2013–18 Sustainable Environment stream
Grants for
Indigenous Protected Areas
Grant guidelines and how to apply
2013–18 Sustainable Environment stream
Grants for Indigenous Protected Areas
Grant guidelines and how to apply
Grants to support traditional owners and custodians to conserve and
protect Indigenous Protected Areas as part of Australia’s network of
protected areas.
For further information, please visit the Indigenous Protected Areas website at
www.environment.gov.au/indigenous/ipa/index.html or call the Caring for our
Country information line on 1800 552 008
© Commonwealth of Australia 2013
This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in unaltered
form only (retaining this notice) for your personal, non-commercial use or use within your
organisation. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are
reserved. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Public Affairs,
GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601 or email [email protected]
ii | Indigenous Protected Areas program guidelines, 2013–2018
CONTENTS
Important information ��1
Submitting your Application Form��2
1. Introduction��3
1.1 Overview��3
1.2
Indigenous Protected Area program objectives��5
1.3
Caring for our Country Sustainable Environment stream strategic objectives�� 5
1.4
How the Program contributes to Australian Government priorities�� 6
2. Investment strategy for 2013–2018��7
2.1
What funding is available?��7
3. Eligibility��8
3.1
Eligibility conditions ��8
4. What will be funded under the program ��9
4.1 Scope of funding��9
4.2 What project activities and expenses are eligible? �� 10
4.3
What project activities and expenses are not eligible? �� 13
4.4
Commercial benefits�� 13
5. Application, assessment and funding allocation �� 14
5.1 Application�� 14
5.2
Conflict of interest�� 14
5.3
What happens if I want to change my project?�� 15
5.4
Assessment criteria�� 15
5.5
Funding allocation criteria �� 17
iii
6. Assessment and funding allocation process�� 18
6.1 Assessment process �� 18
6.2
Letting you know�� 19
7. Funding Agreement��20
7.1Overview��20
7.2
Commencement date and payment of funding�� 21
7.3
Monitoring and reporting�� 21
7.4
Performance review and program evaluation��22
8. Disclaimer and further information��23
8.1Applicants��23
8.2
Role of the Indigenous Protected Area manager/host�� 24
8.3
Indigenous endorsement and engagement��25
8.4
Indigenous Protected Area management plan��25
8.5Tenure ��25
8.6
Approvals or permits��26
8.7
The Australian Government’s rights��26
8.8 Confidentiality and Privacy ��27
8.9
Intellectual property��28
8.10 Work health and safety��28
8.11 ABN, Taxation and GST��28
9. Enquiries, feedback, complaints and further assistance��29
9.1
Enquiries, feedback and complaints ��29
9.2
How to get more information or assistance��29
iv | Indigenous Protected Areas program guidelines, 2013–2018
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This is a targeted funding round and
only existing Indigenous Protected Area
projects will be considered for continuing
funding beyond June 2013.
Existing Indigenous Protected Area projects
are dedicated Indigenous Protected Areas
or Indigenous Protected Area consultation
projects, with approved funding for 2012/13.
To apply for continuing Indigenous
Protected Area funding, you need to:
read these guidelines

complete the application form, and return
by the due date 23 May 2013, by email
or post
The application form will be sent to you with
these guidelines.
A draft funding agreement will be sent to you
when available.
Details on where to send your application
form are noted below.
What if I want to change my project?
If you wish to change your project, for example,
change your host organisation, or refocus your
work, talk to your departmental project officer.
There is a section in the application form for
this purpose, however, this is not a ‘one-off’
opportunity to change your project.
What happens after I send in the
application form?
An independent panel will assess your
application and consider your project’s
performance to date. Funding will be
determined for your project based on criteria
outlined in the guidelines, and limited to the
extent funds are available for the program.
You are not required to provide a budget
proposal as part of your application.
Subject to funding approval by the Minister,
a funding agreement will be negotiated with
you. This may contain conditions dependent
on funding recommendation or progress
toward meeting milestones.
Each year we will negotiate a project plan
and budget with you up to the level of
approved funding which will form part of the
funding agreement.
1
SUBMITTING YOUR
APPLICATION FORM
If your group or organisation has an interest
in participating in the program, please
complete the Application Form which has
been provided with these guidelines.
Your form must be received by 23 May 2013.
If you consider you may be unable to
meet this deadline, you must contact the
department on 1800 552 008 (free call) or
email [email protected] to request
an extension.
Your Application Form is due
23 May 2013
Your form must be submitted on the
correct template, be completed with
necessary signatures, and be received
by 5.00pm Australian Eastern Standard
Time by email or post
Please contact your Project Officer
before this time if you are unable to
meet this deadline
Please note it is a breach of the Criminal
Code Act 1995 to intentionally provide
false or misleading information and
the department will investigate any
attempted fraud.
Any Application Form lodged or postmarked
after 5 pm AEST 23 May 2013 will be
considered late and will be registered
separately. If the lateness is due to
extenuating circumstances beyond the
reasonable control of the applicant,
the application may be admitted to the
assessment process.
Any requests for an extension of time to
lodge and application must be made to the
department before 5 pm AEST 23 May 2013.
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.
Where to send your
Application Form
Post to:Indigenous Protected Areas—
Assessments
Indigenous Policy Branch,
Biodiversity Conservation Division
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
Email: [email protected]
2 | Indigenous Protected Areas program guidelines, 2013–2018
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Overview
Indigenous Australians have managed their
country for tens of thousands of years. The
Australian Government values Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people’s knowledge,
relationship to and aspirations for country,
and the contribution that this makes to
protecting Australia’s natural and cultural
heritage. It also recognises that environment
and heritage protection is integral to the
social, economic, cultural and spiritual
well-being of Indigenous peoples.
Indigenous land owners may voluntarily
dedicate an Indigenous Protected Area as
part of their ongoing commitment to conserve
cultural and natural heritage, and to continue
the sustainable use of natural resources. An
Indigenous Protected Area dedication can
be over Indigenous-owned land and/or sea
or over other tenures that can be managed
for conservation. These include existing
protected areas that are co-operatively
managed by traditional owners and a state or
territory agency. The Australian Government
recognises Indigenous Protected Areas as
part of Australia’s National Reserve System,
and supports Indigenous organisations
representing Indigenous landowners or
traditional owners to dedicate and manage
Indigenous Protected Areas.
Managed to international guidelines,
Indigenous Protected Areas make a
significant contribution to Australian
biodiversity conservation—making up nearly
a third of Australia’s terrestrial protected
area network. As well as contributing to the
environment, many Indigenous communities
say Indigenous Protected Areas bring better
health, education and social cohesion to their
communities, helping to Close the Gap on
Indigenous disadvantage.
Consistency in comparing protected areas
across Australia is achieved by the allocation
and use of an internationally defined set of
management categories, known as IUCN
(World Conservation Union) categories.
There are six IUCN protected area
categories. The six categories are:
Category Ia—Strict nature reserve: protected
area managed mainly for science.
