Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants Now Open!

The Victorian Government has announced funding of up to $400,000 for the Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants, a new grants program that opened on Thursday 31 May. These grants offer funding for projects that seek to involve and educate young Victorians in valuing and actively caring for our natural environment. The Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants are being administered by Landcare Australia (as part of its Junior Landcare program), in partnership with the Victorian Landcare Program at the Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning.
Who can apply: schools, kindergartens, childcare centres, Scouts, Girl Guides and youth groups are eligible to apply.
Grant funding: up to $5,000 is available for projects.
Focus of funding: these grants have a focus on

• on-ground projects that restore, protect, enhance, or develop habitat for native flora and fauna, and/or address threats to biodiversity e.g. weed invasion, habitat loss etc; and/or
• projects that increase opportunities for children and younger people to connect with their natural environment, e.g. a school excursion to botanical garden/animal sanctuary; and/or
• projects that educate and raise awareness, among young people, of the benefits and importance of biodiversity and a healthy environment, and/or how they can care for Victoria’s natural environment.

The Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants are for either direct action (i.e. projects with an on-ground component) or in direct action (i.e. projects with an environmental education component), or a mixture of both.

Applications close: Friday 20 July 2018.

How to apply: visit Landcare Australia's Communities Portal www.landcareaustralia.org.au/victorian-junior-landcare-biodiversity-grants/

For more information visit: www.landcareaustralia.org.au/victorian-junior-landcare-biodiversity-grants/

Need help developing your project Landcare Coordinators/Facilitators: the 10 Regional Landcare Coordinators (based in Catchment Management Authorities) can assist by providing advice to ensure that your project is both feasible and that it will achieve improvements to biodiversity. They will also be able to provide contact details for the 78 local Landcare facilitators who are employed by local Landcare groups/networks across Victoria. Visit www.landcarevic.org.au/home/contact/ or go to the grants Guidelines for the contact details for the Regional Landcare Coordinators.

Coastcare staff: for the details for Coastcare staff visit www.coastsandmarine.vic.gov.au/coastal-programs/coastcare Landcare and Coastcare groups/networks and Friends of groups in your local area may also be able to help with the development of your project. Please share with your local schools, youth groups, scouts and guides, as well as your groups and networks.