Recipients

The outcomes of Round 1 of the Aged Care Service Improvement and Healthy Ageing Grants Fund process (Invitation to Apply DoHA/095/1112) are now available. On 30 April 2012, letters were sent to all applicants advising the outcomes of the assessment process.  The high level of interest in the Fund resulted in 64 high-quality applications from a field of more than 600 being selected to proceed to contract negotiations.
A list of shortlisted applicants (PDF 124 KB) and projects can be obtained by following this link.The high level of interest in the Fund resulted in 64 high-quality applications from a field of more than 600 being selected to proceed to contract negotiations.

Background

The Aged Care Service Improvement and Healthy Ageing Grants Fund is an Australian Government initiative administered by the Department of Health and Ageing (the Department) designed to support activities that strengthen the capacity of the aged care sector to deliver high quality aged care, and/or promote healthy ageing.

Fund objectives and priorities

Broadly, the Healthy Ageing Grants Fund’s primary objective is to strengthen the capacity of the health and aged care sectors to deliver high quality aged care, and to promote healthy ageing by targeting the following priority areas:

• Support activities that promote healthy and active ageing;
• Respond to existing and emerging challenges, including dementia care;
• Support activities that build the capacity of aged care services to deliver high quality care;
• Support activities that provide information and support to assist carers maintain their caring role;
• Support to services providing aged care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people living in remote areas; and
• Support people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

Who can access the Healthy Ageing Grants Fund?

Applicants are encouraged from a wide range of non government and government entities.  Applicants are not required to have had a prior funding relationship established with the Department, but must be a legal entity to be eligible for funding, for example:

• Incorporated Associations (incorporated under State/Territory legislation, commonly have ‘Association’ or ‘Incorporated’ or ‘Inc’ in their legal name);
• Incorporated Cooperatives (also incorporated under State/Territory legislation, commonly have “Cooperative’ in their legal name);
• Companies (incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 – may be not-for-profit or for-profit proprietary company (limited by shares or by guarantee or public companies);
• Aboriginal Corporations (incorporated under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2006 and administered by the Office of the Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations; Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act 1976);
• Organisations established through a specific piece of Commonwealth or State/Territory legislation (many public benevolent institutions, churches, universities, unions etc);
• Partnerships;
• Trustees on behalf of a Trust;
• State/Territory or Local Governments; and/ or
• where there is no suitable alternative, an individual or – jointly and separately –individuals.

What activities are eligible for funding?

Potential Healthy Ageing Grants Fund activities include:

1. Support activities that promote healthy and active ageing
2. Respond to existing and emerging challenges, including dementia care
3. Support activities that build the capacity of aged care services to deliver high quality care
4. Support activities to assist carers maintain their caring role
5. Support to services providing aged care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait
   Islander people and people living in remote areas
6. Support for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds

1. Support activities that promote healthy and active ageing

The Australian Government recognises that older people are an invaluable asset and is committed to helping older people enjoy active, healthy and independent lives by encouraging positive approaches to ageing.

To support the participation of people as they age in all aspects of Australian life – economic, civic, community and family the Department will fund integrated and innovative activities. These activities will be aimed at promoting and raising awareness and includes the social inclusion and recognition of diverse communities such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex
(LGBTI) people.

Under this priority, other activities that may be funded include, but are not limited to, improving the evidence base for healthy, active and productive ageing; increasing access to information so that older people can make informed decisions; providing intervention and management strategies that support older people, their carers, family and friends, health professionals and service providers; and creating an environment that is respectful of all older people and takes into account the older person’s individual needs irrespective of their background, culture, gender or sexual diversity.

 2. Respond to existing and emerging challenges, including dementia care

The Australian Government is committed to increased flexibility in responding to emerging health and ageing priorities, by creating a funding base which ensures the ability to not only tailor responses and focus effort as new risks and challenges arise, but to anticipate and drive change in the system.

Activities funded under this priority will continue to address existing challenges such as dementia care; recognition of and cultural sensitivity towards older people from LGBTI communities; and includes providing support for the individual, their families and carers, staff who provide aged care services, and service providers.

Under this priority, other activities that may be funded include, but are not limited to, information, awareness, prevention and early intervention activities; culturally appropriate education and support; education and training; and building staff capacity in aged care services so that they gain increased knowledge and confidence in understanding the needs of all people in
their care.

3. Support activities that build the capacity of aged care services to deliver high quality care

The Australian Government is committed to supporting and encouraging improvements in the delivery of aged care and ensuring the best possible care for frail older Australians in residential and community aged care settings.

In order to support activities that build the capacity of aged care services to deliver high quality care the Department will fund a range of projects targeted at the translation of the best available evidence into effective approaches for staff to use in their everyday practice.

Under this priority, other activities that may be funded include, but are not limited to, training programs; improved communication procedures; assessment tools and/ or management policies and protocols.

4. Support activities to assist carers maintain their caring role

The Australian Government recognises that accurate information and support to navigate the system are essential to ensure that older people on the threshold of aged care, and their carers, know about the support services available to meet their needs and how to access them.

In supporting activities to assist carers maintain their caring role the Department will fund projects that provide high quality information, specialist advice and community awareness in a culturally appropriate manner.

