The Feral Cat Management Grants are an initiative of the WA Government, delivered by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s State Natural Resource Management (NRM) Program in partnership with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. The grants are part of a larger program to deliver the Western Australian Feral Cat Strategy across the State.
There is a total of $2,000,000 of grant funding available over 4 years for feral cat management activities.
2023 Feral Cat Management Grants recipients have been announced
$500,000 in funding for the 2023 Feral Cat Management Grants round has been allocated to 5 community-driven projects across the State.
Successful projects include education and communicating the perils of feral cats and management options, reducing feral cat populations through an aerial baiting program to protect Greater Bilby’s, trialling innovative trapping technologies and undertaking strategic feral cat control works to create buffer zones around priority natural areas.
A list of the successful 2023 Feral Cat Management Grant applications can be downloaded at the link below:
The 2024 Feral Cat Management Grants round is now open with $500,000 in funding available
Feral cat management (FCM) refers to specific measures undertaken to reduce feral cat impact in priority areas to improve conservation outcomes for native fauna.
The Western Australian Feral Cat Strategy 2023-2028 sets out the WA Government’s direction and recognises the value of working together in partnership to manage invasive feral cats. It recognises three objectives:
- Increase effective feral cat management to improve conservation outcomes for native species, through a tenure-blind approach.
- Continual improvement of methods and technologies for feral cat management through research and development.
- Broaden social acceptability and awareness of feral cat management methods.
Key features of the 2024 Feral Cat Management Grants are:
- Grants must address one or more of the objectives of Western Australian Feral Cat Strategy.
- Maximum grant request up to $250,000, with a minimum request of $10,000.
- Grant funded projects must have a duration of less than 36 months (3 years)
- Grants can be used to fund a wide range of community-based FCM activities that will achieve on-ground native fauna conservation outcomes directly, improve methods or technologies through research and development, or improve an organisation’s capacity for FCM.
- Grants are not applicable to domestic cat management.
- Grant applications with lethal or baited activities will require relevant permits, authorities and/or indemnities.
To be eligible for assessment under these grants you must:
- Complete and submit an application form online through SmartyGrants at https://dpird.smartygrants.com.au , 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 Feral Cat Management Grant Guidelines are essential reading for all applicants.
The 2024 Guidelines may be downloaded at the link below.
Am I eligible?
Show moreTo be eligible to apply, applicants must be an incorporated not-for-profit organisation with an ABN.
Applicants from the following groups or organisations are encouraged to apply:
- Aboriginal community organisations including Prescribed Bodies Corporate (RNTBC)
- incorporated associations and not-for profit companies or trusts, including most community, landcare, and NRM groups, and Recognised Biosecurity Groups
- Land Conservation District Committees
- local government authorities (LGA).
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
- primary and secondary schools
- tertiary education institutions
- unincorporated associations (there is no provision for sponsorship in this grant round)
- Western Australian or Australian Government agencies.
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.
What are the assessment criteria?
Show moreThe merit of each Feral Cat Management Grant application is assessed against the following criteria:
- Clear methodology, activities and outcomes that address one or more of the objectives of the Western Australian Feral Cat Management Strategy (30%).
- Evidence of local community involvement in each phase of project lifecycle at design, planning and implementation, including consultation 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.
- Technical review: applications will be reviewed by the DBCA’s Technical Committee to evaluate methodology and project planning including demonstrated understanding of required processes and authorities. Comments and recommendations will be provided to the assessment panel for consideration.
- 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.
- Ministerial approval: recommended applications are presented to the NRM Ministers for approval and successful applications will be announced in October 2024.
- Notification: all successful grants will be published on this webpage with applicants notified by email on the outcome of their grant application.
How many grants can I apply for and how many could be successful?
Show moreThere is no limit to the number of applications an organisation can submit to the current grant round.
There is no restriction on how many Feral Cat Management Grant applications can be successful. The limited funding available for this grant round will restrict the number of successful applications.
What can I apply for?
Show moreGrants can be used to fund a wide range of FCM activities that will achieve on-ground native fauna conservation outcomes directly, improve methods or technologies through research and development, improve an organisation’s capacity to achieve on-ground FCM action, or broaden social acceptability and awareness of FCM.
Activities must deliver outcomes that align with one or more of the objectives of the Western Australian Feral Cat Strategy described in Section 2.1 of the 2023 FCM Grant Guidelines, which includes information on relevant targets and actions which may be considered for FCM Grant funding.
FCM Grant funding may only be requested for activities or items which are in addition to business as usual.
FCM Grant funded projects may include on-ground works, research and development, community capacity building, or a combination of these.
Some examples of eligible activities include:
- Data collection
- Exclusion fencing
- Feral animal management
- Information sharing
- Infrastructure if it can demonstrate clear FCM benefits
- Monitoring
- Native animal management
- Research into FCM
- Resource condition assessment
- Technical advice
- Traditional and novel methods for FCM
- Training and skills development.
Further information on eligible and ineligible activities is provided in the 2024 FCM Grant Guidelines.
Apply for a grant
Show moreApplications must be submitted using the online application form available on SmartyGrants, the grants management tool used by DPIRD. Applications will not be accepted in any other format.
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 Feral Cat Management Grant, click on the link below:
