WORKING ON COUNTRY
(Expansion of Working on Country
In the Northern Territory)
Programme Guidelines
Round Three
Funding from 1 July 2014 – 30 June 2016
Closing date for Applications:
Friday, 11 April 2014 at 4.30pm CST
Contents
1. Introduction - Working on Country .................................................................................................. 1
Overview ............................................................................................................................................. 1
Programme objectives ........................................................................................................................ 1
How the programme contributes to Australian Government priorities ................................................ 3
Alignment with the Indigenous Protected Areas Programme ............................................................. 3
2. Investment strategy for 2014-2016 .................................................................................................. 4
The Jobs Creation Package – Expansion of Working on Country in the Northern Territory .............. 4
What process will be used to allocate funding? .................................................................................. 4
Applications are now being called for Round Three – 2014–2015 ..................................................... 4
3. Eligibility ............................................................................................................................................. 6
Role of the contract manager/host ...................................................................................................... 7
Other eligibility criteria ......................................................................................................................... 7
Eligible activities .................................................................................................................................. 8
Activities that will not be funded .......................................................................................................... 9
Do I need approvals or permits? ....................................................................................................... 10
4. Scope of funding ............................................................................................................................. 11
Limit of funding .................................................................................................................................. 11
What project expenses are eligible? ................................................................................................. 11
What project expenses will not be funded? ...................................................................................... 13
5. Assessment criteria ........................................................................................................................ 14
5.1 Organisational capability ............................................................................................................. 14
5.2 Indigenous support ..................................................................................................................... 14
5.3 Environmental priorities .............................................................................................................. 15
5.4 Management plan ....................................................................................................................... 15
5.5 Budget ........................................................................................................................................ 15
Conflict of Interest ............................................................................................................................. 15
6. Submitting your Application .......................................................................................................... 17
How do I get more information or assistance? .................................................................................. 18
Where to send your Application ........................................................................................................ 18
7. Assessment ..................................................................................................................................... 19
Assessment process ......................................................................................................................... 19
Letting you know ............................................................................................................................... 19
8. Funding Agreement ......................................................................................................................... 20
Overview ........................................................................................................................................... 20
Commencement date and payment of funding ................................................................................. 20
Reporting ........................................................................................................................................... 20
Final Report ....................................................................................................................................... 21
Monitoring and evaluation ................................................................................................................. 21
Performance review and programme evaluation .............................................................................. 21
Privacy/Personal Information ............................................................................................................ 21
Freedom of Information (FOI) Requests ........................................................................................... 22
Intellectual property ........................................................................................................................... 22
Insurance........................................................................................................................................... 22
ABN and GST.................................................................................................................................... 22
Work Health and Safety .................................................................................................................... 23
9. Disclaimer and further information ............................................................................................... 24
The Australian Government’s rights .................................................................................................. 24
Disclaimer.......................................................................................................................................... 24
Confidentiality and privacy ................................................................................................................ 24
Enquiries, feedback and complaints ................................................................................................. 25
1. Introduction - Working on Country
Overview
The Australian Government values Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s knowledge,
relationship to and aspirations for country, and the contribution that this makes to protecting
Australia’s natural and cultural heritage. It also recognises that environment and heritage
protection is integral to the social, economic, cultural and spiritual well-being of Indigenous
peoples.
Building on Indigenous knowledge of managing land and sea country, the Working on
Country programme provides funding for Indigenous people to undertake environmental
activities. This supports the land and sea country work that Indigenous people want to do
while also helping the Australian Government meet its responsibility to protect and conserve
Australia’s environment and heritage values. This responsibility includes matters of national
environmental significance, land and inland waters, coasts and oceans, and heritage.
These funding guidelines (Guidelines) are for the Expansion of Working on Country in the
Northern Territory investment from July 2014 to June 2016. The Guidelines outline the
programme’s objectives, funding eligibility and assessment criteria, and the process that will
be used to allocate programme funding.
Working on Country is an ongoing programme and operates in close partnership with the
Indigenous Protected Areas Programme. These guidelines provide for investment of
$4 million over two years (commencing 2014-2015) for Round Three of the Expansion of
Working on Country in the Northern Territory.
Programme objectives
The objectives of Working on Country are to:

support Indigenous aspirations in caring for land and sea country

provide opportunities for Indigenous people to deliver environmental services that
protect and manage Australia’s environmental and heritage values

provide training and career pathways for Indigenous people in land and sea
management in partnership with others

facilitate a partnership approach between Indigenous people and others to deliver
environmental outcomes.
In undertaking environmental work, we encourage projects that:

create paid employment and career opportunities for Indigenous people

provide training opportunities for Indigenous people in land and sea management

involve the participation of traditional owners, elders, women and young people

facilitate the active transfer of Indigenous ecological knowledge in accordance with
cultural protocols

attract co-funding and/or in-kind support, and/or

extend over several years.
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How the programme contributes to Australian Government priorities
Working on Country contributes to Australia’s international obligations under the Convention
on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
People, through supporting the continued practice and recognition of traditional ecological
knowledge and by empowering Indigenous people to be actively involved in the management
of their customary estates.
Indigenous employment and economic development, framed by the Australian
Government initiatives:

Closing the Gap, seeking to halve the gap in employment outcomes between
Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a decade.