Under this priority, other activities that may be funded include, but are not limited to, providing carers with timely and appropriate information resources which meet their information needs; contribution to and distribution of information about Australian Government programs in support of carers across the full range of carer needs, and promotion of available information.

5. Support to services providing aged care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people living in remote areas

The Australian Government supports older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people living in remote areas to access improved aged care services and infrastructure.

Providers of aged care services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people living in remote areas face particular challenges in service provision. These challenges can include issues around operating small services which may be remote from professional assistance and support, higher infrastructure and supply costs and difficulties in attracting and retaining staff.
Under this priority, activities that may be funded include, but are not limited to, capital works, including construction and upgrading of aged care buildings, major maintenance, the provision of staff housing where this is essential for the delivery of aged care services; acquisition of equipment essential to the delivery of aged care services; and emergency assistance.

6. Support for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds

The Australian Government is committed to delivering aged care that is appropriate for all older people regardless of race, culture, language, gender, economic circumstances or geographic location.

Older people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds can access and benefit from the same funding and services as other older people in the community. However, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds can face particular difficulties in understanding aged care information and services, and receiving care appropriate to their needs.

Under this priority, activities that may be funded include, but are not limited to, projects that provide culturally and linguistically diverse communities with increased access to aged care services and information; cultural awareness training and support tools; equipping aged care providers with the necessary skills to deliver appropriate care, for example providing advice to service providers on the cultural and religious and dietary needs of particular communities; and improving access to translation and interpreting services.

Expert Assistance

We have significant experience in assisting clients obtain health and ageing grants. Typical areas where we can be of assistance include:

• Demonstrating the identified need;
• Highlighting the relevance to current government policies and priorities;
• Complete the Project Plan and Budget Projections;
• Identify Outcomes that are measurable;
• Detail the applicant organisation’s experience or expertise in undertaking the project/s;
• Calculating the value for money; and
• Demonstrating capacity to deliver quality outcomes

Call us on 03 9005 6789 or email us to discuss how we can assist further.

Personally Controlled E-health Record (PCEHR)

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek announced $50 million over two years will be made available to Medicare Locals – networks that support frontline health providers – to assist GPs and other health care providers to adopt and use the Gillard Government’s new eHealth records system.

Ms Plibersek said the funding was part of a package to support doctors and other health professionals to help rollout the new system.

“Family doctors co-ordinate healthcare for most patients, so we know they have an important role to play in the eHealth records system,” Ms Plibersek said.

“eHealth records will ensure doctors can access a patient’s medical information in one convenient online location, reducing errors and making diagnosis and treatment quicker and easier.”

Ms Plibersek said the funding for Medicare Locals will enable them to provide practical training to GP practices and other health care providers and to drive awareness and consumer literacy of the potential of eHealth records at a regional level.

“The practical training will include how to get the practice ready for the eHealth record including how to achieve data quality, the registration process for eHealth records, engagement and support of the practice’s patients.”

“To assist providers link up to the system, Medicare Locals also will work with other health care providers – allied health, nursing, and community based specialists – as well as with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, non-government organisations, professional associations and hospitals.”

The $50 million is the final piece of a support package for doctors to help rollout the new eHealth records system and is in addition to the Government’s $233.7 million investment announced in the Budget.

It complements the three other initiatives already announced, which are:

• From February 2013, up to $50,000 in Practice Incentive Program payments for each practice that shows it is capable of: (1) secure messaging, (2) integrating healthcare identifiers into electronic practice records, (3) using data records and clinical coding of diagnoses, (4) the capability to upload Shared Health Summaries and Event Summaries using compliant eHealth record software, and (5) electronic transfer of prescriptions to a prescription exchange service. Further consultation with the profession and professional associations will occur in the coming weeks about how the criteria will apply in practice.
• The ability for GPs to use longer consultations (Medicare Benefit Scheme general attendance items B, C and D) when creating or adding to a shared health summary on an eHealth record which involves taking a patient’s medical history as part of a consultation.
• The continuation of the Practice Nurse Incentive Program which provides up to $125,000 per year to eligible general practices towards the cost of a practice nurse. Practices can choose to have their practice nurse talk to patients about the eHealth record, and help patients set up their record.

From 1 July 2012, interested Australians will be able to register to create their own eHealth record.

Background

The HWA program of work promotes the implementation of research-informed changes to education, international recruitment and retention and current configurations of the health workforce.

HWA has identified a number of priority themes within its ongoing work program where further understanding and intelligence is being sought at this time to further progress the achievement of the strategic objectives of the organisation.

As part of the organisation’s ongoing program of investment into collaborative research, HWA is now seeking expressions of interest (REOI) from researchers to provide research services in 2012-13 to address one or more of the research topics identified under each of the priority themes at Attachment 11.

The development of a longer term strategic research program, that builds and extends on HWA’s existing research investment, is planned for subsequent years.

Objectives

The objectives of the HWA Strategic Research Program are to:

• assess the interest and availability of prospective consultants to meet HWA’s requirements;
• enable prospective consultants to outline their proposed solutions to meet HWA’s requirements; and
• facilitate an assessment of the responses and identify the responses that best meet HWA’s requirements.

The HWA Strategic Research Program is limited to Australian and New Zealand entities that conduct health-workforce related research in the public, non-government and/or private sector.

Eligible respondents may submit a research proposal for one or more of the research topics. Provision has been made for a total of up to 12 research proposals under this HWA Strategic Research Program.

The HWA Strategic Research Program is the first stage of a possible two stage procurement process. While respondents should provide information on the price for each research proposal as required by Attachment 7, respondents whose responses are short listed as part of the HWA Strategic Research Program process may be invited to submit a quotation to HWA as part of a Request for Quotation (RFQ) process. The specification of price (excluding specification of travel and accommodation cap) for each research proposal must not exceed $80,000 (inc. GST).

However, HWA may at its sole discretion adopt one or more of the following approaches:

• seek more information from some or all respondents to the HWA Strategic Research Program;
• select a short list of respondents who will be invited to respond to a subsequent RFQ;
• proceed directly to negotiations with one or more respondents to provide the research services;
• enter into a contract with a preferred respondent to provide the research services; or
• choose not to proceed to an RFQ or any further procurement processes.
  • HWA does not warrant or guarantee that an RFQ will be released by HWA in respect of the research services or that HWA will proceed to procure the research services.
  • HWA invites suitably qualified consultants to submit a response to provide the research services required.
  • Each research proposal is to specify that the research services, including provision of key deliverables, must be fully completed in the 2012-13 financial year.

Research Themes

UNDERSTANDING RURAL HEALTH WORKFORCE ISSUES

Topic 1. International Health Professionals

Executive Sponsor: Claire Austin, Executive Director, International Health Professionals

Study of international health professionals to understand their career pathway and choices, with particular focus on the nature, duration and quality of their rural experience and the identification of the barriers and enablers contributing to retention in rural practice. This will complement and enhance information being gathered by HWA and inform attraction, retention and recruitment programs.

Topic 2. Regional Workforce Planning

Executive Sponsor: Ian Crettenden, Executive Director, Information Analysis and Planning

Development of a national population needs based planning model for the primary care workforce that can be applied to regional and local area workforce planning and has policy coherence with aggregate workforce planning methods of HWA.

Topic 3. Alignment of Rural Workforce Incentive Programs

Executive Sponsor: Claire Austin, Executive Director, International Health Professionals

Map the nature and scope of rural workforce incentive programs currently managed through the health and education sectors and assess alignment of objectives and policy coherency, particularly in relation to their contribution to rural workforce re-distribution. This will inform HWA’s investment in rural incentive programs.

EVALUATING WORKFORCE REFORM AND INNOVATION

Topic 4. Understanding the Context for Implementing Workforce Reform

Executive Sponsor: Claire Austin, Executive Director, International Health Professionals

Identify the key factors to be considered in the development and effective implementation of government workforce initiatives recognizing the different business context and related operational implications (e.g. service delivery, workforce development) for the public, non government and private sectors.

Topic 5. Role Substitution Modelling

Executive Sponsor: Ian Crettenden, Executive Director, Information Analysis and Planning

Development of a sector (e.g. cancer, mental health, aged care) based workforce planning methodology that enables the short and longer term capacity, cost and quality implications of role redesign and substitution of relevant workforce groups in the sector to be estimated. The methodology will take account of both direct implications for the sector and potential ‘knock-on’ implications for workforce capacity in other sectors.

Topic 6. National Scaling of Local Innovation

Executive Sponsor: Ian Crettenden, Executive Director, Information Analysis and Planning

Develop an approach to modelling national implications of local workforce innovation and reform aimed at improving workforce capacity and productivity that can be integrated into the aggregate workforce planning methods of HWA, including specification of standardised minimum data requirements for collection at local trial sites to facilitate this modelling.

Topic 7. Impact of Leadership Development

Executive Sponsor: Etienne Scheepers, Executive Director, Workforce Innovation and Reform

Develop a methodology to assess the impact on workplace and outcomes improvement from investments in leadership development programmes.

Topic 8. Impact of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Back to School Programs

Executive Sponsor: Etienne Scheepers, Executive Director, Workforce Innovation and Reform

Develop a methodology to assess the impact on health workforce participation of investment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ‘back to school’ programmes.

MEASURING AND COSTING CLINICAL TEACHING AND TRAINING

Topic 9. Medical Specialist Training Analysis

Executive Sponsor: Ian Crettenden, Executive Director, Information Analysis and Planning

Undertake an analysis of the stock and flow of medical specialist trainees in order to quantify the distribution of the duration trainees participate in programs and understand the key contributing factors, including identification of specific barriers and enablers for completion of training programs.

Topic 10. Understanding Clinical Training Practice Patterns

Executive Sponsor: Ben Wallace, Executive Director, Clinical Training Reform

Develop understanding on maximising efficiency of clinical training through a study of the variance in the:

-          clinical training requirements from universities within professions, and

-          cost and quality across training providers, including an assessment of the implications for work readiness.

Topic 11. Understanding Clinical Training Supervision

Executive Sponsor: Ben Wallace, Executive Director, Clinical Training Reform

Study to provide greater understanding how clinical training supervision is provided in hospital and out-of-hospital settings.

Closing Date

The closing date for the submission of expressions of interest is 4:00pm, local time in Adelaide on Tuesday 12 June 2012.

Expert Assistance

For assistance in increasing the competitiveness for your response to the HWA Strategic Research Program, contact us to discuss further.

Fund Objectives and Priorities

The proposed objectives and priorities for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Chronic Disease Fund are consistent with the objectives of the Indigenous Chronic Disease Package. The primary objective is to improve the prevention, detection and management of chronic disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, by targeting the three priority areas outlined in the Australian Government’s Implementation Plan:

• Tackling chronic disease risk factors – to reduce the key risk factors that contribute to chronic disease such as smoking, poor nutrition and lack of exercise, and deliver community education initiatives to reduce the prevalence of these risk factors in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.
• Primary health care services that can deliver – to improve access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to chronic disease management and follow-up care by general practices and Indigenous health services.
• Fixing the gaps and improving the patient journey – to build the capacity of the primary health care workforce to increase the use of health services by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with chronic disease

The Department is proposing to retain these broad priorities, at least until 2013 when the findings of the current evaluation activity will be available to inform consideration of any adjustments.

Aim

The aim of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Chronic Disease Fund is to improve the prevention, detection, and management of chronic disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to increase life expectancy and contribute to the Government’s target of closing the gap in life expectancy within a generation.

The majority of the funding for this Fund relates to programs from the Indigenous Chronic Disease Package. Implementation of the initiatives from the package will continue in line with the Commonwealth’s Implementation Plan and the Government’s commitments under the National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes. Consolidation of the funding will provide additional flexibility to respond to changing needs and priorities.
The Government has allocated some $834 million over the next four years to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Chronic Disease Fund.

Activities

Activities to be supported under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Chronic Disease Fund include those currently supported under:

• Indigenous Chronic Disease Package:
• National Action to Reduce Indigenous Smoking Rates
• Helping Indigenous Australians Reduce Their Risk of Chronic Disease
• Local Indigenous Community Campaigns to Promote Better Health
• Subsidising PBS Medicine Co-payments
• Supporting Primary Care Providers to Coordinate Chronic Disease Management – Care Coordination and Supplementary Services Measure
• Improving Indigenous Participation in Health Care Through Chronic Disease Self Management
• Increasing Specialist and Allied Health Follow-up Care
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Workforce Education and Training
• Expanding the Outreach and Service Capacity of Indigenous Health Organisations
• Engaging Divisions of General Practice to Improve Indigenous Access to Mainstream Primary Care
• Attracting More People to Work in Indigenous Health
• Clinical Practice Guidelines – Primary Health Care Resource
• Rheumatic Fever Strategy – National Coordination Unit
• Closing the Gap: Improving Eye and Ear Health Services for Indigenous Australians for Better Education and Employment Outcomes – training of Aboriginal Health Workers in ear health and monitoring and screening.

Potential Grant Funding

Grant funding is an important mechanism used by Government to support activities across a large  range of priority areas. Over time, bringing together small programs to create a number of larger  funding pools will increase the number of applicants seeking funding from the one source, improving  the quality of applications and consistency of merit between funded projects. It can also assist in  embedding evaluation to assist in building the evidence base.

Available funds will be allocated through:

• open grant rounds;
• targeted grant rounds;
• direct funding arrangements; and/or
• procurement (this is the process the department uses to purchase specific services, such as evaluation).

More information

Further information on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Chronic Disease Fund will be updated as it is available.

Round 1 Recipients

Round one ($38.5 million) investments include:

• Nitrous Oxide Research Program ­- $4.7 million
• Reducing Emissions from Livestock Research Program – $11.3 million
• Soil Carbon Research Program  – $9.6 million
• National Biochar Initiative – $1.4 million
• Adaptation Research Program – $11.5 million

 Round two of the CCRP has invested $7.7 million into research demonstration on-farm or by food processors. This investment is aimed at encouraging the adoption of practical technologies and farming system options for farmers and food processors that deliver lower greenhouse gas emissions and productivity growth.

A detailed list of projects is provided here.

Round 2

There will be more opportunities to apply for funding under the Filling the Research Gap program. The next funding round for Filling the Research Gap will be announced later this year. Contact us now on 03 9005 6789 or email to see how we can progress your grant application to maximise your chances of securing funding.

Round 1 Project List

Round 1 Recipients

Shrubs for emissions reduction and carbon storage — Mingenew-Irwin Group

Funding up to: $527,185 ex GST

This project aims to reduce methane emissions from livestock by using mixed perennial native shrub species, known to have antimethanogenic properties, as forage and to increase soil carbon at trial sites across a range of soil types and climatic conditions.

Mitigating greenhouse gases with nitrification inhibitors and biochar in fallows — University of Western Australia

Funding up to: $472,816 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating a range of fallow management, including the addition of biochar and the use of nitrification inhibitors at the time of fertiliser applications to increase soil carbon sequestration and reduce nitrous oxide emission on farms across the Western Australian wheatbelt.

Best management practices of carbon management on Northern Rivers farms — Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority

Funding up to: $548,000 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating multiple practices in the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales, across a suite of farming systems — dairy, beef and horticulture, to increase soil carbon sequestration and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions.

Using tea tree residues and legumes to develop a low-emission tea tree industry — Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation

Funding amount: $307,273 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating on-farm use of pyrolysed tea tree leaf waste as mulch and using legume cover crops to reduce fertiliser demand to increase soil carbon sequestration and reduce nitrous emissions in the principal tea tree growing region of northern New South Wales.

Informed carbon strategies on mixed farms: Practices and carbon compared — Queensland Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Funding up to: $547,727 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating practices on mix cropping/grazing farms in Queensland covering a range of soil and climatic conditions to increase soil carbon sequestration and reduce nitrous oxide emissions.

The ‘economies’ of managing soil organic carbon — Department of Agriculture and Food

Funding up to: $549,845 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating the economics of management practices and innovative strategies to increase soil carbon sequestration on farms across the Western Australian wheatbelt.

Evaluation of soil ameliorates with strong potential to reduce nitrous oxide emissions – Perth Region National Resource Management Incorporated

Funding up to: $357,273 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating soil ameliorates to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from a range of horticulture production systems in Western Australia.

Improved nitrogen efficiency across biophysical regions of the Eyre Peninsula — Eyre Peninsula National Resource Management Board

Funding up to: $322,295 ex GST

The project is trialling rotational cropping practices, including the use of legumes and strategic management of nitrous fertilisers to reduce nitrous oxide emissions across from cropping/pasture systems on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.

Livestock and pasture case studies to demonstrate greenhouse gas abatement — Department of Primary Industries and Regions

Funding up to: $215,486 ex GST

The project will trial and demonstrate practices to reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions associated with livestock production systems in South Australia.

Farmers leading and learning about the soil carbon frontier — Crop Facts Pty Ltd

Funding up to: $550,000 ex GST

The project will trial and demonstrate practices to increase soil carbon sequestration for cropping and grazing farm systems in the wheat/sheep zones of South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales.

Precision placement of carbon amendments in no-tillage cropping systems — Western Australian No-Tillage Farmers Association Incorporated

Funding up to: $377,273 ex GST

The project will trial and demonstrate practices to increase sequestration of soil carbon through direct addition of manure/compost pellets into crop rows during sowing in the Western Australian wheatbelt.

Perennial pasture management systems for soil carbon stocks in cereal zones — Upper North Farming Systems

Funding up to: $549,682 ex GST

The project will trial and demonstrate practices to increase sequestration of soil carbon through use of perennial pastures and strategic grazing of pastures across the mid northern and eastern Eyre Peninsula cereal zones in South Australia.

Soil carbon sequestration through landscape function improvement — Stipa Native Grasses Association Incorporated

Funding up to: $309,637 ex GST

The project will trial practices to increase sequestration of soil carbon through strategic grazing and pasture cropping across a range of soil types and climatic conditions in New South Wales and Victoria.

Increased nitrogen use efficiency by cropping farmers in South Victoria and Tasmania — Southern Farming Systems Limited

Funding up to: $540,909 ex GST

The project will trial and demonstrate practices to reduce nitrous oxide emission by improved fertiliser management for cropping systems in the high rainfall zones of Victoria and Tasmania.

Gippsland Plains soil carbon trials — Productivity and climate change responses — Yarram Yarram Landcare Network

Funding up to: $428,455 ex GST

The project will trial improve rotational grazing management practices associated with pasture improvement through the inclusion of drought tolerant perennial pasture species to increase sequestration of soil carbon on the Gippsland Plains, Victoria.

Increasing soil carbon storage in extensive grazing systems in temperate regions — University of Tasmania

Funding up to: $430,942 ex GST

The project will trial and demonstrate improved grazing management strategies on native and semi native pastures to improve pasture cover and increase sequestration of soil carbon in Tasmania.

Increasing soil carbon in Tweed Valley farmland — Tweed Shire Council

Funding up to: $533,182 ex GST

The project will trial and demonstrate practices to increase sequestration of soil carbon through application of soil amendments; composts/biochar, manures and legume cover crops in the Tweed Shire area, New South Wales.

Decreasing dairy farm greenhouse gas emissions and building soil carbon — Monash University

Funding up to: $546,715 ex GST

The project will trial and demonstrate practices to reduce greenhouse gas emission from dairy farms by using animal effluents on-farm as compost to increase sequestration of soil carbon and reduce fertiliser inputs to pasture on dairy farms in southwest Victoria.

Antimethogenic stockfeed via Eremophylla pellets — South Australian No-Till Farmers Association Incorporated

Funding up to: $390,909 ex GST

The project will trial and demonstrate Eremophylla as a forage/feed supplement to reduce methane emissions from livestock in South Australia.

Increased soil carbon by accelerated humus formation from crop residues — Riverine Plains Incorporated

Funding up to: $492,727 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating practices to increase sequestration of soil carbon by accelerated decomposition and incorporation in soil of cereal crop residues in south eastern Australia.

Innovative carbon storage and nitrogen management strategies in the Western Australian Wheatbelt — The Lieb Group Incorporated

Funding up to: $519,200 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating a range of practices to increase sequestration of soil carbon and reduce nitrous fertiliser use in associated cropping and grazing in the Western Australian wheatbelt.

Rapid post-weaning growth of steers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions — The University of Adelaide

Funding up to: $231,818 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating practices to reduce livestock methane emission by rapid post weaning of steers in feedlots in Meningie, South Australia.

Monaro farm management strategies and their effects on soil carbon — Monaro Farming Systems Incorporated

Funding up to: $251,808 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating a range of integrated cropping and grazing practices to increase sequestration of soil carbon in the Monaro district, New South Wales.

Improving nitrogen use efficiency using precision farming technology — Southern Farming Systems Limited

Funding up to: $321,045 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating precision agriculture techniques to reduce nitrous oxide emission by improved fertiliser management for cropping systems in high rainfall zones of Victoria and Tasmania.

Lowering nitrous oxide emissions in intensively grazed pasture systems — Western Dairy Incorporated

Funding up to: $343,182 ex GST

The project is trialling ‘smart-N technology’ to variably control application of liquid fertiliser and nitrification inhibitors to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from intensively managed dairy pasture systems in Western Australia and Tasmania.

Horticulture: taking action to capture carbon and reduce nitrous oxide emissions — Applied Horticulture Research Pty Ltd

Funding up to: $394,000 ex GST

The project is trialling minimum tillage practices, including control traffic and use of mulches, to reduce nitrous oxide emission and increase sequestration of soil carbon during the production of vegetable crops in New South Wales.

Compost for carbon in agriculture — Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services

Funding up to: $549,383 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating practices to increase sequestration of soil carbon through the addition of different types of compost in pasture systems in New South Wales.

Increasing soil carbon in degraded cropping and grazing land — Condamine Catchment Natural Resource Management Corporation Limited

Funding up to: $539,432 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating a range practices to increase sequestration of soil carbon in degraded cropping and grazing lands in the Condamine catchment, Queensland.

Improving soil fertiliser irrigation management for South East Queensland Ginger Production — Queensland Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Funding up to: $482,436 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating improved nitrous fertiliser management practices in combination with legume cover crops to reduce nitrous oxide emissions and increase sequestration of soil carbon in association with cultivation of ginger in southeast Queensland.

Enabling landholders to adopt profitable & sustainable carbon cropping practices — Charles Sturt University

Funding up to: $543,636 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating cropping and nitrogen fertiliser management practices to reduce nitrous oxide emissions and increase sequestration of soil carbon in association with no/minimum tillage cropping in New South Wales and Victoria.

Early finishing of lambs in on-farm feedlots to reduce greenhouse gas emissions — Birchip Cropping Group Incorporated

Funding up to: $232,385 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating practices to reduce methane emission by early finishing of dry land lambs in on-farm feedlots in the Mallee, Victoria.

Empowering farmers to adopt behaviour change in a carbon economy — South Coast Natural Resource Management Incorporated

Funding up to: $487,685 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating a range of intermixes of perennial pastures and cropping practices, including the use of soil amendments to increase sequestration of soil carbon in the Western Australian wheatbelt.

Nitrous oxide reduction and soil carbon increase in tropical fruit tree crops — Northern Gulf Resource Management Group Limited

Funding up to: $420,254 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating soil amendments to reduce nitrous oxide emissions and increase sequestration of soil carbon in association with cultivation of tropical fruit tree crops in northern Queensland.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through improved nitrogen management on NT farms — Northern Territory Government

Funding up to: $548,303 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating practices to reduce nitrous oxide emissions associated with horticultural and cropping industries in Northern Australia.

Improved cattle grazing practices to reduce methane and benefit soil carbon — B Adams & D.D Curr

Funding up to: $534,364 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating practices to reduce methane emission from livestock and increase sequestered soil carbon through improved feeding of cattle using feed supplements and improved savannah pasture management at Springvale Station, Queensland.

Northern grazing carbon farming – integrating production and GHG outcomes 1 — Queensland Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Funding up to: $549,909 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating practices to reduce methane emission from livestock and increase sequestered soil carbon through improved management of forage for cattle and savannah pastures Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Greenhouse gas abatement in viticulture — The Australian Wine Research Institute

Funding up to: $548,046 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating different vineyard floor management practices to reduce nitrous emission and increase sequestration of soil carbon in five winegrape growing regions, across Australia covering a range of soil types and climatic conditions.

Grazing into the future: building soil health and carbon with pasture management — University of Western Australia

Funding up to: $291,545 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating the use of perennial pasture and intensive cell grazing to increase sequestration of soil carbon in the Western Australian wheatbelt.

Sequestering soil carbon in an irrigated landscape turned dry ecological grazing — Kilter Pty Ltd

Funding up to: $399,455 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating practices to increase sequestration of soil carbon through adoption of dry land grazing practices and improved management of native vegetation in the Torrumbarry Irrigation District, Victoria.

Impact of farming systems on soil carbon and health in a dry cropping zone — Central West Farming Systems Incorporated

Funding up to: $550,000 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating practices to increase sequestration of soil carbon in the dry land cropping zone of central New South Wales.

The clean energy benefits of tropical agricultural management systems — Reef Catchments Mackay Whitsunday Isaac Limited

Funding up to: $550,000 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating practices across a range of tropical intensive farming systems in north Queensland to increase sequestration of soil carbon and reduce nitrous oxide emission through improved use of nitrogen fertilisers.

Dietary nitrate reduces methane emissions from beef cattle — The University of New England

Funding up to: $550,000 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating the use of dietary nitrate to reduce methane emissions from beef cattle in Northern Australia.

Soil carbon in commercial cropping systems: Science to best agronomic practice — NSW Farmers Association

Funding up to: $550,000 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating a range of cropping practices to increase sequestration of soil carbon and reduce nitrous oxide emission at farm sites across the cropping zone in New South Wales.

Organic amendments to increase carbon in cropping soils — Southern Farming Systems Limited

Funding up to: $353,488 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating practices to increase sequestered soil carbon through addition of soil amendments in the Gippsland cropping region, Victoria.

Grazing land rehabilitation to increase soil carbon storage in north-west Queensland — Southern Gulf Catchments Limited

Funding up to: $550,000 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating practices to improve/rehabilitate degraded pastures to increase sequestration of soil carbon and reduce nitrous oxide emission across the cropping zone in the Southern Gulf region, north west Queensland.

The potential of pyrethrum marc as a soil amendment for enhancing carbon storage — Botanical Resources Australia-Agricultural Services Pty Ltd

Funding up to: $234,183 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating practices to increase sequestration of soil carbon and reduce nitrous oxide emission by using composted pyrethrum marc as a soil amendment to reduce nitrous fertiliser inputs associated with cropping practices in Tasmania.

Demonstration of innovative methane capture and nutrient stripping algae system — Zero Discharge Pty Ltd

Funding up to: $468,058 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating on-farm technology in Victoria to directly reduce agricultural gas emissions from livestock effluents by using algae to capture nutrients wastes that can be used as soil amendments reducing on-farm fertiliser demand.

Nitrous oxide emissions from irrigated cropping – Victorian Irrigated Cropping Council Incorporated

Funding up to: $187,500 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating practices to reduce nitrous emission by improved management of nitrous fertiliser applications in association with irrigated cropping in the Northern Victoria and Southern New South Wales irrigation districts.

Northern grazing carbon farming – integrating production and GHG outcomes 2 — Queensland Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Funding up to: $540,273 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating a range of practices to reduce methane emission from beef cattle and increase sequestered soil carbon through; reduce stocking rates, improve herd productivity and improved grazing/forage/savannah pasture management in northern Australian rangelands.

Cropping with compost for increasing carbon stored in soil — Wimmera Catchment Authority

Funding up to: $270,691 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating practices to increase sequestration of soil carbon by using composted as a soil amendment to reduce nitrous fertiliser inputs associated with cropping practices in the Wimmera, Victoria.

Increasing soil carbon storage in New South Wales coastal grazing lands — Singleton Shire Landcare Network Incorporated

Funding up to: $212,991 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating practices to increase sequestration of soil carbon though the use of cell grazing and soil amendment on coastal grazing lands in Singleton Shire, New South Wales.

Innovative biological farming systems — B.B Maurice and R.T Maurice

Funding up to: $479,855 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating the use of biological soil amendments in conjunction with improved pasture and minimum tillage cropping practices to reduce nitrous oxide emission and increase sequestration of soil carbon in central New South Wales.

Aqua-Till — N-Injection – South Australian No-Till Farmers Association

Funding up to: $185,000 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating technology to reduce nitrous emission by direct injection of fertiliser below ground at time of sowing for summer corn and winter wheat crops in northern New South Wales and lower northern South Australia.

Improved fertiliser and soil management in South East Queensland intensive horticulture — Queensland Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Funding up to: $517,273 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating reduce tillage practices, use of legume fallow crops and soil organic amendments to reduce nitrous emission and increase sequestration of soil carbon in association with the production of strawberries and pineapples in Queensland.

Improved rotations and fertiliser decisions to decrease nitrous oxide losses — Wimmera Catchment Authority

Funding up to: $321,880 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating the inclusion of legumes in crop rotations to reduce fertiliser inputs and reduce nitrous oxide emission of grain growers in Victoria.

Efficient grain production compared with nitrous oxide emission — Birchip Cropping Group Incorporated

Funding up to: $455,663 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating practices to reduce nitrous oxide emission from grains production through variable rate nitrous fertiliser applications and cropping rotations in southern Australia.

Enhanced compost trials on cane and tree crops on the Sunshine Coast — South East Queensland Catchments Limited

Funding up to: $394,000 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating compost soil amendments to reduce nitrous oxide emissions and increase sequestration of soil carbon in association with cultivation of sugar cane and horticultural crops in Queensland.

Managing soil carbon and nitrogen in Kikuyu pastures in the Fitzgerald Biosphere — Fitzgerald Biosphere Group Limited

Funding up to: $420,908 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating improving Kikuyu pastures by inter sowing with legumes to increase sequestration of soil carbon and reduce nitrous oxide emission by reducing nitrogen fertiliser inputs in the Fitzgerald biosphere region, Western Australia.