Category Ib—Wilderness area:
protected area managed mainly for
wilderness protection.
Category II—National park: protected area
managed mainly for ecosystem conservation
and recreation.
3
Category III—Natural monument or feature:
protected area managed for conservation of
specific natural features.
Category IV—Habitat/species
management area: protected area
managed mainly for conservation through
management intervention.
Category V -Protected landscape/
seascape: protected area managed mainly
for landscape/seascape conservation
and recreation.
Category VI—Protected area with
sustainable use of natural resources:
protected area managed mainly for the
sustainable use of natural ecosystems.
Indigenous Protected Areas are generally
dedicated as Category IV, V or VI
protected areas.
Each dedicated Indigenous Protected Area is
actively managed by its Indigenous owners,
who protect their country’s plants, animals
and cultural sites. There are currently
53 dedicated Indigenous Protected Areas
projects and over 40 consultation projects
across Australia eligible to receive funding
to carry out land and sea management,
consultation and planning activities.
The Indigenous Protected Areas program (the
Program) is an ongoing program currently
funded under the Australian Government’s
Caring for our Country initiative, as outlined in
the One Land—Many Stories: Prospectus of
Investment1 (the Prospectus).
These funding guidelines are for the Caring
for our Country Sustainable Environment
Stream: Grants for the Indigenous Protected
Areas investment of $78.3 million from
July 2013 to June 2018 (the Guidelines).
The Guidelines outline the program’s
objectives, funding eligibility and assessment
criteria, and the process that will be used to
allocate program funding.
The Australian Government’s Department
of Sustainability, Environment, Water,
Population and Communities (the department)
is responsible for the implementation and
ongoing management of this program. The
Indigenous Advisory Committee advises the
Minister on Indigenous issues as they relate to
the department, and its Indigenous Protected
Area Sub-Committee provides advice on
issues relevant to Indigenous Protected Areas.
The program works in close partnership with
other grant programs administered by the
department, including:
• Working on Country
• Biodiversity Fund
• Caring for our Country Sustainable
Environment Stream: Target Area Grants
• Indigenous Heritage Program
• Caring for our Country: Community
Environment Grants.
1 www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/
publications/prospectus/pubs/prospectus.pdf
4 | Indigenous Protected Areas program guidelines, 2013–2018
1.2Indigenous
Protected Area
program objectives
The objectives of the Indigenous Protected
Areas program are to:
1.Support Indigenous land owners to
develop, dedicate and manage Indigenous
Protected Areas on their lands as part of
Australia’s network of protected areas
2.Support Indigenous interests to develop
partnerships in conserving Australia’s
network of protected areas
3.Support the integration of Indigenous
ecological and cultural knowledge
with contemporary protected area
management practices, to deliver enduring
environmental, cultural, social and
economic outcomes.
Existing Indigenous Protected Area projects
have met these objectives by delivering the
following outcomes:
• Dedicated Indigenous Protected Area
projects are counted as part of Australia’s
network of protected areas (National
Reserve System), and managed in
accordance with their management plan.
• Consultation and co-management projects
undertake consultation and planning
processes with Indigenous land owners
and others to make an informed decision
about dedication of their land and/or sea
as an Indigenous Protected Area, or
co-management arrangements.
• All projects support development of
partnerships, and integration Indigenous
ecological and cultural knowledge
with contemporary protected area
management practice.
The Indigenous Protected Area program
will continue to measure achievement of
these outcomes at both program and project
level annually.
1.3 Caring for our
Country Sustainable
Environment stream
strategic objectives
The program is funded through the Caring
for our Country Sustainable Environment
stream, as outlined in the Prospectus.
The objectives of the program link with
the strategic objectives of the Sustainable
Environment stream, which are:
• maintenance of ecosystem services
• protection of our conservation estate
• enhanced capacity of Indigenous
communities to conserve and protect
natural resources.
For further information refer to the
Prospectus (www.environment.gov.au/
prospectus).
5
1.4 How the Program
contributes
to Australian
Government priorities
The program is strongly aligned with and
delivers against the Australian Government’s
environmental priorities and goals and social
policy agenda:
Environmental protection and
management—this reflects the Australian
Government’s commitment to:
• Biodiversity and Ecosystems—
Conservation and protection of Australia’s
terrestrial and marine biodiversity and
ecosystems through supporting research,
developing information, supporting natural
resource management, and establishing
and managing Commonwealth
protected areas.
• Environment Protection and Heritage
Conservation: Increased protection,
awareness and appreciation of
Australia’s environment and heritage
through regulating matters of national
environmental significance and the
identification, conservation and
celebration of natural, Indigenous and
historic places of national and World
Heritage significance.
The Program also contributes to Australia’s
international obligations under the
Convention on Biological Diversity and the
United Nations Declaration on the Rights
of Indigenous People, through supporting
the continued practice and recognition
of traditional ecological knowledge and
by empowering Indigenous people to be
actively involved in the management of their
customary estates.
Closing the Gap—this is a commitment
by the Council of Australian Governments
(COAG) to improve the lives of Indigenous
Australians, and in particular provide a better
future for Indigenous children.
The Program makes a direct contribution
to Closing the Gap by providing economic
benefits and training opportunities for
Indigenous people and contributes to
achieving outcomes under COAG’s Closing
the Gap building blocks, specifically
for health, economic participation and
governance and leadership.
6 | Indigenous Protected Areas program guidelines, 2013–2018
2. INVESTMENT STRATEGY
FOR 2013–2018
2.1 What funding is available?
Funding of up to $78.3 million is available over five years (commencing 1 July 2013) for existing
Indigenous Protected Areas projects under these Guidelines.
Available Funding
IPA Program
2013–14
($m)
2014–15
($m)
2015–16
($m)
2016–17
($m)
2017–18
($m)
Total
($m)
13.9
14.5
15.0
17.0
17.9
78.3
Funding will be provided to existing projects to undertake activities that are consistent with the
objectives of the program.
Funding will be allocated for one to five years UP TO the amount approved by the Minister,
subject to the availability of program funds, and up to a maximum of $450 000 per annum per
project. Funding allocation will be based on the criteria at 5.5. Where multi-year funding is
provided, the funding recipient will be required to demonstrate that funds provided to date have
been spent, and all reports and funds acquittals have been provided in accordance with the
Funding Agreement, before funding for subsequent years is released.
7
3. ELIGIBILITY
3.1 Eligibility conditions

Be an Indigenous group or organisation
One Land—Many Stories: Prospectus of
Investment 2013–14 states continued funding
is available for existing projects nationally—
see www.environment.gov.au/prospectus .
The applicant must be an Indigenous group
or organisation that is a legal entity, or have
an arrangement with a legal entity that able
to manage the Funding Agreement.
To be eligible for Indigenous Protected Areas
program continued funding, applicants must
meet the following conditions:
A legal entity is:

Be an organisation managing an existing
• a Corporations Act company
Indigenous Protected Area project
This is a targeted funding round, and only
organisations managing existing Indigenous
Protected Area projects, or who are
proposing to take over the management
of an existing Indigenous Protected Area
project, will be considered for funding beyond
June 2013.
