Dr. Sidney Plowman Travel and Study Award - $4,000

• Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).
• Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR).
• A Victorian Catchment Management Authority.

1. Outline their field of expertise and experience in land management.
2. Demonstrate how their role and methodology has influenced and improved sustainable land management practices.
3. Demonstrate how they have contributed to practice change among farmers that has led to the long-term protection and/or improvement of natural resources and biodiversity, and which has had significant benefits for farmers and/or the community.
4. Describe any challenges faced to bring about change in land management practices among farmers and the strategies used to overcome these challenges.
5. Provide an outline of the proposed travel or study to use the Award, which must include:
   - Purpose or intent of travel/study
   - Proposed destination and/or course
   - Itemised costing forecast and itinerary
   - Describe the impact the Award will have on their professional development
   - Describe the planned methods for knowledge dissemination to the farming community and broader Landcare community after completion of the travel/study
6. In 25 words (2-3 sentences), please summarise your nomination, highlighting the key messages that best describe why this individual should be recognised for outstanding achievements to Landcare.

• The prize must be used during the financial year in which it is awarded (2021/2022).
• The Award is for travel(adhere to COVID-19 public health measures), study or another form of professional development.
• Coronavirus (COVID-19)- we ask that you continue to follow public health measures, advice and restrictions when planning your application. Stay informed here vic.gov.au/CORONAVIRUS.
• As the global pandemic continues it may have an impact on borders and interstate travel. Please note you would be traveling at your own risk and would be required to pay for the quarantine costs or any additional travel costs.
• A report on the use of the Award must be submitted within three months of the completion of the travel/study. Report due 19 December 2022.
• Using the template provided (this will be sent after the awards ceremony), the report must be a minimum of 2,000 words and must detail the following elements:
• What was the purpose of the travel/study?
• If travel, why was this geographical area selected? Provide details of location(s) where the travel occurred.
• If study, why was this topic selected?  Provide details of location(s) where the study occurred.
• When was the travel/study undertaken?
• Who were the main people consulted and engaged with during the travel/study?
• How has or will the area of travel/study lead to long-term/permanent protection or improvement of natural resources?
• Provide a detailed financial report (with copies of receipts).
• Provide a minimum of four high-resolution images (with photo consent and captions).
• Please note the report (or extracts of) may be used by the Department, and/or Landcare Australia, to promote the State/Territory Landcare Awards, in printed and electronic formats.

Victorian Farmers Federation and Landcare Victoria Inc. Heather Mitchell Memorial Fellowship - $4,000

1. Demonstrated involvement and effective contribution to Victorian community Landcare at a group or network level.
2. Provide examples of the instrumental role played in planning, development and delivery of Landcare projects and outline the environmental and social impacts of these projects.
3. Describe any challenges overcome in the development and implementation of Landcare projects and the strategies used to address these challenges.
4. Provide an outline of the proposed use of the Fellowship, which must include:

• Purpose or intent of the study/travel.
• Itemised costing forecast.
• Itinerary/course schedule.
• Describe the impact the Fellowship will have on their professional development.
• Describe your planned methods for knowledge dissemination to the Landcare community after completion of the Fellowship.

1. How will the benefits derived from the Fellowship contribute to the future of Landcare?
2. In 25 words (2-3 sentences), please summarise your nomination, highlighting the key messages that best describe why this individual should be recognised for outstanding achievements to Landcare.

• The Fellowship is for travel(adhere to COVID-19 public health measures), study or another form of professional development.
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) - we ask that you continue to follow public health measures, advice and restrictions when planning your application. Stay informed here vic.gov.au/CORONAVIRUS.
• As the global pandemic continues, it may have an impact on borders and interstate travel. Please note you would be traveling at your own risk and would be required to pay for the quarantine costs or any additional travel costs.
• The Fellowship must be used during the financial year in which it is awarded (2021/22).
• The Fellowship is not to be used for the purchase of capital equipment.
• A report must be submitted within three months of the completion of the Fellowship – Due 19 December 2022.
• Using the template provided (this will be forwarded after the awards ceremony), the report must be a minimum of 2,000 words and must cover the following elements:
• What was the purpose of the study/travel?
• If travel, why was this geographical area selected? Provide details of location(s) where the travel occurred.
• If study, why was this topic selected? Provide details of location(s) where the study occurred.
• When was the study/travel undertaken?
• Who were the main people consulted and engaged with during the study/travel?
• What were the main learnings from the study/travel?
• How has or will the area of study/travel lead to long-term/permanent protection or improvement of natural resources.
• Provide a detailed financial report (with copies of receipts).
• Provide a minimum of four high-resolution images (with photo consent and captions).
• Please note your report (or extracts of) may be used by the Department, and/or Landcare Australia, to promote the State/Territory Landcare Awards, in printed and electronic formats.

