provide feedback on the Programme 8
I have applied for a grant – what happens next? 9
27. How long will it take for my Application to be assessed? 9
28. How will I receive notification regarding the outcome of my Application? 9
29. Can I appeal the decision if my Project is not funded? 9
Additional advice 9
30. Can my project be over multiple locations? 9
31. I want to submit online, but I would like a hard copy version for reference. 9
32. Are species other than the targeted species eligible for funding? 10
33. Can my project pay for salaries? 10
34. Can I ask for funding for a fire management plan or only for actual burning? 10
35. Should my project contribute to a targeted species or action area in the Threatened Species Strategy or a listed species under the Environmental Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999? 10
36. Which contract type should my project be classed as: low, medium or high risk? How do I tell which one is correct? 11
37. Can my application have trap or baiting activities involved? 11
38. The guidelines say I get an automatic notification when I have submitted, then asks me to enter my details to receive an email. Why? 11
39. How much detail do I need to include in the mapping tool? 11
40. The application form says I should break up in-kind contributions by year, but there is only space to include first year funding? 11
41. Can I purchase land as part of my project? 11
42. How does the Threatened Species Recovery Fund interact with the Threatened Species Prospectus? 12
Application and Assessment Process
1. I’m having trouble opening up the online Application Form. What can I do?
· You may experience difficulties accessing the online Application Form if you are using Firefox or Google Chrome browsers. Try using a different internet browser, for example Internet Explorer. You may also need to download a more up-to-date version of your internet browser. If using a different browser does not help, then contact the Department at for further advice.
2. What do I do if I receive error messages when I click on the Submit button?
· If you receive any error messages after you click Submit, you will need to address the errors before you try to submit again. Scroll down to see what all the errors are as sometimes these notifications flow onto the next page of the error advice.
· These error messages are generally about incomplete information in the Application Form, for example you may not have checked all of the required Declarations, or populated the Legal Entity field. If you double click on the error message, you will be taken to the question which contains the error.
3. I’m having trouble with the Legal Entity field
· The Legal Entity field should be automatically populated when you click the “ABN Lookup” button. You cannot enter data in the Legal Entity field, it needs to be automatically populated via the ‘ABN Lookup’ button.
4. I have tried to address the error messages but it is not working
· Call 1800 803 772 prior to the Closing Time of 2.00pm Canberra time (AEST) Thursday 15 June 2017.
5. I have addressed the error messages but my Application Form still won’t submit
· Sometimes the problem is a firewall which is blocking you from uploading information from your computer system. This may apply to schools or other organisations with secure networks.
· If you are sure that the Application Form is complete and you have filled out all the required fields and declarations and addressed any errors but the form still won’t submit, then email before the Closing Time, explaining the problem and attaching your completed Application Form. It is important that you email prior to the closing time, as Late Applications will be treated according to Section 4.2 of the Threatened Species Recovery Fund Guidelines - available at http://www.nrm.gov.au/national/threatened-species-recovery-fund
6. If an Applicant organisation has different branches/offices/sections are they limited to submitting five Applications overall?
· A successful organisation through the Threatened Species Recovery Fund cannot enter into more than five Funding Agreements with the Department under the same ABN.
· If your branch operates under a separate ABN and as a separate entity to all other branches across your state and/or Australia, then your branch can apply as a single Applicant up to five times.
· If your branch operates under the same ABN as any other branches, then collectively the parts of the organisation operating under each ABN would be eligible to apply up to five times under that ABN.
7. My Application is going to be late - I need to ask for an extension
· It is each Applicant’s responsibility to ensure all information required in the Application Form is received by the Department before the Closing Time.
· Any Application received by the Department after the Closing Time will be registered separately.
· The Department has no obligation to accept a Late Application. Any decision by the Department to accept or not accept a Late Application is at the Department’s absolute discretion and will be final.
· If an Applicant believes that their Application may not be received by the Department by the Closing Time, please contact the Threatened Species Recovery Fund on 1800 803 772 or in writing at . However, for a request for an extension to be considered by the Department, it must be received by the Department before the Closing Time. The Department is under no obligation to agree to an extension. Confusion regarding the Closing Time in your local time zone will not be considered exceptional circumstances.
8. Can I provide or attach additional information in my Application?
· No. Submit the completed Application Form and required attachments only—no additional supporting documentation should be submitted, as it will not be considered as part of the assessment process.
9. How will I know my application has been received or is successful?
· Once an online Application is submitted, an automatic receipt will be generated. For hard copy applications, notification will be confirmed by the Department between 7 and 14 days of receipt by the Department.