Organisations who have previously managed
Indigenous Protected Area projects and
whose funding agreements have been
terminated or discontinued by the department
or the organisation will not be considered.
An existing Indigenous Protected Area
project means a dedicated Indigenous
Protected Area project, or an Indigenous
Protected Area consultation project that has
approved funding for 2012/13.
• an incorporated entity (incorporated
association or joint venture)
• a partnership
• a trustee of a trust
• an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
corporation, council or incorporated
association or
• a government-related entity.
Indigenous groups or organisations that are
not legal entities may arrange for another
not-for-profit legal entity to administer the
Funding Agreement. In this situation, the
department requires written support from
the relevant Indigenous community group or
traditional owner/s to jointly undertake the
project (or manage the Funding Agreement
on their behalf).
8 | Indigenous Protected Areas program guidelines, 2013–2018
4. WHAT WILL BE FUNDED
UNDER THE PROGRAM
4.1 Scope of funding
Funding will be provided to undertake
activities consistent with the program
objectives and related to one or more of the
following three broad areas:
• Managing an Indigenous Protected
Area in accordance with a Management
Plan and assigned IUCN category
(dedicated projects)
• Developing an Indigenous Protected Area
(consultation projects)
• Developing co-operative management
arrangements for existing protected areas.
The program will fund activities that provide
ongoing support for Indigenous communities
to expand and manage Indigenous Protected
Areas as part of Australia’s network of
protected areas, contributing to national and
international biodiversity and cultural heritage
objectives. This includes funding for activities
that assist in managing matters of national
environmental significance defined under
the Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act). For
more information on the EPBC Act, go to:
www.environment.gov.au/epbc/protect/
index.html.
Funded activities for a dedicated Indigenous
Protected Area must be consistent with it’s
management plan and other supporting
documents, focussing on the following:
(i) Keeping country healthy: undertaking
work to identify, conserve, maintain,
manage and repair the land. Key focus
areas are:
–– threatened species, ecological
communities and their habitats
–– weeds, feral animals and other pests or
threats including biosecurity issues of
national concern
–– fire management
–– wetlands of national and international
significance, including inland rivers
–– migratory species, including
migratory waterbirds.
(ii) Looking after sea country: undertaking
work to identify, conserve, maintain and
manage sea country. Key focus areas are:
–– threatened species and their habitats
–– threats to marine habitats and species,
including biosecurity issues of
national concern.
9
(iii)Protecting cultural heritage:
undertaking work to identify, protect,
conserve and celebrate Australia’s
Indigenous heritage, recognising that
Indigenous cultural and environmental
heritage are irrevocably linked. Key focus
areas are:
–– Indigenous heritage values and
places of importance to Indigenous
communities that have been identified
as management priorities
–– places on the World and/or National
Heritage List.
We support the transfer of Indigenous
ecological knowledge, and activities that
engage young people, traditional owners
and the community in land and sea
country management. These activities
can be supported as a component of
funded projects.
Funded activities for consultation and
co-management projects must focus on
consultation with traditional owners, partners
and stakeholders, and development of a
management plan and supporting documents
to guide project priorities, taking account of
the focus areas listed above.
4.2 What project activities
and expenses
are eligible?
Funding may be used for the following
expenses, as required by applicants in the
way that best fits delivery project outcomes.
• Coordinators*—the cost of an Indigenous
Protected Area coordinator to manage
the work.
• Rangers and other staff*—the costs
of engaging rangers/staff to work on the
Indigenous Protected Area, consistent with
the management plan or scope of works.
• Specialist positions*—consideration will
also be given to the employment of other
specialist positions on a project-by-project
basis (such as mentor, project manager,
natural resource management or cultural
management advisors).
*Preference should be given
to employment of Indigenous
co-ordinators, rangers, contractors,
staff or specialists. Projects will be asked
to report on employment and training
outcomes as part of reporting required
under the Funding Agreement.
• Training—relevant to the work to be
undertaken by the Indigenous workers and
coordinators. The training can be delivered
in a flexible way to meet your staff’s
specific training needs, and may include:
–– nationally accredited training in
conservation and land management
–– non-accredited training and
skills development
10 | Indigenous Protected Areas program guidelines, 2013–2018
–– training that directly relates to land
and sea management work, for
example in traditional knowledge
recording; computer skills; first aid;
project planning; chemical use; small
equipment handling; driver’s licence;
coxswain’s certificate; staff supervision;
the use of media for recording
knowledge and monitoring outcomes
–– leadership training
–– training in numeracy and literacy
–– sharing traditional knowledge
about country
–– management related training
–– work health and safety training.
• Technical advice or support—where
this is demonstrated as being essential
to the success of the project. If you think
that the cost of this support will be more
than $10 000 GST exc. per year, we may
require you to seek three written quotes
before the funding for this is approved. We
will require a description of the activities
that these people will undertake.
• Indigenous Protected Area
management plan and supporting
plans—costs associated with the review
and revision of a existing management
plan for the Indigenous Protected Area,
or the preparation of new management
plans. The costs associated with
supporting plans, for example fire
management, feral animal management
and weed management.
• Consultation and meetings—reasonable
costs related to consultation and meetings
to support the project.
• Materials—purchase of materials required
to undertake the activity, for example,
chemicals and protective clothing.
• Equipment—purchase or lease of small
items of equipment under $10 000 GST
exclusive; for example traps, safety
equipment, computers, GPS units
and tools.
It is preferred that larger plant and
equipment is hired / leased. Where this
is not practical, purchase of equipment
over $10 000 GST exc. will be considered
on a case-by-case basis on receipt of a
business case, which must demonstrated
that failure to fund these items would
have a significant and/or detrimental
impact on project delivery, and subject to
funding availability. Purchase can only be
undertaken with prior written approval of
the department.
• Vehicles / vessels—leasing is the
preferred option for vehicles. A formal
written request must be made to the
department for vehicle purchase.
Factors that will be taken into account in
considering a request include, but are
not limited to, funding availability; risk
associated with vehicle purchase, whether
the requested vehicle is appropriate
for the proposed activity, demonstrated
evidence that a leasing arrangement is
not feasible, and cost effectiveness (this
is further set out in the program’s vehicle
purchase policy).
A formal written request must be made
to the department for vessel purchase.
Factors that will be taken into account
in considering a request include, but
11
are not limited to, funding availability,
risk associated with vessel purchase,
operation and maintenance, and the
ability of organisations to meet state
and territory-specific maritime use and
safety requirements.
Prior written approval must be obtained
prior to any vehicle or vessel purchase.
Vehicles/vessel and their use must comply
with legislative requirements including
appropriate operator licences.
• Minor works—these are eligible where
they relate to the conservation or
management of places such as signage,
interpretation and trails. Applicants must
ensure that the landowner agrees with the
works and that any necessary permits or
approvals have been sought. Applicants
should also ensure that works, including
structures, comply with the relevant
Australian standards and building codes.