Environmental Youth Action Scholarship - $2,000

The Environmental Youth Action Scholarship award is a new category for 2021 and will support a youth or school group to design and deliver a project that will help improve Victoria’s natural environment. Mentors will be available to support the group to prepare and design the project. 

The award is open to school, TAFE, and university groups between the age of 12 to 25. 

Projects may include educational sessions that allow the next generation to develop skills to adapt to climate change or protect local environments, or on-ground works that protect, enhance or restore an area of environmental significance.

Selection Criteria

1. Describe the environmental issue identified by your group and its significance to Victoria’s environment. Specify the location of the problem and detail why the issue is problematic and who or what gets affected by this problem. Consider a project that links to a location or threatened species/community management plan to meet Victoria’s Biodiversity Plan 2037 targets as identified in Biodiversity Response Planning Focus Landscapes: https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/biodiversity/working-together-for-biodiversity. These fact sheets will provide you with a list of suggested locations and activities that will have the greatest biodiversity benefit.
2. What are the environmental and learning outcomes of your project and how will these outcomes be measured?
3.  Describe how the project will be youth-led. Who will be involved? How do you plan to ensure youth input and leadership in all stages of the project (from identifying an issue, through to project design, management, delivery, completion, and reporting)? 
4. Have you selected a mentor to support your project? If so, please specify who they are and their contact details. They must supply a copy of their completed a Working with Children Check (can be done after the award). If not, please outline how you are going to seek out a mentor.
5. How do you plan to share your groups’ learnings with your peers and the wider community? Describe your audience and how you will promote your project.

Landcare Network Award

1. Describe how the network has developed and used comprehensive planning as a basis for its physical, strategic and management activities.
2. Demonstrate how the network has protected, enhanced, or restored environments on a significant scale. Please provide a map showing the location and scale of the works undertaken.
3. Demonstrate how the network has formed partnerships and collaborated with other groups, agencies, government, business and the wider community to plan and deliver projects.
4. Describe the challenges the network overcame in the development and implementation of its projects and plans, and outline the strategies used to address these challenges.
5. In 25 words (2-3 sentences), please summarise your nomination, highlighting the key messages that best describe why this network should be recognised for outstanding achievements to Landcare.

Environmental Volunteer Award

1. Demonstrate how the individual or group has made a significant and positive impact on Victoria’s environment through their volunteering involvement and commitment.
2. Describe how the individual or group has increased community participation in environmental volunteering projects. Provide examples of successful projects and the number of people involved, and who was engaged from the community. Specify which of the groups engaged are not usually involved in environmental volunteering. Please include photos and/or newspaper articles etc.
3. Demonstrate how the individual or group has increased community awareness and knowledge of environmental issues. Provide examples of media, events and numbers of people reached through these activities.
4. Describe any challenges faced in the development and implementation of their environmental volunteering projects, and the strategies and innovative/creative solutions used to overcome these challenges.
5. In 25 words (2-3 sentences), please summarise your nomination, highlighting the key messages that best describe why this group or individual should be recognised for outstanding achievements to Landcare.

Urban Landcare Award

1. Demonstrate how greater awareness and understanding of natural resource management and environmental issues amongst an urban community was generated. Provide examples of media, events and numbers of people reached through these activities.
2. Generated significant partnerships, supported and increased an urban community’s involvement in projects that have enhanced, restored or protected natural resources in an urban environment. Demonstrate how this was achieved and what partnerships were developed.
3. Generated improved long-term natural resource management and environmental outcomes for an urban area as a result of the projects undertaken. Provide examples, such as before and after photographs, media clippings, testimonials, etc.
4. Describe any challenges overcome in the planning, development and implementation of urban Landcare projects, as well as the strategies used to address these challenges.
5. In 25 words (2-3 sentences), please summarise your nomination, highlighting the key messages that best describe why this group, network or individual should be recognised for outstanding achievements to Landcare.

Joan Kirner Landcare Award - $1000