The Community Stewardship Grants are an initiative of the Western Australian Government managed though the State NRM Program at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). The grants are designed to facilitate the conservation and sustainable management of the State’s natural resources by supporting local community groups to undertake stewardship of natural resources in their local area. 

Community-based NRM is directed and driven by local, catchment, or regional scale needs and priorities. It recognises the value of local knowledge, volunteer efforts and strong partnerships.  The Community Stewardship Grants prioritise the direct involvement of local community groups in all project stages of design, planning and implementation, through which efficient and effective partnerships between government, industry, and community can be fostered.

Over the past 6 years, $45.5 million worth of Community Stewardship Grants has supported more than 400 grassroots not-for-profit and volunteer groups that care for the State’s diverse and valuable natural assets, from the Kimberley to the South Coast. Collectively, the approved grants contribute to all six priorities of the WA NRM Framework 2018 and cover all nine development commission regions, some through multi-regional projects.

$7 million in funding is available to support community led NRM activities. The Community Stewardship Grants program involves both a small grants round and a large grants round:

• Small grants:
  • are valued between $1,000 – $50,000
  • commence on or after 1 January in the year following the grant round
  • are up to 18 months in duration.
• Large grants
  • are valued between $50,001 – $450,000
  • are intended for more strategic, complex projects
  • commence on or after 1 January in the year following the grant round
  • are for up to 3 years in duration.

To be eligible for assessment under these grants you must:

1. Complete and submit an application form online through SmartyGrants, ensuring all required supporting information and documents are clear and legible when uploaded, by 12 noon AWST on Monday 20 May 2024. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
    
2. Demonstrate that you meet the eligibility criteria and meet the assessment criteria.

The 2024 Community Stewardship Grants Guidelines are essential reading for all applicants and may be downloaded at the link below:

Community Stewardship Grants to care for Western Australia’s vast landscape and unique flora and fauna have been allocated to 55 community-driven natural resource management projects across the State, which have received a share of $7 million in funding support from the Cook Government.

Successful projects include dieback control, landcare capacity building, wetlands and catchment rehabilitation, weed management, Cyclone Seroja recovery, and protection of threatened species such as black cockatoos, western ringtail possums and southern right whales. 

A list of the successful 2023 Community Stewardship Grant applications can be downloaded at the link below:

Past lists of successful grants can be downloaded below: