The Community Stewardship Grants are an initiative of the Western Australian Government managed though the State NRM Program at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). The grants are designed to facilitate the conservation and sustainable management of the State’s natural resources by supporting local community groups to undertake stewardship of natural resources in their local area.
Community-based NRM is directed and driven by local, catchment, or regional scale needs and priorities. It recognises the value of local knowledge, volunteer efforts and strong partnerships. The Community Stewardship Grants prioritise the direct involvement of local community groups in all project stages of design, planning and implementation, through which efficient and effective partnerships between government, industry, and community can be fostered.
Over the past 6 years, $45.5 million worth of Community Stewardship Grants has supported more than 400 grassroots not-for-profit and volunteer groups that care for the State’s diverse and valuable natural assets, from the Kimberley to the South Coast. Collectively, the approved grants contribute to all six priorities of the WA NRM Framework 2018 and cover all nine development commission regions, some through multi-regional projects.
2024 Community Stewardship Grants are now open
$7 million in funding is available to support community led NRM activities. The Community Stewardship Grants program involves both a small grants round and a large grants round:
- Small grants:
- are valued between $1,000 - $50,000
- commence on or after 1 January in the year following the grant round
- are up to 18 months in duration.
- Large grants
- are valued between $50,001 - $450,000
- are intended for more strategic, complex projects
- commence on or after 1 January in the year following the grant round
- are for up to 3 years in duration.
To be eligible for assessment under these grants you must:
- Complete and submit an application form online through SmartyGrants, ensuring all required supporting information and documents are clear and legible when uploaded, by 12 noon AWST on Monday 20 May 2024. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
- Demonstrate that you meet the eligibility criteria and meet the assessment criteria.
The 2024 Community Stewardship Grants Guidelines are essential reading for all applicants and may be downloaded at the link below:
The 2023 Community Stewardship Grants recipients have been announced
Community Stewardship Grants to care for Western Australia’s vast landscape and unique flora and fauna have been allocated to 55 community-driven natural resource management projects across the State, which have received a share of $7 million in funding support from the Cook Government.
Successful projects include dieback control, landcare capacity building, wetlands and catchment rehabilitation, weed management, Cyclone Seroja recovery, and protection of threatened species such as black cockatoos, western ringtail possums and southern right whales.
A list of the successful 2023 Community Stewardship Grant applications can be downloaded at the link below:
Past lists of successful grants can be downloaded below:
- 2018 - Successful Community Stewardship Grants
- 2019 - Successful Community Stewardship Grants
- 2020 - Successful Community Stewardship Grants
- 2021 - Successful Community Stewardship Grants
- 2022 - Successful Community Stewardship Grants
Community Stewardship Grant Outcomes
Show more| Priority | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Priority 1 Sustainable management of land resources |
Agricultural landscapes will be maintained or improved by driving sustainable and/or regenerative agricultural practices, focusing on soil biology and landscape management, to produce healthier food, a healthier environment, and improved bottom line to enable enduring prosperity. |
| Priority 2 Maintain and enhance water assets |
Water assets will be maintained, improved, and protected through activities that support ecosystem health, water availability, biodiversity, and spiritual and cultural values for Aboriginal people. Water assets include estuaries, floodplains, wetlands, and groundwater systems. |
| Priority 3 Protect and enhance the marine and coastal environment |
Marine and coastal environments, species, and habitats will be maintained, improved, and protected from biological and physical threats including the declining numbers of some species, introduction of pests and diseases, and the impacts of climate change and sea level rise. |
| Priority 4 Conserve and recover biodiversity |
Western Australia’s rich, diverse, and unique biodiversity and its economic, cultural, scientific, educational, and recreational values will be maintained, improved, and protected from biological and physical threats and processes including the declining numbers of some species, introduction of pests and diseases, and the impacts of climate change. |
| Priority 5 Enhance skills, capacity, and engagement |
The capacity, knowledge, skills, engagement, and participation of stakeholders including volunteers, community groups, Aboriginal people, and the broader community will be maintained or improved. Values, beliefs, and behaviours of stakeholders will be respected. |
| Priority 6 Deliver high quality planning that leads to effective action |
High quality and strategic planning that leads to coordinated and effective actions will be facilitated and delivered to conserve, prevent further deterioration of condition and provide opportunities for remediation of our natural resources. |
Am I eligible?