• Domestic travel—reasonable travel
costs are available to support field
work, Indigenous Protected Areas
exchanges and attendance at Indigenous
Protected Areas managers meetings,
key conferences, workshops and training
where this is complementary to the
outcomes of the project. The level of
funding will be subject to negotiation.
• Community events—related to a project
and where this will clearly contribute to
community participation and knowledge
transfer of project outcomes.
• Permits or approvals—where these are
essential for the activity.
• Administration—up to 15% of the total
project cost for Indigenous organisations
may be provided for administrative costs.
This will cover costs associated with
administering the contract, which would
generally include items such as office/
workshop rent or leasing, insurance,
office supplies, phone, electricity and
mobile phone usage. It may also include
costs for a book keeper or administrative
officer, for example. Administrative costs
of up to 20% will be considered on a case
by case basis, and be approved only in
exceptional circumstances.
• Audit—reasonable costs related to the
annual financial audit for the project.
These funds will be allocated as a
separate item.
• Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and
Improvement (MERI review)—funding
may be provided for the preparation or
update of a MERI plan for your project,
and costs associated with annual review.
Other costs such as:
• minor construction and infrastructure
works, such as the maintenance of access
roads and minor amenities
• purchase of assets over $10 000
necessary to deliver project activities
• accommodation support including
rental payments
• international travel.
Applicants must provide a business case to
demonstrated the benefits of the proposal for
project delivery. Any such costs must only
be incurred with the prior written approval of
the department. Factors that may be taken
into account include, but are not limited
to funding availability, relative isolation/
remoteness of the community, and absence
of non-commercial housing options in
the community.
12 | Indigenous Protected Areas program guidelines, 2013–2018
4.3 What project activities
and expenses are
not eligible?
Funding is not available for activities and/or
expenses which:
• are currently receiving, or have previously
received, funding through other Australian
Government, state or territory funding
initiatives or programs, or from other
third parties, where those activities are
fully funded by that program and/or are
substantially the same
• involve the purchase of land
• have already been completed
• are the primary responsibilities of the
private landholder, or where the activities
are more appropriately funded by others
• are inconsistent with the assigned
IUCN category for the Indigenous
Protected Area
4.4 Commercial benefits
The program encourages projects to
develop skills and expertise which could
lead to commercial or contract opportunities
outside the program. The program will not
support the costs of any economic enterprise
administration or operating costs, or any
activities funded by other sources, but may
support some activities that could lead to a
commercial enterprise such as sustainable
tourism, sustainable aquaculture or food
production using traditional knowledge.
Where commercial opportunities arise,
we will work with funding recipients
to development arrangements that
accommodate commercial activities while
achieving Indigenous Protected Areas
project activities.
• are for purchase or transfer costs of
land or buildings, including housing and
land rates
• are for major construction and
infrastructure works, and/or
• are expenses that are the responsibility
of other organisations such as local, state
and territory government agencies.
13
5. APPLICATION,
ASSESSMENT AND
FUNDING ALLOCATION
5.1 Application
5.2 Conflict of interest
Organisations managing existing
Indigenous Protected Area projects can
apply for continuing funding by completing
an Application Form, which requires
information about:
You must declare in writing to the department
any existing conflicts of interest. It is not a
conflict of interest to have an existing Head
Agreement with the Commonwealth.
• the organisation
• the Indigenous Protected Area
management plans and other
supporting plans
• an overview of proposed activities 2013–18
• transfer of Indigenous
Ecological Knowledge
• work health and safety
• funding and partnerships with
other organisations
• risk management
• proposed scope of work for 2013–14.
The Application Form will be provided to
existing projects with these guidelines.
Information about your proposed budget is
not required in the application form.
Examples of conflict of interest may include if
your organisation or any of your personnel:
• has or has had a relationship (whether
professional, commercial or personal)
with a party who is able to influence the
application assessment process, such as
a departmental staff member
• has a relationship with, or interest in, an
organisation, which is likely to interfere
with or restrict the applicant in carrying
out the proposed activities fairly and
independently, or
• has a relationship with, or interest in,
an organisation from which they will
receive personal gain as a result of the
granting of funding under Commonwealth
Government initiatives.
We will negotiate an annual project plan and
budget with successful applicants up to the
level of approved funding, which will form
part of the funding agreement (see further
information about funding in 5.5).
14 | Indigenous Protected Areas program guidelines, 2013–2018
5.3 What happens if I want
to change my project?
You may want to use this opportunity
to refocus your work, or change your
contractual partnership or governance
arrangements for the project. In considering
such a change, please be aware that you
must still satisfy the Indigenous Protected
Areas program eligibility requirements
(refer 3.1). Where a change in contracting
arrangements is being considered, the
department will assess whether the proposed
contract manager has the necessary
governance and administrative structures and
capacity to effectively manage the contract.
If you wish to change your project in any way,
please speak to your departmental project
officer in the first instance. Such changes
may require negotiations with more than
one party, and may require time to develop.
Please note that this is not a ‘one-off’
opportunity, and if you wish to make changes
to your project in the future you can raise this
with your departmental project manager.
5.4 Assessment criteria
Existing projects will be assessed against the
five assessment criteria listed below:
1.Performance to date
2.Indigenous governance, support and
organisational capability
3.Management plans and supporting plans
4.Value for money
5.Risk
Applications will be assessed and scored
against the assessment criteria. An order
of merit will be established following
assessment based on applications and a
departmental review of projects.
1. Performance to date
An assessment of the Indigenous Protected
Areas project will be undertaken and risk
rating ascertained , based on performance of
the applicant to date, including:
• Performance against contracted
activities: the extent to which the project
has delivered against the contracted
consultation and planning, environmental,
cultural and other activities
• Financial performance: whether a project
expended its funding each year, and any
issues arising with respect to financial
management associated with the project
• Reporting: whether reports were
submitted on time and the quality
of reporting.
15
2. Indigenous governance, support
and organisational capability
This relates to the ability of the applicant to
meet project outcomes on time and within
budget. The application will be assessed
on the applicant’s ability to successfully
deliver the proposed outcomes, despite any
identified risks or constraints.
The assessment panel will review the
structures and management processes
by which decisions about the project
are made and the funding agreement is
administered, including:
• the extent to which decision making
structures and processes are clear,
including roles of traditional owners in
decision making, and the roles of partners
and others with rights, interests and/
or tenure
• whether Advisory Committee meetings
have been convened as required in the
Funding Agreement
• the extent to which arrangements
are in place for shared governance in
co-management projects (as applicable)
• whether the organisation managing the
contract is effectively governed and has
the capacity, skills and experience to
manage a contract
• the organisation or group undertaking
the work has demonstrated capacity to
undertake the activities identified in the
Indigenous Protected Area Management
Plan in accordance with relevant IUCN
categories (dedicated projects), or
consultation and planning processes
(consultation project)
• the organisation managing the contract has
the capacity to meet workplace health and
safety (WH&S) requirements and maintain
a safe working and community environment
(for example, the organisation has work
health and safety policies relevant to land
and/or sea activities, adequate equipment
and secure storage facilities)
• the organisation provides support for
training and professional development.
3. Management plan, MERI plans
and support plans
The assessment panel will review the
relevance and use of planning documents to
guide the project, in particular:
• whether there is a current Indigenous
Protected Area Management Plan
specific to the land or sea country where
project activities are occurring to guide
the delivery of on-ground tasks, or the
applicant is willing to update their current
plan or develop a new one
• whether there are current Project Logic,
and Monitoring Evaluation Reporting and
Improvement Plans (MERI) plans in place
or under review
• the extent to which supporting plans
exist and are used in practice (for
example fire management and weed
management plans)
• for consultation and co-management
projects, whether effective consultation
processes are underway to support the
drafting of the Management Plan and
supporting documents.
16 | Indigenous Protected Areas program guidelines, 2013–2018
4. Value for money
5. Risk
The project demonstrates value for money for
the Australian government. This will include
consideration of whether the activities to
be undertaken:
The assessment panel will consider whether
the project has an up-to date and realistic
risk plan to assess and review risks, and
the extent to which risks are mitigated by
the organisation.
• are consistent with the goals/targets/
objectives described in the Management
Plan (dedicated projects)
• meets one or more of the targets
outlined in the One Land—Many Stories:
Prospectus of Investment
• build on consultation and planning
processes undertaken so far, to lead
to finalisation of the consultation
process within a reasonable timeframe
(consultation projects); and
• are the most cost effective method and
approach and provide the best solution to
the issue being addressed.
Consideration will also be given to:
• the extent to which the project leverages
funding and support from partners,
stakeholders, and other agencies to
contribute to Australia’s protected areas
and biodiversity objectives and to enhance
delivery of the project
• the extent to which the project contributes
to activities to support Indigenous
Ecological Knowledge initiatives
• the extent to which the project contributes
to research programs, youth/community/
visitor engagement and tourism initiatives,
or other initiatives which add value to
the project
• the extent to which the project supports
Indigenous people’s contribution the
Australian Government’s commitment to
Closing the Gap.
5.5Funding
allocation criteria
Assessors will also consider the following
criteria to determine the level of funding for
the project:
• dedicated, consultation or
co-management status
• size of the Indigenous Protected Area
• remoteness (in terms of the impact on the
delivery of service)
• complexity (in terms of consultation and
planning for additions to declared IPA’s,
multiple land tenures, sea country planning,
engagement with multiple traditional owner
groups, partners and stakeholders, and
natural and cultural values)
• whether the project receives Working on
Country funding
• an order of merit based on the extent to
which a project meets the assessment
criteria and demonstrates value for money
• funding history.
Funding is limited to the extent funds are
available for the program, and will be allocated
up to a maximum of $450 000 per annum per
project. The average funding allocation for
declared projects will be around $200 000.
Each year we will negotiate a project plan and
budget with successful applicants up to the
level of approved funding which will form part
of the funding agreement.
17
6. ASSESSMENT AND
FUNDING ALLOCATION
PROCESS
6.1 Assessment process
Departmental assessors
As part of the assessment process, the
Application Form will be screened to confirm
whether all of the eligibility criteria have been
met. Any applications that do not meet the
eligibility criteria will be excluded from the
assessment process.
• an executive member of staff from the
Indigenous Policy Branch, Biodiversity
Conservation Division.
The department reserves the right to
exclude any application that, in the
department’s opinion, does not contain
sufficient information on which to assess
the application.
The Application Form will be assessed by
an Assessment Panel of up to four members
comprising from the following:
External assessors
• a member of the Indigenous Advisory
Committee’s Indigenous Protected Area
Sub-Committee, nominated by the IPA
Sub-Committee; and
• an independent Indigenous assessor
• an executive member of staff from the
Indigenous Protected Area Section,
Biodiversity Conservation Division; and
The Assessment Panel will undertake both
a quantitative and a qualitative assessment
of each Application in accordance with the
agreed scoring regime.
An order of merit will be determined according
to the scores awarded by the assessment
panel, reflecting the extent to which applicants
address the assessment criteria.
The assessment and funding allocation will
be based on:
• information sought from each project in
the Application Form provided with this
guidance; and
• an internal performance assessment
based on existing information held by the
department about the project, including
plans, half yearly and annual reports and
audited financial statements required
under the Funding Agreement
• an internal assessment of each project
with regard to funding allocation criteria.
18 | Indigenous Protected Areas program guidelines, 2013–2018
The department may contact applicants
during the assessment process to seek
clarification about their application, especially
if the information in it is ambiguous or if
contradictory statements are made. The
department reserves the right to accept or
disregard additional information provided by
applicants and will not allow responses which
materially improve or amend an applicant’s
original application.
6.2 Letting you know
The Assessment Panel will make its
recommendations for funding to the Minister
for Sustainability, Environment, Water,
Population and Communities. The final
decision on successful projects, including
funding amounts, rests with the Minister.
• identify and disclose any current or
prospective personal interest which may
create a conflict of interest
Applicants will be informed of the outcome
of the assessment process and Minister’s
decision in writing. Details of approved
projects are also posted on our website once
project applicants have been informed—
www.environment.gov.au/indigenous/ipa
• comply with the Australian Public Service
Code of Conduct.
Appeals against unsuccessful applications
will not be accepted.
All assessors will be required to:
19
7. FUNDING AGREEMENT
7.1Overview
A funding agreement is a
performance-based, legally enforceable
agreement between the department and the
successful applicant (or contract manager
where applicable) that sets out the terms
and conditions governing the funding to be
provided under the program. All funding
payments for the project are subject to
the successful applicant entering into and
complying with the terms and conditions of
the funding agreement.
The department may withdraw the offer
of funding if the Funding Agreement is not
signed by the successful applicant within the
timeframe determined by the department.
The Funding Agreement will include provision
for the department to seek repayment of
funds that are found to have not been spent
in accordance with the purposes specified in
the Funding Agreement.
Applicants should familiarise themselves with
all aspects of the Funding Agreement before
signing, to ensure they are able to comply
with its terms and conditions:
• the department may ask for further
information and/or conduct site visits
and/or arrange inspections by third
parties from time to time to monitor
the progress of the project and assess
compliance of the project with the Funding
Agreement requirements
• successful applicants are responsible for
ensuring that their project complies with
all requirements set out in any applicable
Commonwealth, state or territory
legislation and regulations, and that the
project is carried out to a high standard
• the department may reduce the level of
funding, suspend payment or terminate the
funding agreement where the successful
applicant fails to or is unable to meet
obligations or other contributions specified
in the Funding Agreement; and
• successful applicants will be required to
acknowledge the Australian Government’s
support and funding where applicable.
The Funding Agreement must be signed
by the person who is authorised to sign for,
and on behalf of, the organisation that will
manage the project and administer the funds.
