Stream 2: Grants for community-based organisations

Stream 2 provides funding for local or regional community groups interested in invasive species management. The Partnerships Against Pests program aims to build community skills and capacity to manage established invasive pests and weeds. The grants help groups to run community-led projects that align with the program's goals.

Groups can apply for funding between $10,000 and $50,000 (ex-GST) and complete their projects over 12 or 24 months.

Groups may apply for funding for one project per grants round. Groups that have applied previously may submit new or revised applications. Groups that have not met all conditions of previous grant agreements cannot apply for more funding until they fulfill those requirements.

Eligible groups

Stream 2 of the grants program supports groups to effectively manage established weeds and pest animals in their community. The grants are open to organisations working at the regional or local level. This includes but is not limited to:

• not-for-profit organisations.
• environmental, agricultural, and natural resource management volunteer organisations.
• community service organisations.
• Landcare and Coastcare groups and networks.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible, applicants must be one of the following:

• An incorporated association registered through Consumer Affairs Victoria.
• A registered company with the Australian Securities Investment Commission (ASIC)
• An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006

Applicants must also hold sufficient insurance to safeguard volunteers and participants involved in the funded activities, including public liability insurance of at least $20 million and personal accident insurance.

Auspicing

Groups and networks that do not meet the above requirements may still be eligible for funding if they operate under the auspices of a sponsor organisation that does meet the requirements.

Please see the grant proposal guidelines for more information.

Stream 2 objectives and outcomes

Objectives

1. Capacity building – Educational events and resources to boost community awareness and technical knowledge of best practice management options.
2. Capability building – Training, educational and/or mentoring opportunities for community leaders and advocates to boost their knowledge and skills in areas such as leadership and project management.
3. Strategic planning – Strategic and innovative plans are developed for self-sustaining and accountable action beyond the tenure of the project.
4. Raising awareness – Communication tools and products are developed to boost awareness and technical knowledge of best practice management options.
5. Partnerships and collaboration – Communities work collaboratively to sustain long term established invasive species management benefits.
6. Partnerships and collaboration – Initiatives are designed and delivered that actively connect agencies and community members to act on established invasive species issues.
7. Partnerships and collaboration – Community-based organisations build partnerships and work collaboratively with Traditional Owner Corporations (TOCs) and Aboriginal Victorians. Initiatives deliver established invasive species management projects that align with Whole-of-Country plans, respect Traditional Owner expertise, and recognise and implement decisions that Traditional Owners make over traditional lands and resources.

Outcomes

• Improve community capacity, awareness and technical understanding of established invasive species best practice management.
• Communities, their leaders and advocates create cohesive, sustainable and diverse groups or place-based organisations with skills in leadership, governance, strategic thinking, risk management, project management, communications and engagement, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Community-based organisations have strategic plans in place that describe the groups goals, objectives and strategic actions for investment.
• Innovative solutions for established invasive species management are explored and implemented.
• Existing networks and collaborative partnerships are expanded or strengthened and/or new networks and collaborative partnerships are developed.
• Increase the number of ongoing, place-based established invasive species projects and solutions through new or expanded community engagement and collaboration initiatives.
• Increase the number of community groups working in partnership with Traditional Owners and incorporating strategies from Whole-of-Country plans into project planning and delivery to ensure projects are implemented in a culturally appropriate way.

Round 4

Applications for Round 4 Stream 2 grants closed on 4 July 2025. The Round 4 Stream 2 grant proposal guidelines provide further information about activity eligibility, assessment criteria and how to apply.

• Round 4 grant proposal guidelines – Stream 2: Regional and local community-based organisations [PDF File - 802.0 KB]
• Round 4 grant proposal guidelines – Stream 2: Regional and local community-based organisations– accessible [MS Word Document - 5.6 MB]

Webinar

The Partnerships Against Pests grants team hosted a webinar on 23 May 2025 to introduce Round 4 and engage with prospective applicants.

Highlights of the webinar

• Background of the Partnerships Against Pests program
• Overview of Stream 2 projects
• Changes made for Round 4
• Grant application and submission processes
• Q&A session

Webinar materials

• Webinar recording
• Webinar slides [MS PowerPoint Document - 19.4 MB]
• Webinar transcript [MS Word Document - 120.5 KB]

Contacts

We recommend that all applicants discuss their project proposal with Agriculture Victoria. Please contact your regional engagement officer to discuss your application before submitting it.

For all general enquiries, please contact the project team by email to partnershipsagainstpests@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

If you have questions or issues relating to the Grants Online Portal, please contact grantsinfo@deeca.vic.gov.au.

Reporting

Successful applicants are required to provide Agriculture Victoria with regular reports over the life of their project.

Groups receiving funding under Rounds 3 and 4 of the grants program will receive emails from Agriculture Victoria with information about their reporting requirements. All reports will be completed using the DEECA Grants Online portal.

As part of these reports, Agriculture Victoria requests that groups attach supporting documents, including photographs of events funded by the grants program. These images may be used by the department for promotional purposes.

If you have any questions or concerns about how your group’s images might be used, please contact the Partnerships Against Pests grants manager.

Previously funded projects

Please visit the Stream 2 previously funded projects page to find out more about projects funded in earlier rounds of the Partnerships Against Pests grants program.