Apply for a Feral Cat Management Grant

To be eligible to apply, applicants must be an incorporated not-for-profit organisation with an ABN.

Stage 1 EOI applications may be a single group or organisation, or a collaboration of several partners (which may include unincorporated associations), however, there must be a single, eligible lead applicant for the application form.

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.
 

The merit of each Feral Cat Management Grant application is assessed against the following criteria:

Stage 1 (EOI application)

• Clear concept proposal demonstrating intended outcomes that address one or more of the objectives of the Western Australian Feral Cat Management Strategy (40%).
• Strong concept proposal demonstrating stakeholder engagement and community involvement, including consultation with Aboriginal people (30%).
• Indicative costings with justification of funding request that demonstrates value for money (20%).
• Timeline of the project concept showing major events and responsibilities that demonstrates ability to manage the project (10%).

Stage 2 (full application)

• 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:

• Stage 1 assessment: each Stage 1 expression of interest application will be reviewed and scored against the selection criteria to shortlist projects by a joint DPIRD/DBCA panel to proceed to Stage 2. 
• Stage 2 assessment: each assessment panel member individually reviews each application.
• Technical review: applications will be reviewed by the DBCA’s Technical Advisory Group 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 which is presented to the Minister for the Environment.
• Ministerial approval: it is anticipated that successful applications will be announced in 2024 by the Minister for Environment.
• Notification: all successful grants will be published on this webpage with applicants notified by email on the outcome of their grant application.

There is no limit to the number of applications an organisation can submit to the current grant round.

There is no restriction on how many 2023 Feral Cat Management Grant applications can be successful. The limited funding available for this grant round will restrict the number of expressions of interest that will be invited to Stage 2 to submit a full application.

Grants can be used to fund a wide range of FCM activities that will achieve on-ground threatened 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 activities is provided in Appendix B of the 2023 FCM Grant Guidelines.

Ineligible activities
Feral Cat Management Grant funding may only be requested for activities or items which are in addition to business as usual.

The following activities and costs are ineligible for Feral Cat Management Grant funding:

• activities related to domestic cat management or awareness
• activities that are a statutory or regulatory responsibility of the landholder (such as boundary fencing)
• activities that cannot be directly linked to an FCM outcome
• alcohol, gift cards and fuel cards
• consultancy fees for work not directly related to approved activities
• contingencies and/or incidental expenses
• costs associated with ineligible project activities
• costs of preparing the grant application 
• costs that are already funded or resourced, either through another grant or under business as usual, including coordination, supervision or officer ‘time’ (such as existing salaries or on-costs) and existing overheads and administration costs (such as HR, finance, and office space)
• costs for retroactive projects, activities, or events, including works, planning or site assessment completed prior to the grant being awarded
• purchase, lease, or acquisition of land
• purchase of equipment or materials that is ordinarily a landholder’s responsibility as part of the day-to-day management of a property
• purchase of clothing, excluding items necessary for personal safety
• purchase of information available free of charge and/or development of data and information that is readily available
• purchase of motor vehicles (e.g., cars, utilities and 4WD vehicles) and machinery (e.g. tractors, trucks)
• removal of old infrastructure (including fences)
• salary or on-costs of Western Australian or Australian Government employees
• sitting, board or committee fees or reimbursements
• student salaries, on-costs, scholarships, stipends, or subsidies
• volunteer salaries, on-costs, stipends, or subsidies.

The workplan is a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to set out your project plan. The 2023 workplan template, including a worked example, is available to download here.  There is also a link within the application form.

Note: Without a completed workplan on the correct template, your application will not be considered.  If you do not have access to Microsoft Excel, please contact the State NRM Program on 08 6552 2158 or at snrmo@dpird.wa.gov.au for assistance.

All project costs, co-contributions, and calculations must be provided excluding GST.

The workplan is a valuable planning tool to set out what resources and budget will be required to undertake project activities, and who will be funding those resources.  It is also a critical component of the application that helps the assessment panel determine if the project is properly planned and costed and shows the project’s overall value for money. 

Applicants must, for the Stage 1 expression of interest application:

• use the 2023 workplan template to complete a project plan which estimates and apportions costs which do not include GST for the project activities
• attach the completed workplan to the application in the relevant section 
• include at least one measure for each activity (e.g., hectares of feral animal control, kilometres of exclusion fencing, number of participants attending an event)
• provide an annual calendar year breakdown (i.e., one year per tab) in the workplan
• check that the ‘Summary’ page (or worksheet) calculates correctly.

Note: detailed information and instructions are provided in the template.
Those applicants invited to participate in Stage 2 must revise the workplan to include all resources for each project activity and must:

• include a detailed list of expenses which MUST NOT include GST
• include a detailed list of contributions of cash and other resources, including the source, quantity and estimated value (do NOT include GST).

One of the key assessment criteria is evidence of local community involvement in each phase of the project lifecycle at design, planning and implementation, including consultation with Aboriginal people.  Including evidence of stakeholder engagement shows the assessment panel that the project is well planned and supported by the community.

Stakeholders include people or groups in the community that may influence or be affected by your project. They can include:

• Aboriginal people
• landholders and land managers in the project area
• local government authorities
• neighbouring groups and landholders
• Recognised Biosecurity Groups
• regional NRM groups
• relevant Western Australian government departments
• other organisations conducting similar or complementary work.

Projects which address issues at a landscape scale are encouraged, and it is important that consultation occurs with any other groups in the area who may have an interest in the proposed activities.  It is important that all stakeholders are engaged with or consulted during the project planning process.  Stakeholders may be able to help you design a project which has better outcomes and more support.  

Applicants must obtain written permission (such as a letter or email) from the landowner or manager of each site subject to project activities to include with the application.

Early engagement with local Aboriginal groups during the development of your project is essential. It is required regardless of land tenure (whether the land you are working on is privately owned or public land).

More information about Engaging with Aboriginal people can be found in Appendix A of the 2023 FCM Grant Guidelines.
 

Applications must be submitted using the online application form available at https://dpird.smartygrants.com.au . Applications will not be accepted in any other format. SmartyGrants is the online grants management tool used by DPIRD.

Expression of interest applications may be a single group/organisation or a collaboration of several partners (which may include unincorporated associations), however, there must be a single, eligible lead applicant for the application form.  

The expression of interest is Stage 1 of the application process. Only a limited number of expressions of interest will be invited to proceed to Stage 2 and submit a full application.

A Microsoft Word version of the application form is provided here.  

This may assist applicants in drafting responses to the application questions prior to entering information into the online application form. Please note that formatting such as dot points will transfer into the online form as Plain Text, so may not appear as expected.

To download a PDF of the application, go to the ‘Review and Submit’ page in Form Navigation. You can do this at any time. Remember to save your progress as you go. You may re-enter the application using My Submissions at the top of the landing page once you have logged in.

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) 6552 2158 or at snrmo@dpird.wa.gov.au for assistance with planning or preparing an application.

To apply for a 2023 Feral Cat Management Grant, click on the link below:

Apply for a grant