• funding is contingent on achievement
of prescribed milestones, including for
example, a decision to dedicate an
Indigenous Protected Area
20 | Indigenous Protected Areas program guidelines, 2013–2018
7.2 Commencement date
and payment of funding
The project commencement date is the date
that the Funding Agreement signed by you
is counter-signed by the Commonwealth.
The department will send you a copy of the
signed and dated Funding Agreement.
Funding will be provided at the times and
in the manner specified in the Funding
Agreement when you have:

signed and returned the
Funding Agreement

met any conditions set out in the Funding
Agreement that are required to be met
before the commencement of your
project; and

when we have counter-signed the
Funding Agreement.
Where payments are linked to the
achievement of specific milestones,
payments will only be made after the
department is satisfied that those milestones
and associated obligations of funding have
been met.
7.3Monitoring
and reporting
All dedicated Indigenous Protected Areas
and Consultation Projects are required to
develop and implement a Project Logic
and Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and
Improvement (MERI) plan.
A Project Logic is a simple ‘road map’ or
diagram showing the thinking and rationale
that traditional owners/communities have
for the land they wish to declare as an
Indigenous Protected Area.
A MERI plan is an important tool for
measuring, evaluating, communicating and
improving the effectiveness of an Indigenous
Protected Area plan of management.
All projects that are funded are required to
provide project performance and financial
reports at least every six months, and
projects will be subject to financial and
performance monitoring and evaluation
to ensure that they are meeting specified
milestones and performance indicators
as detailed in the Funding Agreement.
Reporting requirements are specified in the
Funding Agreement.
Staff from the department will contact you to
regarding how a project is progressing, or to
arrange a visit to the project site.
The Australian Government requires
monitoring and reporting for all environment
and natural resource management programs.
Monitoring, evaluating and reporting on
project performance will provide evidence
about the appropriateness, impact,
effectiveness and efficiency of investment
made throughout the Caring for our
Country initiative.
21
7.4 Performance review and
program evaluation
The department regularly monitors the
performance of projects to measure progress
toward meeting program outcome. In
addition to six monthly review of financial and
performance reports noted in Section 7.3,
an annual review will be undertaken to
assess project performance and progress
against objectives and outcomes noted at
Section 1.2. This review will be undertaken at
both project and program level.
A formal assessment and review of each
Indigenous Protected Areas project will be
conducted at least once every five years.
A formal evaluation of the Program will be
conducted by or on behalf of the department
at least every five years. Successful
applicants may be requested to participate in
a broader evaluation of the program.
22 | Indigenous Protected Areas program guidelines, 2013–2018
8. DISCLAIMER AND
FURTHER INFORMATION
8.1Applicants
It is the responsibility of the applicant to:
• fully and properly inform themselves of
the requirements of the program, these
guidelines and the requirements of the
funding assessment process
• ensure that their Application Form is
complete and accurate, as the department
is not obliged to request additional or
missing information
• identify any information contained
within their Application Form that they
consider should be treated as confidential
and provide reasons (noting that the
department will not be in breach of any
confidentiality obligations where disclosure
is required as outlined further below
• keep a copy of their Application Form and
any attachments for their own records
• inform the department of any changes
to their circumstances that may affect
information included in their Application
Form or their eligibility for funding under
these Guidelines.
If an applicant is successful in obtaining
funding, it is the applicant’s responsibility
to ensure that they hold the relevant
insurance(s) at the time of entering into the
Funding Agreement and prior to any project
activities being undertaken. The department
may require the applicant to provide copies
of the relevant certificates of currency for
their insurance.
Applicants are also required to declare
in writing to the department where any
actual, apparent, or potential conflict of
interest exists or might arise in relation to
their application that may impact on it, the
proposed project or any Funding Agreement
it may enter into with the department.
The applicant’s participation in any stage
of the application process, or in relation
to any matter concerning the process,
is at the applicant’s sole risk, cost and
expense. The Australian Government will
not be responsible for any costs or expenses
incurred by an applicant in preparing or
lodging an application or in taking part in
the process.
23
The Australian Government will not accept
responsibility for any misunderstanding
arising from the failure by an applicant to
comply with these Guidelines, or arising
from any discrepancies, ambiguities,
inconsistencies or errors in their
Application Form.
Applicants are entirely responsible for the
accuracy of all information submitted in their
Application Form. If applicants knowingly
provide inadequate, false or misleading
information, the application may be excluded
from the assessment process.
If an applicant discovers any material
discrepancy, ambiguity, inconsistency
or errors in their application, they
must immediately bring it to the
attention of the department by emailing
[email protected]. The department
may request further information from an
applicant and allow an applicant to remedy
any discrepancy, ambiguity, inconsistency
or errors in an application. The department
reserves the right to accept or disregard
clarification information provided by
applicants and will not consider clarification
information that materially improves or
amends a applicant’s original application.
8.2 Role of the Indigenous
Protected Area
manager/host
The organisation acting as the manager for
the Indigenous Protected Area project will
be a signatory to the funding agreement with
the Australian Government, and will have
contractual and administrative responsibilities
in accordance with the agreement. It will
enter into the Funding Agreement in its own
right (not as the agent for the applicant), will
be legally responsible for the project under
the terms of the Funding Agreement and will
receive the project funding.
The organisation acting as the project
manager will be responsible for contracting
and managing people working on the
project, including entering into employment
agreements with staff or contracts, and
deciding on the employment or contract
conditions and levels of remuneration. The
project manager will also be responsible for
keeping accounting records, project reporting
and monitoring the activities and results of
the projects.
Applicants should be aware that the giving
of false or misleading information is a
serious offence under the Criminal Code
Act 1995 (Cth).
24 | Indigenous Protected Areas program guidelines, 2013–2018
8.3Indigenous
endorsement
and engagement
Project design and delivery should respect
Indigenous decision-making, governance
arrangements and land management
accountabilities. The program supports
projects that are developed, endorsed
and delivered by traditional owners and
custodians, and/or other Indigenous people
with interests and associations with the
project area. Existing projects may be
required to demonstrate that a project has the
ongoing support of:
• Native Title holders, or
• the Indigenous organisation or groups
who have legal responsibility as a key
representative body for managing the land,
and/or
• the traditional owner/s who speak for the
country where the work will occur, and/or
• other Indigenous people, groups or
organisations who have rights and
obligations to the country.
8.4 Indigenous Protected
Area management plan
The project will have a current Indigenous
Protected Area management plan, or the
applicants must be willing to review and
update their existing plan, or develop a new
one. This plan should be specific to the area
where the work will occur, with enough detail
to provide a framework for the activities to
be undertaken consistent with the assigned
IUCN category.
The project will be required to monitor,
evaluate and review activities annually to
inform future works programs and plans
using the Management Plan and supporting
planning documents, including MERI plan,
project logic, and other supporting plans.
8.5Tenure
Projects can be undertaken on a variety of
tenures. Eligible tenures include:
• Indigenous owned or held land, which
may be freehold, held in trust or leased,
including land which has been dedicated
as an Indigenous Protected Area or that
is the subject of an Indigenous Protected
Area consultation process. A protected
area or land established for conservation
purposes or where conservation purposes
are consistent with the tenure.
