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The Landcare SA Financial Assistance Package is now closed for 2023.

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The Landcare Association of South Australia (LASA) is pleased to be offering increased financial assistance to our members. There are two components to the Landcare SA Financial Assistance Package:

1. The Care for Landcare Grants Program to support member groups to purchase and/or hire equipment and materials.
2. The Landcare Insurance Fee Reimbursement Scheme to pay back member groups for insurance premiums that they have incurred in the last 12 months (May 1st 2022 – April 30th 2023).

Read the FAQs below to understand the eligibility, application and reporting requirements. Due to the opt-in nature of these funding programs, a specific dollar amount will only be advised once entries have closed.

For assistance please contact: Eleanor Pratt (Executive Officer – execofficer@landcaresa.asn.au or 0477017 325 or Natalia Diaz (State Landcare Coordinator) – coordinator@landcaresa.asn.au or 0408 967 216

The Landcare SA Financial Assistance Package is part of the Care for Landcare program funded by the SA State Government.

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FAQs

1. Who is eligible for the Care for Landcare Grant Program and Landcare Insurance Fee Reimbursement Scheme?

All 2022.23 LASA member groups (prior to 1^st February 2023) are eligible for the Care for Landcare Grant Program and Landcare Insurance Fee Reimbursement Scheme. The LASA Management Committee will make a final decision on funds provided to each group.

2022.23 LASA member groups that have had to pay for their own insurance fees in the last 12 months (May 1st 2022 – April 30th 2023) are eligible to have these fees reimbursed. This includes any relevant insurance fees that were paid for the group by a member of the group out of their personal funds.

Many Landcare groups are able to access free insurance premiums through their local Landscape Board or Council. Only groups that are ineligible to receive free insurance through their Landscape Board and Council and have had to use their own funds to purchase insurance are eligible to be reimbursed for these fees. Groups that have already received financial assistance to pay for all of their insurance premiums this year are not eligible to have their fees reimbursed. The LASA Management Committee will make a final decision on whether the insurance is eligible to be reimbursed.

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2. How do I apply for the Care for Landcare Grant Program and/or the Landcare Insurance Fee Reimbursement Scheme?

These two things can be done at the same time.

Please click HERE to access the online form where you can opt-in to:

1. Receive a Care for Landcare grant, and/or
2. Sign up for the Landcare Insurance Fee Reimbursement Scheme.

Submissions must be completed by 11.59pm 30th April 2023.

Completing the opt-in form is not a guarantee that you will receive financial assistance. The LASA Management Committee will make a final decision on the eligibility of each group for this package, and your group may opt-out at any time before the offer is signed.

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3. What will I need to apply for the Care for Landcare Grant Program and/or the Landcare Insurance Fee Reimbursement Scheme?

You will need:

1. A broad idea of the type of equipment and materials that your group would like to use the Care for Landcare grant to purchase. This will only be used as an indication and is not binding.
2. Knowledge of your group’s insurance policies, including whether or not your group has paid for insurance out of their own funds in the last 12 months (May 1st 2022 – April 30th 2023).

If your group did pay for your own insurance and you would like to be reimbursed for this, you will also need to upload:

1. Proof of payment for any policies that your group purchased with their own funds in the last 12 months (May 1st 2022 – April 30th 2023). PDF format is preferred.
2. Certificate of insurance for any policies that your group purchased with their own funds in the last 12 months (May 1st 2022 – April 30th 2023). PDF format is preferred.

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4. How much is a Care for Landcare grant?

LASA has a pool of $62,500 for the Care for Landcare Grants Program. The specific value of the grant provided to each group depends on the number of eligible groups that opt-in.

This year the Care for Landcare Grants Program will provide grants of an expected minimum of $900 and maximum of $2,000 per group. All eligible groups that have opted-in will receive an equal amount.

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5. What can our group use the Care for Landcare grant funds for?

Care for Landcare grants are to be used for the purchase or hire of equipment and materials for your group’s Landcare activities. Some examples of things that you may like to spend this money on are:

• Plants/seeds
• Tree guards and stakes
• Personal protection equipment (e.g., gloves, safety vests, safety glasses etc.)
• Tools (e.g., chainsaws, drills, shovels etc.)
• Propagation materials
• Stationery, office and administrative supplies
• Signage
• Pesticides
• Fencing materials
• Specialised contractor and equipment

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6. How much of our insurance premiums would be reimbursed?

