Photograph by Penny Gray of Tambo Valley
Photograph by Penny Gray of Tambo Valley

a landmark $14 million for Landcare led bushfire recovery projects…

Eligible local Landcare groups, environment networks and community groups working on bushfire recovery projects can now access funding of approximately $50,000 – and Landscape scale partnerships projects of up to approximately $300,000 in a landmark new grants program funded by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.

The $14 million Landcare Led Bushfire Recovery Grants program is supporting Landcare bushfire recovery projects in seven government-designated bushfire regions across Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and South Australia impacted by the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/2020.

The funding includes $4 million available for projects that will benefit forests and coastal ecosystems in the East Gippsland bushfire impacted region.

Photograph by Penny Gray of Tambo Valley
Photograph of Tambo Valley (East Gippsland, Victoria) by Annette Ruzicka


Eligible applicants are invited to apply for up to

$50 k

Community Grants up to approximately $50k.

$300 k

Landscape Scale Partnership Projects – larger/consolidated projects to approximately $300k.

$1 mil

Major Projects, from approximately $500k – $1m each in the East Gippsland Region only.

What sort of activities can be funded?

Examples include:

  • Pest/feral animal management/control
  • Weed management/control
  • Erosion control to protect waterways and repairing riparian areas
  • Artificial habitat/shelter (such as nest boxes and artificial hollows)
  • Revegetation and regeneration
  • Seed collection and propagation of native plant species
  • Fencing to protect sensitive or regenerating areas
  • Contractors, Flora and Fauna surveys, habitat mapping, data recording, citizen science and education
  • Training and workshops
  • Engaging with local communities and Indigenous land managers

Many other activities – please read the Guidelines, or discuss with the Applicant Support Team from your Landcare State and Territory Organisation or Landcare Australia for further information (see below).


Wildcare Australia by Heidi Cuschieri
Photograph of Clifton Creek (East Gippsland, Victoria) by Annette Ruzicka

For local, regional and national activities

In addition to grant funding up to $50,000, landscape scale partnership projects of up to $300,000 are also available for local, regional and national activities supporting bushfire recovery for fire-affected plant and animal species, ecological communities, and natural assets, including Ramsar listed wetlands and World Heritage listed sites.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my group eligible?

Your application will be considered if you are a local Landcare group/network, landholder, community organisation, Indigenous group, Traditional Custodian and/or other regional and national organisation, and undertaking work within one or more of the seven declared areas. Unincorporated groups and individuals are ineligible. However, they can apply with an eligible partner or auspicing body (e.g. Landcare group/network, Land Council, etc). If you need support with this process, please get in touch with your Region’s Applicant Support Team (See Contacts).

How much funding is available?

The total program funding is $14million.

Funding will be delivered in three streams. The funding portions per stream are shown below as approximate upper-limits for guidance only, as there is flexibility in the funding range. Please contact your Region’s Applicant Support Team to discuss your options.

Eligible applicants are invited to apply for grants in three different streams:

  1. Community grants to approximately $50k
  2. Landscape Scale Partnership projects to approximately $300k
  3. Major projects to approximately $500k – $1m each (East Gippsland Region Only)
What are the seven declared areas?

Click your region to get in contact or to view a more detailed version of the map click here

 > Rainforests of South-East Queensland                  
 > Rainforests of the NSW North Coast and Tablelands   
 > The Greater Blue Mountains and World Heritage Area  
 > Forests of the NSW South Coast                           
 > Australian alpine environment  ACT  NSW  Victoria       
 > Forests and coastal ecosystems of East Gippsland     
 > Kangaroo Island                                       
Can I submit a partnership project?

Where partnering on projects, a lead organisation must be appointed. Only the lead organisation can submit the application form and enter into agreement. For larger partnerships (valued at over $50k), including Landscape Scale and Major Projects, the lead organisation’s application must identify all project partners, and include a brief letter of support from each of them.

Each letter of support should include:
• Name and ABN of project partner(s)
• An overview of how the project partner will work with the lead organisation and any other project partners in the group to successfully complete the project
• An outline of the relevant experience and/or expertise the project partner will bring to the group
• The roles/responsibilities the project partner will undertake, and the resources it will contribute (if any)
• Details of a nominated management level contact officer

A draft/template Letter of Support is available here >

What are the key dates?

Applications open: May 24, 2021
Applications close: June 16, 2021
Notification of successful applicants: July 15, 2021
Progress Update Reports: a) November 14 2021 b) February 13 2022
Final Report due and project completed STRICTLY by April 29, 2022

The 29th April 2022 completion date is fixed and THERE ARE NO ALLOWANCES FOR EXTENSIONS ON PROJECT COMPLETION. Please consider the timeframe carefully when planning activities in your project.

Given the tight deadline, will I receive help to complete required activities and report?

The National Landcare Network, State and Territory Landcare Organisations and Landcare Australia will assist all applicants throughout this entire process. Our applicant support team will reach out to groups and organisations, answer all questions and enquiries and help to put applications together. We completely appreciate the tight turnaround involved and understand the challenges. We are here to assist in any way we can.

Where do I fill in my grant application?

Applications are now open, however, you will need to register with SmartyGrants when applying. Click here to go to the registration page:

Who do I contact for help or further information?

Please contact the support team in the State or Territory Landcare organisation for your region or Landcare Australia.

A community is also on Landcarer, bringing people together to ask questions, learning and stories, and share activities, join webinars and connect across regions: https://www.landcarer.com.au/bushfirerecovery/

To further assist with project planning, a summary of priority actions identified in Regional Bushfire Recovery Workshops for each of the seven Bushfire Affected Regions is available for download here.

For Landcare groups that are interested in applying for the grants and are current members of a State or Territory Landcare organisation, please contact your Landcare peak body as listed below for further information.

For other organisations and groups, including Traditional Owners, environmental NGOs, government agencies, community groups, individual farmers and landowners who are interested in applying for the grants, please contact Landcare Australia.

Queensland
Darryl Ebenezer
darryl@qwalc.org.au

Australian Capital Territory
Karissa Preuss
ceo@landcareact.org.au

South Australia
Jim Mead
execofficer@landcaresa.asn.au

New South Wales
Jane Nguyen
jnguyen@landcarensw.org.au

Victoria
Andrew Maclean
andrew.maclean@lvi.org.au

Landcare Australia
Liz Graham
liz.graham@landcareaustralia.com.au

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