• Land and sea that is a protected
area owned and/or managed by the
Commonwealth, state, territory or
local government, through an existing
or proposed joint or co-management
arrangement with the Indigenous
organisation. Applicants are required
to demonstrate support from relevant
government authorities as part of the
consultation process and provide support
in writing for the project prior to dedication.
Projects that will take place over a range of
tenures are required to demonstrate strong
and progressive partnerships or agreements
with relevant land / sea management
agencies or private land owners. Where
projects exist within state or territory
jurisdictions, we will require clear delineation
25
between Australian and state/territory/local
government responsibilities and funding
arrangements. We will also seek a clear
commitment to co-investment in the project,
including for operational material, training and
skills development.
Please note that if you do not have tenure
over the land/sea where you want to do the
work, you will need to provide written owner/
management agency support for your project.
8.6 Approvals or permits
Applicants are responsible for investigating
whether any approvals or permits are
needed for the project. Applicants may
need permission or approval from your local
council, land council or other representative
body, a state or territory land management
or heritage agency, or an Australian
government department.
You must also make sure that your project
complies with state or territory and Australian
government native title, cultural heritage,
natural heritage or related legislation. You
should think about whether you need an
approval under the Environment Protection
and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
(EPBC Act) for your project. Under the EPBC
Act, if you propose to take an action that
may have a significant impact on a matter
of National Environmental Significance
(NES), you must submit a proposal to the
department of Sustainability, Environment,
Water, Population and Communities, which
will decide if approval is required. For more
information, go to www.environment.gov.au/
epbc/assessmentsapprovals/index.html.
8.7 The Australian
Government’s rights
The Australian Government reserves
the right to amend these guidelines in
its absolute discretion and will, where
possible, provide reasonable notice of these
amendments. The Australian Government
also reserves the right to vary, suspend or
terminate the assessment process at any
time and in its absolute discretion.
The Australian Government, including the
Department and their officers, employees,
agents and advisors:
• are not, and will not be, responsible or
liable for the accuracy or completeness
of any information in or provided in
connection with these guidelines
• make no express or implied representation
or warranty that any statement as to future
matters will prove correct
• disclaim any and all liability arising from
information provided to an applicant,
including errors in, or omissions contained
in these guidelines
• except in so far as liability under any
statute cannot be excluded, accept
no responsibility arising in any way
from errors or omissions contained in
these guidelines
• accept no liability for any loss or damage
suffered by any person as a result
of that person, or any other person,
placing reliance on the contents of these
guidelines or any other information
provided by the Australian Government in
respect of the program.
26 | Indigenous Protected Areas program guidelines, 2013–2018
8.8 Confidentiality
and Privacy
Applicants must identify any information
contained within their application that they
consider should be treated as confidential
and provide reasons for the request.
The department will only consider a request
for confidentiality where:
• the information to be protected is identified
in specific rather than global terms
• the information is by its nature
confidential or
• disclosure would cause detriment to the
parties concerned.
• the department is subject to the legislative
and administrative accountability and
transparency requirements of the Australian
Government, including disclosures to
the Parliament and its Committees.
Notwithstanding any obligations of
confidentiality, the department may disclose,
or allow at any time the disclosure of, any
information contained in or relating to
any application:
–– to its advisers, employees or internal
management for purposes related to the
application and assessment processes,
including to evaluate or otherwise
assess applications and manage any
resultant funding agreement
–– to the responsible Minister
–– in response to a request by a House or
a Committee of the Parliament of the
Commonwealth of Australia
–– within the department, or with another
agency, where this serves the Australian
Government’s legitimate interests
–– where the information is authorised
or required by law to be disclosed,
noting that information submitted to the
Australian Government is subject to the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth)
and its requirements or
–– where the information is already in
the public domain otherwise than
due to a breach of any relevant
confidentiality obligation by the
Australian Government.
In submitting an Application Form, applicants
consent to the department using the
information contained in their advice for the
above mentioned purposes, for administering
the program and any other incidental or
related purpose. The department will store
and use the personal information collected by
it in compliance with its obligations under the
Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
Applicants should be aware that, if they are
successful, Commonwealth policy requires
the department to publish information on its
website about the applicant, including but not
limited to:
• the name of the legal entity receiving
the funding
• the title and purpose of the project
• the amount of funding received
• terms of the funding
• funding location.
By submitting an application form for funding
under the program, the applicant consents
to publication of the above information by the
department if they are awarded funding.
Applicants may access or correct personal
information by either emailing the department
at [email protected] or sending a
letter to the department’s postal address.
27
8.9 Intellectual property
The department acknowledges and
respects the intellectual property rights
of Indigenous people. Ownership of the
intellectual property rights in material
provided by Indigenous people for use in
projects remains the property of the named
individual. The department will negotiate the
use of any existing material with the owner
of the intellectual property prior to using
this material.
The Funding Agreement will set out details
about the ownership and use of intellectual
property and confidential information, and
this will be negotiated by both parties.
8.10Work health and safety
The contract manager is responsible for
the health and safety of its workers. It must
comply with the Work Health and Safety
Act 2011 and relevant state or territory
legislation. The department encourages
contract managers to undertake:
• hazard identification—assessing anything
that has the potential to cause injury
or illness
• risk assessment—assessing the likelihood
of injury, illness or damage to people
or property arising from exposure to
the hazard
• job safety analysis—identifying
potential hazards, associated with a job,
assessing their risk and recording how to
eliminate, or minimize the risk to worker
safety (controls)
• development and implementation of
standard operating procedures
• incident reporting and
management procedures
• appropriate training for the use of
equipment and materials.
Please ask the department if you require
further information about this.
8.11ABN, Taxation and GST
You must provide an Australian Business
Number (ABN). This must match the legal
entity of the applicant or contract manager,
that would receive the funding.
Grants are subject to normal taxation
treatment and no special arrangements
will apply. You should seek independent
application on the taxation implications of
receiving a grant.
Project budgets detained in the Funding
Agreement are GST exclusive. GST will be
added to funding payments (as applicable) by
the department so the Commonwealth meets
its obligations under A New Tax System
(Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (Cth).
If you are unsure of the GST status of your
organisation please consult the Australian
Taxation Office website at www.ato.gov.au
or phone the Business Tax Enquiries line
on 132 866.
28 | Indigenous Protected Areas program guidelines, 2013–2018
9. ENQUIRIES, FEEDBACK,
COMPLAINTS AND
FURTHER ASSISTANCE
9.1 Enquiries, feedback
and complaints
All enquiries, feedback and complaints will
be handled consistent with the department’s
Service Charter 2011–14, available from the
department’s website:
www.environment.gov.au/about/publications/
pubs/dsewpac_service_charter_2011–14.pdf
Please contact the department with
any concerns or comments about your
application or the Grants for Indigenous
Protected Area process.
The department may use surveys,
stakeholder feedback, assessor forums
and other consultative processes to inform
business review and improvement about
Caring for our Country and the Indigenous
Protected Area Program. This continual
improvement approach helps to refine the
program over time and may inform changes
to the program as a whole.
9.2 How to get more
information
or assistance
The Department of Sustainability,
Environment, Water, Population and
Communities may have other information that
might assist you in undertaking your project,
and we are happy to discuss this with you.
You can:
• visit our website: www.environment.gov.au/
indigenous/ipatalk with your departmental
project officer
• send us an email:
[email protected]
• visit the Caring for our Country website:
www.nrm.gov.au
• call the department on 1800 552 008
(free call)
29
Key information sources
The information sources listed below may
provide useful sources of information for
planning your project. For further information
please phone your departmental project
officer or call 1800 552 008 (free call)
Indigenous Protected Area website
• www.environment.gov.au/indigenous/ipa/
index.html
Our Country Our Way: Indigenous
Protected Area Management Plan
Guidelines (including MERI and
Project Logic)
• www.environment.gov.au/indigenous/ipa/
toolkit/management.html
Visit the Caring for our Country website
at www.nrm.gov.au for information about
other Caring for Our Country programs,
and information that may assist with your
Indigenous Protected Area project, including:
Overview information
• the national biodiversity conservation
prospectus One Land—Many Stories:
Prospectus of Investment (the Prospectus)
• maps of the Australian Ramsar-listed sites
located within the Caring for our Country
Target Areas
• maps of the World Heritage areas
located within the Caring for our Country
Target Areas
• maps of nationally significant species and
ecological communities
For information on specific investment
themes, refer to:
Ramsar-listed wetlands
• information sheets on Ramsar wetlands,
management plans and ecological
character descriptions: www.environment.
gov.au/cgi-bin/wetlands/alphablist.pl
World Heritage areas
• further information on Australia’s World
Heritage areas:
www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/
world/index.html
• Statements of Outstanding Universal
Value: whc.unesco.org/en/list/
Listed species and
ecological communities
• Contact details for Australian Government
natural resource management
officers including Indigenous Land
Management Officers
Biodiversity policies:
• other funding opportunities under Caring
for our Country
• the Native Vegetation Framework:
www.environment.gov.au/land/
vegetation/nvf/
Mapping
• maps of the Caring for our Country
Target Areas
• mapping tool for determining whether your
project is located within the Target Areas
• the National Wildlife Corridors Plan:
www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/
wildlife-corridors/index.html
• Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation
Strategy 2010–2030: www.environment.
gov.au/biodiversity/publications/
strategy-2010-30/index.html
30 | Indigenous Protected Areas program guidelines, 2013–2018
Matters of National Environmental
Significance—lists, tools and plans:
• threatened species and ecological
communities: www.environment.gov.au/
biodiversity/threatened/index.html
• threatened species and ecological
communities listed under the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act):
www.environment.gov.au/epbc/protect/
species-communities.html
• key threatening processes listed under
the EPBC Act: www.environment.gov.au/
cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicgetkeythreats.pl
• threat abatement plans established under
the EPBC Act: www.environment.gov.au/
biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/
• recovery plans established under
the EPBC Act: www.environment.
gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/
recovery-list-common.html
• migratory species listed under the EPBC
Act: www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/
sprat/public/publicshowmigratory.pl
• conservation advice by NRM region:
www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/
public/conservationadvice.pl?proc=main
• protected matters search tool:
www.environment.gov.au/erin/ert/epbc/
index.html
• Atlas of Living Australia: www.ala.org.au/
• managing national heritage places:
www.environment.gov.au/heritage/
management/national/index.html
• regional natural resource management
plans, issues for the region and contact
information: www.nrm.gov.au/about/nrm/
regions/index.html
• Australian Natural Heritage Assessment
Tool (including regional biodiversity
summaries): www.environment.gov.au/
heritage/anhat/index.html
• Directory of Important Wetlands in
Australia: www.environment.gov.au/water/
publications/environmental/wetlands/pubs/
directory.pdf
Exotic and invasive species:
Feral animals:
• Australian Pest Animal Strategy: www.
environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/
publications/pest-animal-strategy.html or
www.apas.net.au/
• Feral animals in Australia:
www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/
invasive/ferals/index.html
Invasive plants:
• the Australian Weeds Strategy:
www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/
invasive/weeds/publications/strategies/
weed-strategy.html and www.weeds.org.
au/nws.htm
• weed spread and management action
maps: www.environment.gov.au/
biodiversity/invasive/weeds/index.html
• Atlas of Living Australia:
www.ala.org.au/australias-species/
• weeds of national significance and other
lists of weeds of national interest:
www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/
invasive/weeds/weeds/lists/index.html
31
• weed management plans, training, weeds
facilitator contacts: www.weeds.org.au/
Related Australian
Government programs:
• further information on core attributes
for surveying and mapping nationally
significant weeds: www.weeds.org.au/
docs/Weeds_Manual.pdf
• Caring for our Country Sustainable
Environment stream: www.nrm.gov.au
–– Target Area Grants
–– Working on Country
Biosecurity/Hygiene
–– Reef Rescue
• WeedStop Vehicle Hygiene Program
(Victorian Government): www.dpi.vic.gov.
au/agriculture/pests-diseases-and-weeds/
weeds/weedstop
–– the Environmental Stewardship Program
• New South Wales Government: www.dpi.
nsw.gov.au/biosecurity
• Tasmanian field hygiene manual to
prevent the spread of freshwater pests and
pathogens: www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/
Attachments/LBUN-86X7YY/$FILE/15130
802_52keepingitcleanspreadswe.pdf
• management of dieback disease in
Western Australia: www.dec.wa.gov.
au/management-and-protection/
land/302-dieback.html
Urban waterways and
coastal environments
• OzCoasts Australian online coastal
information: www.ozcoasts.gov.au/index.jsp
• Aquatic Ecosystems Toolkit:
www.environment.gov.au/water/
publications/environmental/ecosystems/
ae-toolkit-mod-1.html
–– Community Environment Grants
• Caring for our Country Sustainable
Agriculture stream: www.nrm.gov.au
–– the Biodiversity Fund:
www.environment.gov.au/
cleanenergyfuture/biodiversity-fund/
index.html
–– Clean Energy Future:
www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au
–– the Carbon Farming Initiative:
www.climatechange.gov.au/cfi or
www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au/
carbon-farming-initiative/ or
www.daff.gov.au/climatechange/cfi
–– Australian Pest Animal Research
Program: www.daff.gov.au/brs/land/
feral-animals/aparp
–– National Weeds and Productivity
Research Program: www.daff.gov.au/
natural-resources/invasive/national_
weeds_productivity_research_program.
–– Water for the Future: www.environment.
gov.au/water/australia/index.html
–– Indigenous Australians Caring for
Country: www.environment.gov.au/
indigenous/index.html
–– heritage grants and funding:
www.environment.gov.au/heritage/
programs/index.html
32 | Indigenous Protected Areas program guidelines, 2013–2018
33
PAR63.0313