LASA has a pool of $25,000 for the Landcare Insurance Fee Reimbursement Scheme. The specific value of the reimbursement depends on the number of eligible groups that opt-in and the cost of your insurance premiums.

This year LASA will reimburse insurance premium fees to an expected minimum of $400 per eligible group (unless your total fees were lower than this amount), with an expected maximum of $800.

Many Landcare groups are able to access free insurance premiums through their local Landscape Board and Council. Only groups that are ineligible to receive free insurance through their Landscape Board and Council and have had to use their own funds to purchase insurance are eligible to be reimbursed for these fees. Groups that have already received financial assistance to pay for all of their insurance premiums this year are not eligible to have their fees reimbursed.

The LASA Management Committee will make a final decision on whether the insurance is eligible to be reimbursed.

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7. What types of insurance are eligible to be reimbursed?

1. Any insurance cover purchased by a member group in the last 12 months (May 1st 2022 – April 30th 2023) through the Landcare Insurance Package with Ceneta Insurance Services and Community Underwriting.
2. Additional or different insurance cover, outside of that covered by the Landcare Insurance Package, that was purchased by a member group in the last 12 months (May 1st 2022 – April 30th 2023) that is necessary for the working of their group. The LASA Management Committee will make a final decision on whether the insurance is eligible to be reimbursed.

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8. Do I need to be a member group of Landcare Association of SA to receive this financial assistance?

Yes, in order to be eligible for a grant or reimbursement for your insurance fees your group will need to be a member of the Landcare Association of South Australia for 2022.23 (prior to 1^st February 2023).

Individual members are not eligible at this time.

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9. Can I apply more than once per year?

No. This gives more groups a chance to share in the funds.

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10. Can I apply through the website?

Applications for the Care for Landcare Grant Program and Landcare Insurance Fee Reimbursement Scheme can be made through the online Landcare SA Financial Assistance opt-in form HERE.

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11. What happens once I’ve completed the opt-in form?

Once submissions close at 11.59pm on the 30th of April 2023, the LASA Management Committee will review all entries. Completing the opt-in form is not a guarantee that you will receive financial assistance. The LASA Management Committee will make a final decision on the eligibility of each group for this package, and your group may opt-out at any time before the offer is signed.

Each group will be notified by email of the outcome of their submission, including the value of the grant and/or insurance fee reimbursement that they will receive.

Each group will be asked to review and sign an offer detailing the terms and conditions of the grant and insurance fee reimbursement, including reporting and acquittal requirements for the grant.

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12. Do I need to provide an invoice to the Landcare Association of South Australia?

Yes, once prompted each group will need to invoice (or tax invoice if registered for GST) us for the advised grant amount and/or the advised insurance reimbursement amount. We are unable to process the payment without an invoice.

A template can be provided to help groups who are unfamiliar with raising invoices. If your group does not have an ABN you will also be asked to complete a Statement By Supplier.

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13. Will I need to acquit the grant and insurance fee reimbursement funds?

You will need to acquit the grant funds. All funds must be expended and acquittal completed within 12 months from the date that you received the grant funds. If you do not expend and acquit the funds correctly, LASA has the right to reject your application for further financial assistance and/or membership. We will work closely with all groups to make sure this process is as simple and clear as possible.

Additional information about the grant expenditure and acquittal process will be detailed in your grant offer.

You will not need to acquit the insurance reimbursement funds.

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14. How and when do I acquit the funds?

An acquittal form will be supplied to each grant recipient, where you will be asked to advise us what your group spent the funds on and provide all invoices and/or receipts and any relevant photos. All funds must be expended and acquittal completed within 12 months from the date that you received the grant funds.

If you do not expend and acquit the funds correctly, LASA has the right to reject your application for further financial assistance and/or membership. We will work closely with all groups to make sure this process is as simple and clear as possible.

Additional information about the grant expenditure and acquittal process will be detailed in your grant offer.

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