The Indigenous Economic Development Framework and the Indigenous Economic
Development Strategy 2011-2018 which includes supporting economic participation
and independence through jobs and remote employment strategies.
The programme makes a direct contribution to these initiatives by providing employment,
economic benefits and training opportunities for Indigenous people and contributes to
achieving outcomes under Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Closing the Gap
building blocks, specifically for health, economic participation, and governance and
leadership.
Alignment with the Indigenous Protected Areas Programme
The Indigenous Protected Areas is an ongoing programme under the Australian
Government’s Indigenous Affairs portfolio. An Indigenous Protected Area is an area of
Indigenous-owned land or sea where traditional owners have entered into an agreement with
the Australian Government to promote biodiversity and cultural resource conservation.
Indigenous Protected Areas make a significant contribution to Australian biodiversity
conservation - making up approximately 36 per cent of Australia's National Reserve System.
The goals of this programme are to:

Support Indigenous land owners to develop, declare and manage Indigenous
Protected Areas on their lands as part of Australia's National Reserve System.

Support Indigenous interests to develop cooperative management arrangements with
Government agencies managing protected areas.

Support the integration of Indigenous ecological and cultural knowledge with
contemporary protected area management practices.
Each declared Indigenous Protected Area is actively managed by its Indigenous owners,
who protect their land's plants, animals and cultural sites. Currently, 37 declared Indigenous
Protected Areas across Australia also receive Working on Country funding to carry out land
and sea management activities.
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2. Investment strategy for 2014–2016
The Jobs Creation Package – Expansion of Working on Country in the Northern
Territory
On 14 November 2011 the Australian Government announced a jobs creation package to
increase employment and economic opportunity for Indigenous people in remote
communities in the Northern Territory as a component of the Government’s Stronger Futures
Policy November 2011.
Up to $4 million is available over two years (commencing 1 July 2014) for Round Three of
the Expansion of Working on Country in the Northern Territory.
These Guidelines are for Round Three of the Expansion of Working on Country in the
Northern Territory investment from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2016. The Guidelines
outline the programme’s objectives, funding eligibility and assessment criteria, and
the process that will be used to allocate programme funding.
The programme will continue to provide for a mix of full-time positions, part-time or casual
positions and targeted traineeship positions.
Funding for projects over the two year funding period will be considered. Where this is
approved, the funding recipient will be required to demonstrate that funds have been spent in
accordance with the Funding Agreement each year before funding for subsequent years is
released.
What process will be used to allocate funding?
Round One of the Expansion of Working on Country in the Northern Territory was delivered
in 2012-2013. Round Two of the Expansion of Working on Country in the Northern Territory
was delivered in 2013-2014.
Round Three – 2014-2015 of the Expansion of Working on Country in the Northern
Territory is open for applications from 03 March 2014 to 11 April 2014.
Applications are now being called for Round Three – 2014–2015
Applications for Round Three will be accepted from 03 March 2014 until 11 April 2014. You
are encouraged to contact the Department to discuss your application to ensure that you
provide us with the correct information for assessment.
Round Three: 2014-2015
Sixteen positions will be allocated from 1 July 2014
subject to application and assessment processes.
Applications will be accepted from
03 March 2014 to 11 April 2014
(refer to ‘Submitting your application’ for important details)
Funding is available from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2016 (two years).
The funding is targeted and will be open only to those organisations that are currently
operating in the Northern Territory.
4
To determine funding allocations for Working on Country, the Department will undertake the
following key steps:
1. Call for Applications.
2. Assessment Panel: An Assessment Panel will assess projects against the selection
criteria on pages 14 and 15. We may also ask the Indigenous Coordination Centres,
external reviewers and experts to comment on a particular project, and to identify any
duplication in funding of activities. An applicant’s grant history, including compliance with
acquittal requirements for funding provided previously by the Australian Government, will
be taken into consideration in the assessment process. Application materials provided to
external reviewers will be treated confidentially and will not be released outside the
Australian Government unless the Department is authorised by law to do so.
3. Recommendations to Minister: Recommendations for funding will be made to the
Minister for Indigenous Affairs. The Minister will make the final decision on funding
approvals. In addition to funding approvals made through Round Three of the Expansion
of Working on Country, the Minister may decide to make targeted one-off or ad hoc
grants to ensure alignment with Government priorities for the programme.
4. Advice: All Working on Country project proponents will be advised of the outcomes of
the assessment in writing.
Further information on the assessment process can be found on page 19.
Letting you know
Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application in writing. Details of approved
projects are also posted on our website once applicants have been informed.
Appeals against unsuccessful submissions will not be accepted.
Applicants can contact the Department on (08) 8928 6198 for further information about their
assessment as required.
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3. Eligibility
The Australian Government supports environmental outcomes by contracting Indigenous
people to undertake environmental activities within places that have demonstrated important
natural and cultural values. To be eligible for Expansion of Working on Country in the
Northern Territory funding, projects must meet the following conditions:
 All proposed works to be undertaken within the Northern Territory

This funding is only available to an Indigenous group or organisation in the Northern
Territory wanting to do work on country within the Northern Territory.

The ranger positions must be filled by Indigenous people.

Indigenous ranger groups already providing services to the Australian Government
and operating under a Working on Country contract may apply for additional positions
to strengthen project outcomes through the application process.

Groups not currently in receipt of Working on Country funding may also apply.

