Coastcare Victoria Community Grants in Australia

Deadline: 23-Jun-21

The Victoria State Government is accepting applications for Community Grants program that supports community organisations to protect and enhance the coastal and near-shore marine environment.

The 2021 grants program is funded by the Victorian Government’s Sustainability Fund and the Victorian Great Outdoors Initiative, which seek to build community capacity, support community adaptation and improve ecosystem resilience to climate change.

The 2021 Grants Program aims to support the three pillars in the Coastcare Victoria Strategy 2021-2026:
Marine and Coastal Stewardship – conservation, rehabilitation, restoration and preventative actions for Victoria’s coastal and marine ecosystems.
Thriving Marine and Coastal Community Groups and Networks – supporting community organisations to diversify, plan for the future and be responsive to change.
Victorians Valuing the Coast – supporting community participation, engagement and education to enhance community knowledge and understanding of coastal and marine management.
Funding Information

The Victorian government is providing funding up to $647,000 for the 2021 Coastcare Victoria Community Grants program.

This year, there are two types of grants available:

Small grants of up to $5,000
Large grants from $5,000 up to $30,000 for larger projects
Three streams of grants are available in 2021 –

Stewardship and Education Grants
To build community capacity, support community adaptation and improve ecosystem resilience to climate change through actions which:
Conserve, rehabilitate, restore and protect Victoria’s coastal and marine ecosystems
Support community participation, engagement and education to enhance community knowledge and understanding of coastal and marine management.
Strengthening Our Volunteer Groups Grants
To build community capacity and support community adaptation to climate change through actions which:
Expand, diversify and increase inclusivity of volunteer bases (e.g. encourage participation of volunteers from different backgrounds, cultures, nationalities, abilities and youth)
“Reimagine volunteering” to attract more/ different volunteers e.g. flexible, casual, event-based or short-term volunteering
Improve volunteer recruitment and retention Succession planning for your group.
Supporting Traditional Owner Self-Determination Grants
To support Traditional Owner capacity and support community adaptation to climate change through actions which:
Recognise Traditional Owners longstanding and deep knowledge and connection to Country
Recognise and support Traditional Owners’ role in leading healing and ongoing care and use of Country
Support Traditional Owners in restoring marine and coastal cultural knowledge and practice
Support two-way capability and capacity building to improve the effectiveness of working relationships and build a shared understanding between Traditional Owners and other marine and coastal land managers.
Eligibility Criteria

The following community groups and organisations with a focus on marine and coastal environs are eligible for funding:

Coastcare Victoria groups
Aboriginal groups and organisations, land councils, trusts and co-operatives working on-country
Landcare groups
‘Friends of’ groups
Field naturalist groups
Coastal Committees of Management
Non-government community organisations
Community service organisations and clubs
Educational institutions including schools and universities (recommended to partner with local coastal volunteer group).
To be eligible for funding applicants must be:
an incorporated association registered through Consumer Affairs Victoria or be incorporated through an umbrella group such as Landcare Victoria Inc. or
registered as a not-for-profit organisation with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) or
coastal Committee of Management incorporated under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978
hold sufficient insurance to safeguard volunteers and participants involved in the funded activities, including public liability insurance of at least $10 million and personal accident insurance.
For more information, visit https://www.marineandcoasts.vic.gov.au/coastal-programs/Coastcare-Victoria/coastcare-victoria-community-grants