Show moreApplicants from the following groups or organisations are encouraged to apply:
- Aboriginal community organisations including Registered Native Title Bodies Corporate (RNTBC)
- incorporated associations and not-for-profit companies and trusts, including most community, landcare, and NRM groups, Recognised Biosecurity Groups and grower groups.
- Land Conservation District Committees
- local government authorities (LGA)
- primary and secondary schools.
The following groups are not eligible to apply:
- for profit organisations, partnerships or companies including sole traders
- individuals
- organisations that do not have a branch or base of operation in Western Australia
- tertiary education institutions such as universities (government and privately funded), monotechnics, polytechnics or colleges
- unincorporated associations*
- Western Australian or Australian Government agencies.
*Unincorporated associations can seek funding via a project sponsor (an eligible organisation that applies on behalf of the unincorporated association). More information on sponsorship is provided in the 2024 Community Stewardship Grants Guidelines.
Projects must be based within the state of Western Australia. Applications for project activities in Australian territories (for example, Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands) are ineligible.
How are applications assessed?
Show moreThe merit of each application is assessed against the following criteria:
- clear NRM outcomes that align with the Community Stewardship Grant Outcomes (30%)
- evidence of local community involvement in each phase of the project lifecycle at design, planning and implementation, including engagement with Aboriginal people (30%)
- a reasonable and well justified funding request that demonstrates value for money (30%)
- sound planning and ability to manage the project (10%).
The key stages in the assessment process are:
- initial assessment: each assessment panel member individually reviews each application
- panel convenes: all projects are assessed and prioritised by the panel as a group, seeking technical advice as required, resulting in a shortlist of recommended applications
- WA NRM Ministerial approval: it is anticipated that successful applications will be announced in October by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, as lead Minister for NRM
- notification: all successful grants will be published on the State NRM Program website with applicants notified by email on the outcome of their grant application.
What can I apply for?
Show moreGrants can be used to fund a wide range of NRM activities that will achieve on-ground environmental outcomes directly or improve community capacity and capability to achieve positive NRM outcomes.
Activities must deliver outcomes that align with the Community Stewardship Grant Outcomes.
Some examples of eligible activities include:
- Fencing for protection of native species or vegetation
- Invasive species management (pest plants, feral animals, and plant diseases)
- Sustainable and/or regenerative agriculture
- Remnant vegetation protection
- Revegetation (native species only)
- Threatened species conservation or protection
- Capturing or implementing Traditional Knowledge of Country
- Data collection
- Information sharing
- Planning
- Research
- Resource condition assessment
- Technical advice
- Training and skills development.
- Infrastructure for direct NRM outcomes.
Apply for a grant
Show moreOnce a new grant round has been opened, applications must be submitted using the online application form available at SmartyGrants. Applications will not be accepted in any other format. SmartyGrants is the online grants management tool used by DPIRD.
Previous applicants have advised that the application process is quite time intensive, so please allow plenty of time to complete your submission.
Please contact the State NRM Program team on (08) 6551 4428 or at snrmo@dpird.wa.gov.au for assistance with planning or preparing an application.
To apply for a 2024 Community Stewardship Grant, click on the link below:
https://dpird.smartygrants.com.au
There are 2 grant programs with separate application forms. Please ensure that you choose the right program for your application:
- Community Stewardship Grants - LARGE
- For up to 3-year projects valued between $50,001 - $450,000
- Community Stewardship Grants – SMALL
- For 6 – 18 month projects valued between $1,000 - $50,000
Contact us
Show moreState NRM Program
Level 4, 1 Nash Street, Perth WA 6000
Australia
Phone: (08) 6551 4428
Email: snrmo@dpird.wa.gov.au