New and/or emerging ranger groups are encouraged to contact the Department to
discuss any assistance required to develop the group to assist it to become ‘ready’ to
apply for funding.
 Proponent and contract manager
Funding proponents must be:

an Indigenous group or organisation wanting to do environmental and cultural
heritage work on country
and one of the following:

an Indigenous organisation that is a legal entity capable of managing the contract, or

a not-for-profit legal entity located in Australia that can act as a contract manager or
host for an Indigenous group or organisation, or

a state, territory or local government authority or a regional natural resource
management body that can enter a legally binding contract and can act as a contract
manager or host with the support of Indigenous people.
Indigenous groups or organisations, such as ranger groups, that are not a legal entity will
need to arrange for a legal entity (for example, your local government body, or incorporated
community group or not-for-profit organisation) to administer the contract and funding. Where
a group or organisation other than the Indigenous group wants to undertake the project, the
Department requires that there is written support from the relevant Indigenous community
group or Traditional Owner/s to jointly undertake the project.
6
Role of the contract manager/host
The organisation acting as the contract manager will have contractual and administrative
responsibilities and be a signatory to the contract with the Australian Government. It will
enter into the Funding Agreement in its own right (not as the agent for the applicant), will be
legally responsible for the project under the terms of the Funding Agreement and will receive
the project funding.
The organisation acting as the contract manager must be an incorporated organisation or a
state, territory or local government authority or a regional natural resource management body
that can enter a legally binding contract. The contract manager will be responsible for
contracting and managing the people working on the project, including entering into
employment agreements with staff, and deciding on the employment conditions and levels of
remuneration. The contract manager will also be responsible for keeping accounting records,
submitting the final report and monitoring the activities and results of the projects.
Other eligibility criteria
Prior to entering into a funding agreement:

applicants must have or be able to obtain before agreed commencement, all
necessary planning, regulatory or other approvals; and

applicants must have no outstanding acquittals from previous Australian Government
funding for environment, natural resource management, heritage, culture and arts
activities.
Applicants will need to submit an application to the Department on the template provided
addressing the selection criteria, indicating the number of positions sought, and providing
information about the organisational structure in place to support these positions. The
Department will need evidence that the positions requested will operate in an existing
organisational structure that provides adequate co-ordination, operational and
administrative support for them to function effectively and meet work plan outcomes.
 Indigenous support
Project design and delivery should respect Indigenous decision-making, governance
arrangements and land management accountabilities. The programme encourages projects
that are developed and delivered by Traditional Owners and custodians, and/or other
Indigenous people with interests and associations with the project area. Proponents are
required to demonstrate that a project has the support of:
 Native Title holders, or
 the Indigenous organisation or groups who have legal responsibility as a key
representative body for managing the land, and/or
 the Traditional Owner/s who speak for the country where the work will occur, and/or
 other Indigenous people, groups or organisations that have rights and obligations to
the country.
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 Employment
The project must provide employment for Indigenous people. All on-ground workers and
cultural advisors must be Indigenous people. Support positions (for example ranger
coordinator, programme coordinator, administration, technical support and mentor positions)
are preferably to be filled by Indigenous people, but may be filled by non-Indigenous people
in agreement with the Department.
 Environmental management plan
The area where the project will be carried out must have a current environmental
management plan; this plan must be current and less than five years old to be eligible for
assessment. This plan should be specific to the area where the work will occur, with
enough detail to provide a framework for the activities to be undertaken. Evidence of plans
under development may be considered by the assessment panel.
Applicants that do not have a current environmental plan can contact the Department to
discuss possible avenues of support.
 Tenure and access
Projects can be undertaken on a variety of tenures. Eligible tenures include:

Indigenous-held land, including land which has been declared as an Indigenous
Protected Area (IPA) or that is the subject of an IPA consultation process.

Private land, where:
 the activities proposed are not legislated or regulatory requirements that are the
primary responsibility of the landholder; for example, feral animal or weed control
 an Indigenous individual, group or organisation has a written access agreement
with the landholder
 there is demonstrated Indigenous support for the project
 the landholder contributes toward the total cost of the project in cash and/or
in-kind contributions in the form of use of equipment, machinery and materials or
donated expertise (this contribution should be confirmed in writing).

