FTLA News Update Feb 2012
REMINDER: 2012 FTLA ANNUAL FORUM AND AGM - Friday 24th February 2012
As an FTLA Member Group you are invited to send a representative to the Annual Forum and AGM. Additional members and observers are also welcome so please come along
The Annual Forum will feature speakers from both the Carbon Farming Initiative and the Biodiversity Fund, the Landcare Talks session and an employment forum. Plus your AGM!
For more information: go to http://www.landcarevic.net.au/ftla/documents/FTLA%20Annual%20Forum%20Invite%202012.pdf/view
WHERE & WHEN?
Friday 24th February 2012 at Level 16, Marland House, 570 Bourke St Melbourne
Registration from 10.15am, Program from 11 am — 4pm
Lunch included
Featuring:
• Carbon Farming: Chris Golding from the Carbon Farming Initiative and Corey Watts from The Climate Institute discussing the opportunities for Landcare
• The Biodiversity Fund: Josh Thomas will discuss the future direction of the fund
• Landcare Talks: An opportunity to discuss current issues in Landcare in a positive and friendly atmosphere
• Employment Forum: Industrial Relations lawyer Rob Martin will discuss employer responsibilities, and Karen Alexander will lead a discussion on experiences of the VLFI from the group perspective.
Please RSVP for catering purposes. If you would like to be a voting delegate, forms are available at:
Ph: 03 9207 5527
Fax: 03 9207 5500
Email: ftla@vff.org.au
24 Collins St Melbourne VIC 3000
And last year’s minute are also available at: http://www.landcarevic.net.au/ftla/documents/ftla-2011-agm-draft-minutes/view
WELCOME MARY TO THE FTLA
As of today, Mary Baldwin has joined us part time as the new Administration Officer with FTLA, in the position previously held by Joanne Van Der Broek. Mary has years of experience in similar administration roles and brings a varied skill set to the position. Mary grew up in a rural farming community in the US and is looking forward to supporting Landcare members in Australia. So please make her feel welcome when she answers the phone or the email.
OPPORTUNITIES
APPLICATIONS FOR 2012-13 COMMUNITY ACTION GRANTS: NOW OPEN
The Australian Government is seeking applications for 2012-13 Community Action Grants from local community groups to help them take action to conserve and protect their local environment.
As part of the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative, Community Action Grants recognise the contribution that community groups make to the Caring for our Country priority areas of:
• Coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats
• Sustainable farm practices, or
• Biodiversity and natural icons.
As in previous rounds, local community, farming and Indigenous groups can apply for a grant between $5,000 and $20,000 (GST exclusive) to fund projects that encourage active participation and build the skills and knowledge of the community to protect and restore our environment and natural resources. Projects may include hosting a local field day, developing natural resource management plans, educating land owners in sustainable agriculture techniques and on-ground works.
Community Action Grant applications are subject to a competitive assessment process. Applications will be assessed based on alignment to Caring for our Country priorities, community engagement, project feasibility and value for money. All successful applicants must finish their project by 30 June 2013.
Applications close at 5pm (AEDT), on Tuesday 27 March 2012
For more information on eligibility and to submit a Community Action Grants application, visit the Caring for our Country website (http://www.nrm.gov.au/funding/cag/index.html) or telephone 1800 552 008. For FTLA Member Groups who are incorporated in their own right, the supply of your incorporation details (search the Victorian Names Register* if you have lost your incorporation number) should be sufficient. For other FTLA Member Groups please contact us as soon as possible so that we complete the first part of the application as the sponsor organisation before you start filling it in!
*The Victorian Names Register can be searched at https://online.justice.vic.gov.au/CA256B7D001E2A6C/OrigDoc/~798113B8F53638A4CA256B84001B8474?OpenDocument&1=10-Victorian+Names+Register~&2=0-Search~&3=~
HELP SHAPE the 2012 NATIONAL LANDCARE CONFERENCE
The National Landcare Conference will be held in Sydney on 3-5 September 2012.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry are seeking input and views from the community and natural resource management stakeholders to assist in the development of an outstanding and stimulating conference, that will provide networking, information sharing and learning opportunities. You can also nominate specific speakers you would like to hear from.
The survey will only take ten minutes and will help shape the 2012 National Landcare Conference. This survey will close at midnight on Sunday 4th March 2012 and is available at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2012-Landcare-Conference-Survey.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS
Entries close on Friday 17 February - Enter now!
Are you proud of your council's innovative approach to meeting your community's needs? The National Awards for Local Government recognise, reward and promote the innovative work of local governments across Australia. If your local council is doing something great then encourage them to enter.
Awards categories include:
- Innovation in Natural Resource Management
- Land-Use Planning - Addressing Disaster Risk and Enhancing Resilience
- Regional Collaborations
- Energy Smart
- Improving Services to Remote Communities
More information is available at: http://www.regional.gov.au/local/awards/index.aspx
EVENTS:
REVITALISE YOUR LANDCARE GROUP
The Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority invites you to join passionate Landcare leaders and support people from across the region for this enjoyable, interactive workshop led by change consultant, Les Robinson.
• Grow your membership
• Harvest a crop of brilliant ideas
• Learn proven, simple techniques to engage the unengaged
• Win the hearts and minds of new landholders
This regional Landcare forum is about harnessing the power of reinvention to spark new zest and enthusiasm in your Landcare group. You’ll hear about great engagement and communication ideas and have a chance to share your own. You’ll also create a great pitch to touch the hearts and minds of landholders in your patch.
For more information go to: http://www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au/events/current-events/Event_21_43.aspx
SUSTAINABLE LIVING FESTIVAL: 11-26 February 2012
The Festival attracts over 122,000 visits and engages with hundreds of organisations and individuals to stage Australia's largest and oldest sustainability festival. The highlight of the festival is the 3-day Big Weekend Showcase at Melbourne's Federation Square.
For more information and the full program go to: http://festival.slf.org.au/
Outside of Melbourne, associated events include:
- Synchronised screenings of the award-winning documentary “Home” across the state from Barwon to Yarraville: 18th February 7pm. For locations go to http://transitionsfilmfestival.com/home/
- “A Compass For Turbulent Times” - Nicole Foss speaks on the Transition movement
- Thu 16 Feb - 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm Daylesford Town Hall - Vincent St, Daylesford
- Tue 21 Feb - 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm, South Gippsland Shire Council, 9 Smith St, Leongatha
- Wed 22 Feb - 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Gordon Tafe Auditorium (G3.35), Latrobe Terrace, Geelong
- $mart Living is a series of 5 free Sustainability workshops presented by the Surf Coast Energy Group : $mart Energy, $mart House, $mart Garden, $mart Shopping and $mart Ideas. The series starts on Wed 22 Feb - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at Spring Creek Community House, Price Street, Torquay
AUSTRALIAN MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY SERVICES INC. INFORMATION SESSION
Australian Multicultural Community Services Inc wishes to invite your organisation or group to an information session about what is available free of charge to Non Profit Organisations
Date: Thursday, 23rd February 2012
Time: 10am – 12pm
Venue: South East region Migrant Resource Centre
Level 1, 314 Thomas St (cnr Clow St), Dandenong
Melways ref - 90 D7
To RSVP please call 03 9689 9170 or email info@amcservices.org.au
RESOURCES:
EMPLOYMENT TOOLKIT
We understand that the Landcare Employment Toolkit is currently being updated and should hopefully be available soon.
As always, the Public Interest Legal Clearing House (PILCH) is provides free legal assistance to the community and should be able to help with contracts and so on. For further information go to http://www.pilch.org.au, or contact PILCH directly on 03 8636 4400 or email admin@pilch.org.au.
DEALING WITH DISPUTES AND GRIEVANCES WITH MEMBERS
All organisations face disputes and grievances at some point. When conflict starts disrupting your activities, you need to resolve it, properly and quickly. This information sheet is designed to help your organisation to handle disputes or grievances within your association effectively and legally.
This information sheet covers:
• what to do when there is a dispute involving members of your organisation;
• how mediation can help resolve a grievance;
• how closely you need to follow your organisation's grievance procedures;
• what are other options if your organisation is in disarray; and
• what kinds of grievances can be taken to court.
The information sheet can be found at http://www.pilch.org.au/handlingconflict/
PESTSMART TOOLKIT
The PestSmart Toolkit is designed to provide information and guidance on best-practice invasive animal management to policy makers, managers and implementers for key vertebrate pest species including rabbits, wild dogs, foxes, feral pigs, feral cats, carp, and tilapia.
This end-user centred suite of products is being developed by the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre (IA CRC) as the culmination of seven years of research and development over a diverse range of projects.
To obtain toolkit resources go to: http://www.feral.org.au/pestsmart/
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