· After the Minister for the Environment has approved proposals for funding, all Applicants will be informed in writing whether or not their Project has been successful. Details of successful Projects will be listed on the Department’s website once successful Applicants have been informed.
· Please monitor the website for more information, http://www.nrm.gov.au/national/threatened-species-recovery-fund
10. Can I get help from the Department with my Application?
· Departmental representatives are available to provide information on factual matters such as the Assessment Process and Eligibility Criteria, clarification of terms, Programme Objectives, priorities or relevant information sources. If you have any questions about the Application process or other aspects of the Programme, please contact the Department on 1800 803 772 or .
11. I made a mistake on my application form – can I change it?
· Amendments to submitted Application Forms can only be made before the Application period closes. If you need to alter your Application prior to the Closing Time, please contact the Department in writing by email on .
· A new Application with the altered information will need to be submitted by the Applicant with a written request from the Applicant for the Department to withdraw the original application received.
· The Department has no obligation to accept amendments to submitted Application Forms after the Closing Time. Once submitted, changes to an Application are not permitted however applications may be withdrawn by contacting the department by email to .
12. I don’t have access to the internet and can’t access the online Application Form
· Electronic Applications are preferred. If you do not have access to the Internet and cannot access the online Application Form, contact the Threatened Species Recovery Fund information line on 1800 803 772 at least two weeks in advance of the Closing Time to make alternative arrangements.
· If you have made alternative arrangements with the Department, your Application must still be received by the Department before the Closing Time. If you believe your Application may not arrive before this time, please contact the Department on 1800 803 772.
13. I don’t understand in-kind contributions. I’m having trouble with the budget table
· In-kind contributions are a non-cash input which can be assigned a cash value. This could include labour, or use of machinery or equipment, among other things. Financial or in-kind contributions will contribute to the Project’s value for money assessment (Assessment Criterion 4 in Section 5.3).
· In-kind contributions of costs (for example, contribution of equipment from a partner organisation or local business) or volunteer labour should be calculated as for regular budget items at the cost of that equipment or labour if it would otherwise have to be hired or purchased for the project.
The Threatened Species Recovery Fund Open Grant Round.
14. What is the Threatened Species Recovery Fund?
· In 2016, the Minister for the Environment announced a $5 million Threatened Species Recovery Fund (the Fund) to support communities to actively protect Threatened Species, leverage additional investment, and assist with delivering on the Targets and Action Areas in the Threatened Species Strategy.
· The Fund sits within the National Landcare Programme and will deliver tangible benefits for Australia’s Threatened Species, as well as helping improve community involvement in their recovery.
· This will be a competitive process so not all Applicants will receive Funding. This is the only competitive round planned under the Fund.
15. How can I apply for the Threatened Species Recovery Fund?
· The Threatened Species Recovery Fund Open Round is open until 2.00pm Canberra time (AEST) Thursday 15 June 2017.
· Details about how to apply, the funding Guidelines and other supporting documents are available at http://www.nrm.gov.au/national/threatened-species-recovery-fund.
16. Is my organisation eligible?
· Full eligibility requirements can be found is section 2 of the Guidelines.
17. How many years will the grants run for? How many grant rounds will there be?
· This is the only competitive round planned under the Fund. The Department may run subsequent rounds at its discretion, depending on timing and availability of funds
18. How will the Government decide which Projects to fund?
· Projects funded by the Threatened Species Recovery Fund Open Round will be assessed on their merits against eligibility and assessment criteria including how the project would deliver against the Fund objectives.
· The assessment criteria, assessment process and more information about the Threatened Species Recovery Fund are in the Guidelines.
19. Can I apply for more than one Project?
· Yes. Each Applicant is eligible to submit up to five Applications for funding under the Threatened Species Recovery Fund. Each Application is a single Threatened Species Recovery Fund Project. Multiple Applications from the same Applicant will be assessed according to merit.
· If you are submitting more than one Application, you must download a separate form for each individual Application from the website. Each downloaded Application Form has an embedded unique identifier, so do not use a saved copy of a previously downloaded form. If the same form is submitted more than once, your Application may not be accepted.
20. What types of activities will be funded?
· A list of Project Activities that may be funded is provided in Section 3 of the Guidelines.
21. Will my project need to be referred to the Department of Environment and Energy for Environmental Assessment/approval?
· It is up to the proponent to decide if their project requires referral under the EPBC Act 1999 through a self-assessment process. Details on the self-assessment process can be found at http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/42f84df4-720b-4dcf-b262-48679a3aba58/files/nes-guidelines_1.pdf