Country that is owned and/or managed by the Australian, state, territory or local
government, through a partnership arrangement. Proponents are required to
demonstrate support from relevant government authorities and provide written
access agreements, and all access and management issues must be resolved
before seeking funding.
Projects that will take place over a range of tenures are required to demonstrate strong and
progressive partnerships or agreements with relevant land/sea management agencies or
private land owners. Where projects exist within state or territory jurisdictions, we will require
clear delineation between Australian and state/territory/local government responsibilities and
funding arrangements. We will also seek a clear commitment to co-investment in the project,
including for operational material, training and skills development.
Please note that if you do not have tenure over the land/sea where you want to do the work,
you will need to demonstrate written owner/management agency support for your project.
 Environmental and cultural activities
Eligible activities
Working on Country will fund projects that make a strong contribution to the protection,
conservation and management of environmental and cultural values and threats of national,
state or regional significance. This includes funding for activities to be conducted on country
8
within the Northern Territory that assist in managing matters of national environmental
significance defined under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act
1999 (the EPBC Act).
For more information on the EPBC Act, go to:
http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/protect/index.html
Funded activities should relate to one of three broad areas:
1. Keeping country healthy: undertaking work to identify, conserve, maintain,
manage and repair the land. Key focus areas are:
- threatened species, ecological communities and their habitats
- fire, weeds, feral animals and other pests or threats including biosecurity
issues of national concern
- fire management
- wetlands of national and international significance, including inland rivers
- migratory species, including migratory waterbirds.
2. Looking after sea country: undertaking work to identify, conserve, maintain and
manage sea country. Key focus areas are:
- threatened species and their habitats
- threats to marine habitats and species, including biosecurity issues of national
concern.
3. Protecting heritage: undertaking work to identify, protect, conserve and
celebrate Australia’s Indigenous heritage. Key focus areas are:
- places on the World and/or National Heritage List
- Indigenous heritage values and places of importance to Indigenous
communities that have been identified as management priorities.
We recognise that Indigenous people may have cultural responsibilities to look after country
that requires them to undertake certain cultural activities as part of any project that is
undertaken. We also support the transfer of Indigenous ecological knowledge, and activities
that engage young people, Traditional Owners and the community in land and sea country
management. These activities can be supported as a component of funded projects.
Activities that will not be funded
Working on Country will not fund environmental activities on private or leasehold land which
are the primary responsibility of the private landholder, or where the activities are more
appropriately funded by others.
The programme will also not fund environmental activities aimed at protecting and managing
natural and cultural values on land where these values may be impacted on by the dominant
land use (e.g. pastoral property). Consideration will be given to such activities on a case-bycase basis only where it can be demonstrated that there is a long-term commitment to
conservation management, and a strategy and mechanisms in place to achieve this.
The following specific activities will not be funded:
Commercial benefits
Working on Country will not directly subsidise positions engaged in commercial activities and
we will not fund work where the primary purpose is commercial gain.
Commercial activities are typically those that have been won by a ranger group through a
competitive process, usually a tender. The ranger group is contracted to provide a service
9
that is entirely commercial in nature, with no in-kind contributions being offered by the entity
requesting the services. Generally the work is the responsibility of another party who is
purchasing the services of the ranger group. Examples of commercial land and sea
management activities may include, but not be limited to:

work that is primarily un-related to natural and cultural resource management (e.g.
maintenance of infrastructure such as telecommunication towers)

contracting campground management, walking track or infrastructure maintenance

landscape rehabilitation contracts with mining companies

environmental health projects such as mowing lawns and dust suppression around
communities

sacred site clearances or cultural heritage survey for environmental impact work

tourism activities and development

commercial weed management contracts, for example, pastoral companies and Shire
Councils

commercial use of wildlife (e.g. collection of crocodile eggs, sugarbag production).
We do, however, encourage projects which develop skills and expertise which could lead to
commercial or contract opportunities outside of Working on Country, such as tourism,
sustainable aquaculture or food production using traditional knowledge.
Where commercial opportunities arise, we will work with funding recipients to develop
arrangements that accommodate commercial activities while achieving Working on Country
project activities.
Fencing
The programme will not fund projects involving:

standard boundary fencing that is a landholder’s normal responsibility, or

fencing for the purpose of paddock subdivision or cell grazing, or yards for stock
management unless this is specifically related to feral animal control.
Funds for fencing for the protection of particular environmental or cultural values will be
considered.
Retrospective funding
Funding is not available to back-pay wages or other associated costs.
Do I need approvals or permits?
Proponents are responsible for investigating whether any approvals or permits are needed
for the project. You might need permission or approval from your local council, land council
or other representative body, a state or territory land management or heritage agency, or an
Australian Government department.
You must also make sure that your project complies with state or territory and Australian
Government native title, cultural heritage, natural heritage or related legislation. You should
think about whether you need an approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) for your project.
Under the EPBC Act, if you propose to take an action that may have a significant impact on a
matter of National Environmental Significance (NES), you must submit a proposal to the
Department of the Environment which will decide if approval is required. For more
information, visit http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/environment-protection/
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4. Scope of funding
Limit of funding
There is no limit to the number of positions or dollar value per position that individual projects
can request in Round Three, providing that the request does not exceed the total number of
positions available in Round Three (16) or the maximum programme funds available for this
round ($2 million in 2014–15). Funding will be allocated based on the extent to which an
organisation/s meet the selection criteria and demonstrates value for money.
What project expenses are eligible?
Funding is available for wages and other items that are required for the effective functioning
and support of ranger groups, as follows:

Staff labour – wages for Indigenous workers and on-costs.
You must employ a core group of on-ground workers on a full or part-time basis. Part-time
positions must be no less than three days a week, 0.6 Full Time Equivalents (FTE).
Salary on-costs will vary from one organisation to another, and will generally include
superannuation, leave and workers compensation. We will not pay wages towards top up
payments for the Remote Jobs and Communities Programme (RJCP).
Organisations should ensure that minimum wages and employment conditions are met, in
accordance with relevant Awards. Further information on this can be found at Fair Work
Australia: http://www.fwc.gov.au

Coordinators and specialist positions – the cost of a ranger coordinator to manage the
work. If a suitably experienced Indigenous person is not available, a non-Indigenous
person may fill this position.
Consideration will also be given to the employment of other specialist positions on a projectby-project basis such as: programme or project manager, mentor and GIS specialist.

Training – relevant to the work to be undertaken by the Indigenous workers and
coordinators.
We encourage all Indigenous land/sea rangers who have the necessary literacy and
numeracy skills to aim to achieve at least a Certificate III level qualification. The training can
be delivered in a flexible way to meet your staff’s specific training needs.

Technical advice or support – where this is demonstrated as being essential to the
success of the project. If you think that the cost of this support will be more than $10,000
GST exclusive per year, we may require you to seek three written quotes before the
funding for this is approved. We will require a description of the activities that these
people will undertake.

Consultation and meetings - costs related to consultation and meetings to support the
project.

Materials – purchase of materials required to undertake the activity, for example,
chemicals and uniforms.

Equipment – purchase or lease of small items of equipment under $10,000 GST
exclusive; for example traps, safety equipment, computers, GPS units and tools.
It is preferred that larger plant and equipment is hired or leased. Where this is not
practical, purchase of equipment over $10,000 GST exclusive will be considered on a
case-by-case basis on receipt of a business case, where it can be demonstrated that
11
failure to fund these items would have a significant and/or detrimental impact on project
delivery, and subject to funding availability. Purchase can only be undertaken with prior
written approval of the Department.

Transport costs such as vehicles/vessels for project use only - leasing is the
preferred option for vehicles. A formal written request must be made to the Department
for vehicle purchase. Factors that will be taken into account in considering a request
include, but are not limited to, funding availability; risk associated with vehicle purchase,
whether the requested vehicle is appropriate for the proposed activity, demonstrated
evidence that a leasing arrangement is not feasible, and cost effectiveness.
A formal written request must be made to the Department for vessel purchase. Factors that
will be taken into account in considering a request include, but are not limited to, funding
availability, risk associated with vessel purchase, operation and maintenance, and the ability
of organisations to meet state and territory-specific maritime use and safety requirements.
Prior written approval must be obtained prior to any vehicle or vessel purchase.
Vehicles/vessels and their use must comply with legislative requirements including
appropriate operator licences.

Domestic travel - reasonable travel costs are available to support ranger field work,
ranger exchanges and attendance at key conferences, workshops and training where this
is complementary to the outcomes of the project.

Community events – related to a project and where this will clearly contribute to
community participation and knowledge transfer of project outcomes.

Audit and monitoring – reasonable costs related to the annual financial audit for the
project. Funding may be available for the preparation of a monitoring, evaluation and
review plan for your project.

Administration – up to 15 per cent of the total project cost for Indigenous organisations
may be provided for administrative costs. The level of administrative support for other
organisations, including state agencies, will be considered on a case by case basis but
will not exceed 15 per cent of the total project cost. This will cover costs associated with
administering the contract, which would generally include items such as office/workshop
rent or leasing, insurance, office supplies, phone, electricity and mobile phone usage. It
may also include other costs such as a book keeper or administrative officer.
Costs associated with the following activities will be considered on receipt of a supporting
business case where it can be demonstrated that failure to fund these items would have a
significant and/or detrimental impact on project delivery, and with prior written approval of the
Department:

international travel

minor construction and infrastructure works, such as the maintenance of access roads
and minor amenities

accommodation support including rental payments.
Factors that may be taken into account in assessing the business case include, but are not
limited to:

funding availability

the relative isolation/remoteness of the community

the absence of non-commercial housing options in the community
12

significant benefits to the project that may result from international
exchanges/alignment with an international land and sea managers’ network.
What project expenses will not be funded?
Funding is not available for:

purchase or transfer costs of land or buildings, including housing and land rates

major construction and infrastructure works

expenses that are the responsibility of other organisations such as local, state and
territory government agencies.
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5. Assessment criteria
Your application will be assessed by an Assessment Panel on whether you meet the
eligibility criteria detailed on pages 7-10 of these Guidelines and how well you address each
of the following selection criteria set out in the Application Form. The criteria will be given
equal weighting through the assessment process.
In completing your application you must ensure that you provide sufficient detail to address
the selection criteria so that the Assessment Panel has sufficient information to assess your
proposal.
5.1
Organisational capability
There are adequate governance arrangements in place to deliver the contract, including:

the organisation managing the contract must be effectively governed and have the
capacity, skills and experience to manage a contract

the organisation or group undertaking the work has the capacity to undertake the
environmental activities specified in the environmental work plan

the organisation or group has adequate capacity to manage and support the
requested positions to ensure effective outcomes are achieved

the organisation or group managing the contract has the capacity to meet Workplace
Health and Safety (WH&S) requirements and maintain a safe working and community
environment (for example, the organisation has WH&S policies relevant to land
and/or sea activities, adequate equipment and secure storage facilities), and

the organisation provides support for training and professional development.
In assessing your application the Department may seek advice from programme officers,
Indigenous Coordination Centres and other external reviewers and experts regarding an
applicant’s grant management history, including compliance with reporting and acquittal
requirements for funding provided previously by the Australian Government.
We will also consider whether the applicant organisation is financially sound, has a strong
and functioning Board (or appropriate oversight body), a robust governance framework, a
sound track record in managing Australian Government funding and delivering project
outcomes, appropriate infrastructure to deliver the project and current and applied policies
and procedures to ensure the safety and development of employees relevant to the project.
Applicants should provide details of current Board membership and frequency of meetings,
governance frameworks within the organisation, and details and/or evidence of previous
management of Australian Government or other relevant funding managed by the
organisation. You can provide relevant and concise attachments to the application form to
provide this information.
In addition we will also assess whether the skills, experience and qualifications of key project
personnel are suitable and are sufficient for the successful delivery of the project. Details of
skills and experience of key people directly involved in the project must be provided.
5.2
Indigenous support
Your application must demonstrate that the project has the support of Traditional Owners
and where appropriate other Indigenous people associated with the place or country upon
which the activities will be undertaken.
Letters of support from traditional owners or custodians must be provided with your
application.
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5.3
Environmental priorities
The land or sea country to be managed is of environmental significance and the activities to
be undertaken make a strong contribution to the protection, conservation and management
of environmental and cultural values and threats of national, state or regional significance,
including matters of National Environmental Significance defined under the Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
In assessing your application the Department will consider whether your project delivers on
at least one of the three broad areas detailed on page 9 of these Guidelines: keeping
country healthy; looking after sea country and protecting heritage. It is expected that all
applications will also focus on building community skills, knowledge and engagement, the
transfer of ecological knowledge and activities that engage young people in the project.
Where projects take place over a range of tenures we will assess whether the project
demonstrates strong and progressive partnerships or agreements with relevant land/sea
management partners and if so that there are clear outcomes and responsibilities for the
delivery of the project. We will also assess whether environmental priorities are clearly
communicated in the management plan for the project (see below).
5.4
Management plan
There is a current environmental management plan specific to the land or sea country
where project activities are occurring to guide the delivery of on-ground tasks. An
environmental management plan is considered current if it is less than five years old; plans
that are undergoing review and updating will be considered by the assessment panel. The
environmental management plan must:



clearly identify environmental priorities within the area under management
demonstrate the integration of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge
demonstrate strong regional partnerships in land and sea management.
Your proposal will be assessed on how well you have planned the project, whether the
management plan is current and clearly reflects environmental priorities for the project area
and whether it represents good value for money.
5.5
Budget
A project budget for the life of the funding is required as evidence that the requested
positions are adequately supported in terms of operational and administrative support. The
project budget should be in line with the size and nature of your project and must
demonstrate value for money. Please use the template provided. If assistance is required
please contact the Department. All amounts should be GST exclusive and rounded up to the
nearest $10.
Where applicants are already funded under the Working on Country programme the
Assessment Panel may consider current contract arrangements and outcomes as part of the
assessment process.
Conflict of Interest
You are required to notify us immediately if a conflict of interest arises.
Examples of conflict of interest may include if your organisation or any of its personnel:

has a relationship (whether professional, commercial or personal) with a party who is
a decision maker in regard to funding recommendations and able to influence the
application assessment process, such as an Assessment Panel member;
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
has a relationship with, or interest in, an organisation, which is likely to interfere with
or restrict the applicant in carrying out the proposed activities fairly and
independently; or

has a relationship with, or interest in, an organisation from which they will receive
personal gain as a result of the granting of funding under Australian Government
initiatives.
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6. Submitting your Application
This call for applications is for Round Three – 2014–2016.
The steps are:

You are encouraged to contact the Working on Country team on (08) 8928 6198 to
talk to us about your proposal to check that it is eligible. We can assist you to access
the correct templates to use for your application, explain these Guidelines to you, and
assist you to include sufficient information in your application to be assessed by the
Department’s Assessment Panel.

You will have six weeks to prepare your proposal from the time we call for
applications. You must submit your application by the due date to be considered for
position funding.

We will write to all applicants and acknowledge receipt of their application.

Staff will check your application and seek clarification where required. We will provide
advice to the Department’s Assessment Panel on each application.

Applications are assessed by the Department’s Assessment Panel, and
recommendations made to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs.

The Minister approves projects for funding.

All applicants will be advised of the outcomes of the assessment of their application in
writing.
Your application is due on Friday, 11 April 2014.
Your completed application form must be submitted on the correct template
and received by 4.30pm (CST).
Late applications will not be accepted.
If you experience difficulty in submitting your completed application by the due date, please
contact the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, contact details at page 18.
Please note it is a breach of the Criminal Code Act 1995 to intentionally provide false or
misleading information. The Department will investigate any attempted fraud.
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How do I get more information or assistance?
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has other information that might assist
you in undertaking your project, and we are happy to discuss this with you. You can:
 talk with your programme officer
 send us an email: wocnt@environment.gov.au
 call us on (08) 8928 6198
Where to send your Application
Your completed application may be submitted by post:
Post to:
Expansion of Working on Country in the Northern Territory
Environment Programmes
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
GPO Box 9932
DARWIN NT 0801
Your completed application may be submitted by email:
Email:
wocnt@environment.gov.au
If you have any queries about submitting your application you may contact the Department of
the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Telephone:
(08) 8928 6198
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7. Assessment
Assessment process
Projects will be assessed by an Assessment Panel of up to four members, three of which will
be drawn from senior management within the Department who have direct and relevant
experience and expertise with Indigenous land and sea management programmes, and an
external and independent Indigenous member with relevant knowledge and experience.
Projects will be evaluated according to the extent to which they meet the assessment criteria.
Projects that best demonstrate value for money, consistency with the Working on Country
programme objectives and capacity to undertake the project will have a greater likelihood of
being funded.
All assessors will be required to:

sign, and keep up to date, conflict of interest declarations, which will ensure the
appropriate identification and management of any conflicts of interest

comply with the Australian Public Service Code of Conduct.
Consistent with the Department’s Chief Executive Instructions issued under section 52 of the
Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (FMA Act) and Financial Management
and Accountability Regulation (FMA Regulation) 6, members of the Assessment Panel must
ensure that that they disclose any form of current or prospective personal interest that might
create a conflict of interest. This can include, but is not limited to; family ties to staff or
directors in an organisation, current or previous employment with an organisation or financial
interests in the organisation. Where this situation arises, the panel member will be excluded
from any consideration of the organisation’s application for Working on Country funding.
The processes adopted for receiving and managing proponent information will ensure the
security and confidentiality of intellectual property and propriety information.
The Assessment Panel will make its recommendations for funding to the Minister for
Indigenous Affairs. The final decision on successful projects, including funding amounts,
rests with the Minister.
The Department may contact project proponents during the assessment process to seek
clarification on aspects of their project. The Department reserves the right to accept or
disregard clarification information provided by proponents.
The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that the process for providing funding
under the Working on Country programme is transparent and in accordance with published
programme guidelines. Guidelines may be varied from time-to-time by the Australian
Government as the needs of the programme dictate.
Letting you know
Applicants will be informed of the outcome of the assessment process in writing. Details of
approved projects are also posted on our website once project proponents have been
informed – http://www.dpmc.gov.au/indigenous_affairs/grants/index.cfm#38
Appeals against unsuccessful projects will not be accepted. Please refer to page 25 for
further information on our complaints procedure.
Applicants can contact the Department on (08) 8928 6198 or email
wocnt@environment.gov.au for further information about their assessment as required.
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8. Funding Agreement
Overview
Successful applicants must enter into a Funding Agreement with the Australian Government
if they wish to receive the funds. The Agreement must be signed by the person who is
authorised to sign for, and on behalf of, the organisation that will manage the project and
administer the funds (the contract manager). This is a contract that sets out the conditions of
funding, including: the activities that will be undertaken for the project; your responsibility to
keep proper accounting records; and your monitoring and reporting obligations. This Funding
Agreement applies uniformly to all successful applicants. Special conditions that vary from
project to project will be outlined in a project schedule.
Funding Agreements must be signed within twenty business days of a letter of offer from the
Department to the successful applicant.
Commencement date and payment of funding
Your project commencement date is the date that the Funding Agreement signed by you is
counter-signed by the Australian Government. You will receive a return copy of the signed
and dated Funding Agreement.
Funding will be provided at the times and in the manner specified in the Funding Agreement
when you have:


signed and returned the Funding Agreement

when we have counter-signed the Funding Agreement, and
met any conditions set out in the Funding Agreement that are required to be met before
the commencement of your project
where payments are linked to the achievement of specific milestones, payments will only be
made after the Department is satisfied that those milestones and associated obligations of
funding have been met.
Reporting
You will be required to provide a half-yearly performance report and a yearly performance
report. This will address progress of the project against:

the agreed outputs, and

the approved budget for the financial year.
You will also be required to submit half-yearly wage reports.
Payments of funds will be linked to these reports. Your end-of-year financial report and
acquittal will need to be provided by a qualified accountant.
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Final Report
You will be required to provide a Final Report at the end of the project or at the termination of
the Funding Agreement. This has two parts:
1.
a report on the project’s outcomes, including your performance against the activity
performance indicators and outputs, an evaluation of the activity against the
performance indicators and outputs and the results of any evaluation of the activity (this
is due thirty business days after completion of the project), and
2.
an audited financial statement of income and expenditure from the Working on Country
funding, your contributions (if any) and other contributions (if any) (this is normally
required within sixty business days of completing the project activities).
The Funding Agreement has more detail about this. You may be asked to provide specific
data, photographic or video evidence as part of your reporting requirements, in a manner
agreed and specified in the Funding Agreement.
Monitoring and evaluation
You will need to collect or develop baseline data and information at the start of your project,
to provide a reference point for monitoring changes or progress. You should keep written
records of your activities and monitor the results. We encourage you to keep other records,
such as videos and photos, to record your project. This information will help you to evaluate
and report on the success of your project.
All projects funded will be subject to financial and performance monitoring and evaluation to
ensure that they are meeting specified milestones and performance indicators as detailed in
the Funding Agreement.
Staff from the Department will contact you to check how a project is progressing, or to
arrange a visit to the project site. Staff from other departments, for example the regional
Indigenous Coordination Centre office may also have a role in site visits and project updates.
Proponents may also be required to participate in a broader evaluation of Working on
Country.
Performance review and programme evaluation
The Department regularly monitors the performance of projects. A formal assessment and
review of all Working on Country projects will be conducted at least once every four years.
A formal evaluation of the programme will be conducted by or on behalf of the Department at
least every four years.
Privacy/Personal Information
The Department is subject to the Privacy Act 1988 which requires that we comply with
the Information Privacy Principles (IPPs) set out in that Act. The IPPs set out how
Australian Government agencies should collect, use, store and disclose personal
information and how individuals can access records containing their personal
information.
The Department’s personal information handling practices are detailed in the annual
Personal Information Digest. This sets out the kind of personal information collected or
held by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C), what it is used for, to
whom it is disclosed and how access to the information can be arranged.
General enquiries about the Department’s compliance with the IPPs can be made to the
Department’s Privacy Contact Officer who can be contacted on (02) 6271 5702 or by
writing to:
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Privacy Contact Officer
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
PO Box 6500
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Any complaints about the Department’s personal information handling practices can be
made to the Privacy Contact Officer or to the Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner.
Freedom of Information (FOI) Requests
All information submitted to the Australian Government is subject to the requirements of the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 and the Privacy Act 1988.
FOI requests should be sent to:
The FOI Contact Officer
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
PO Box 6500
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Requests may also be lodged via email to foi@pmc.gov.au.
There is no fee for making a request but the Freedom of Information Act 1982 provides
that charges may be imposed for processing requests.
General enquiries regarding FOI: (02) 6271 5849
All information published or reproduced in any way as part of your project is subject to the
Copyright Act 1968 and also the Privacy Act 1988. More information about this is set out in
the Funding Agreement.
Intellectual property
We acknowledge and respect the intellectual property rights of Indigenous people.
Ownership of the intellectual property rights in material provided by Indigenous people for
use in projects remains the property of the named individual. The Department will negotiate
the use of any existing material with the owner of the intellectual property prior to using this
material.
The Funding Agreement will set out details about the ownership and use of intellectual
property and confidential information, and this will be negotiated by both parties.
Insurance
Adequate insurance cover must be obtained for any event/activities funded through Working
on Country. You must hold workers compensation insurance for staff employed to undertake
project activities. You must also hold public liability insurance for your project of at least
$10 million.
ABN and GST
You must provide an Australian Business Number (ABN). This must match the legal entity
that is the applicant, and if successful, would receive the funding.
If you are unsure of the GST status of your organisation please consult the Australian
Taxation Office website at www.ato.gov.au or phone the Business Tax Enquiries line on
132 866.
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Work Health and Safety
The contract manager is responsible for the health and safety of its workers. It must comply
with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and relevant state or territory legislation. The
Department encourages contract managers to undertake:

hazard identification – assessing anything that has the potential to cause injury or
illness

risk assessment – assessing the likelihood of injury, illness or damage to people or
property arising from exposure to the hazard

job safety analysis – identifying potential hazards, associated with a job, assessing
their risk and recording how to eliminate, or minimise the risk to worker safety
(controls)

standard operating procedures

incident reporting and management procedures

appropriate training for the use of equipment and materials.
Please ask us if you’d like more information about this.
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9. Disclaimer and further information
The Australian Government’s rights
The Australian Government reserves the right to amend these Guidelines in its absolute
discretion and will, where possible, provide reasonable notice of these amendments. The
Australian Government also reserves the right to vary, suspend or terminate the assessment
process at any time and in its absolute discretion.
Disclaimer
The Australian Government, including the Department and its officers, employees, agents
and advisors:

are not, and will not be, responsible or liable for the accuracy or completeness of any
information in or provided in connection with these Guidelines

make no express or implied representation or warranty that any statement as to future
matters will prove correct

disclaim any and all liability arising from any information provided to an applicant,
including errors in, or omissions contained in that information

except in so far as liability under any statute cannot be excluded, accept no
responsibility arising in any way from errors or omissions contained in these
Guidelines

accept no liability for any loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of that
person, or any other person, placing reliance on the contents of these Guidelines or
any other information provided by the Australian Government in respect of the
Programme.
Confidentiality and privacy
Applicants must identify any information contained within their application which they
consider should be treated as confidential and provide reasons for the request. The
Department will only consider a request for confidentiality where:

the information to be protected is identified in specific rather than global terms

the information is by its nature confidential

disclosure would cause detriment to the parties concerned.
The Department is subject to the legislative and administrative accountability and
transparency requirements of the Australian Government, including disclosures to the
Parliament and its Committees. Notwithstanding any obligations of confidentiality, the
Department may disclose, or allow at any time the disclosure of, any information contained in
or relating to any application:

to their advisers, employees or internal management for purposes related to the
application and assessment processes, including to evaluate or otherwise assess
applications and manage any resultant funding agreement

to the responsible Minister

in response to a request by a House or a Committee of the Parliament of the
Commonwealth of Australia
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
within the Department, or with another agency, where this serves the Australian
Government’s legitimate interests

where the information is authorised or required by law to be disclosed, noting that
information submitted to the Australian Government is subject to the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (Cth) and its requirements

where the information is already in the public domain otherwise than due to a breach
of any relevant confidentiality obligation by the Australian Government.
In submitting an application, applicants consent to the Department using the information
contained in their application for the above mentioned purposes, for administering the
Programme and any other incidental or related purpose. The Department will store and use
the personal information collected by it in compliance with its obligations under the Privacy
Act 1988 (Cth).
Applicants should be aware that if they are successful, Commonwealth policy requires the
Department to publish information on their websites about the applicant, including but not
limited to:

the name of the legal entity receiving the funding

the title and purpose of the project

the amount of funding received

the terms of the funding

the funding location.
By submitting an application for funding under Working on Country, the applicant consents to
publication of the above information by the Department if they are awarded funding.
Applicants may access or correct personal information by either emailing the Department at
wocnt@environment.gov.au or sending a letter to the Department’s postal address (see
page 17).
Enquiries, feedback and complaints
All enquiries and complaints will be handled consistent with the Department’s Service
Charter 2011-14, available from the Department’s website.
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