Using distribution of organic carbon as a basis for reducing nitrogen application rates — Farmacist Pty Ltd

Funding up to: $152,173 ex GST

The project is trialling and demonstrating practices and technologies to precision manage the variable application of nitrous fertiliser to reduce nitrous oxide emissions associated with the production sugar cane in the Mackay region, Queensland.

About the Action on the Ground program

The Action on the Ground program  is an ongoing program that will invest $99 million during the first six years (2011-12 to 2016-17) to assist landholders trial and demonstrate ways to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and/or increase carbon stored in soil.

Round one will provide funding of up to $25 million. Projects will test the relationships between different management practices and emissions levels/carbon stores, which will enable knowledge transfer and promote broader uptake of land sector abatement activities.

Purpose of the Action on the Ground Program

Action on the Ground is designed to assist the on-farm trial and demonstration of practices and technologies to reduce agricultural sector greenhouse gas emissions and/or increase carbon stored in soil. This will be achieved by supporting landholders, research, industry, non-government, government and farmer ‘care’ ‘grower’ groups/organisations to trial and demonstrate management practices and technologies that can reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and/or increase carbon stored in soil.

Action on the Ground is seeking applications from groups of landholders, research, industry sectors, non-government, government and farmer ‘care’ ‘grower’ group/organisations to undertake on-farm projects to:

• demonstrate that research outcomes, including, but not limited to, outcomes of research undertaken through the Climate Change Research Program, can be practically applied on-farm to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and/or increase carbon stored in soil under a range of farming practices, geographic and climatic conditions
• trial and demonstrate innovative farming practices and/or abatement technologies that can be practically applied on-farm to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and/or increase carbon stored in soil.

Priorities for Action on the Ground are:

• Reduced methane emissions

Agriculture produces around 60 per cent of Australia’s methane emissions, the majority coming from livestock.

Through the Climate Change Research Program, researchers have been investigating a range of management practices and abatement technologies to reduce methane emissions from farmed animals.

Action on the Ground is seeking applications for on-farm projects to trial and demonstrate practices and/or abatement technologies that may be used to reduce methane emissions. Such practices may include, but are not limited to, biological controls, dietary supplements, improved feed management and use of alternative forage types and reduction of emissions from soils.

• Reduced nitrous oxide emissions

Nitrous oxide is a significant greenhouse gas as it is 310 times more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of its global warming effect.

Through the Nitrous Oxide Research program, which is part of the Climate Change Research Program, researchers have been investigating different management practices for reducing nitrous oxide emissions associated with the agricultural sector.

Action on the Ground is seeking applications for on-farm projects to trial and demonstrate practices and/or technologies that may be used to reduce nitrous oxide emissions. Such practices may include, but are not limited to, strategic irrigation management (timing and amount of water applied), using legume crops and pastures to build up soil nitrogen (rather than using nitrogenous fertiliser), better management of nitrogen fertiliser applications, including use of enhanced efficiency fertilisers, and/or using nitrification or urease inhibitors.

• Increasing carbon stored in soil

Through the Soil Carbon Research program (SCRP), which is part of the Climate Change Research program, researchers have examined various management practices and their impact on soil carbon levels. The SCRP has developed a national standard for measuring soil carbon and provided key data to improve the National Carbon Accounting System.

Action on the Ground is seeking applications for on-farm projects to trial and demonstrate practices that can be used to increase and maintain the amount of carbon stored in soil. Such practices may include, but are not limited to, crop rotation strategies to reduce or eliminate fallow periods, addition of pasture phase to crop practices and/or cropping pastures, soil amendments, offsite additions to soil (such as claying, addition of organic materials etc), increasing pasture cover and/or inclusion of perennial species, conversion from cropping to perennial pasture and restoration of degraded farm land.

Applications proposing to trial and demonstrate practices to increase the amount of carbon stored in soil must use sampling and analytical methods either developed by or consistent with those developed by the SCRP and take into account any associated nitrous oxide emissions where nitrogen is applied in any form. Information on the SCRP is available on CSIRO website.

• Reduce greenhouse gas emission and/or store carbon in soil through the application of innovative practices and/or abatement technologies

Action on the Ground is seeking applications for on-farm projects to trial and demonstrate innovative practices and/or abatement technologies that may lead to a reduction in agricultural greenhouse gas emission and/or store carbon in soil.

Such projects may include, but are not limited to, on-farm practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural wastes or other agricultural sources.

Funds Available

Action on the Ground Program funding of between $55 000 and up to $385 000 (inclusive of GST) may be allowed in the first two financial years of a project (2011-12 and 2012-13) with a maximum of up to $110 000 (GST inc.) in subsequent financial years (2013-14 and 2014-15).

The maximum amount of Action on the Ground funds that may be applied for in a single application is up to $605 000 (GST inc.) over the four financial years to 30 June 2015.

Action on the Ground applicants are required to provide cash/in-kind contributions. Contributions must be directly related to the eligible costs of delivering the activities of the project and can include salaries of staff for the time they are involved in the project. Contributions should be listed as part of the project budget in the application.

Successful Action on the Ground applicants will be required to enter into a Funding Deed with the Commonwealth of Australia through the department before they receive any Australian Government funding. All activities associated with the project must be completed by the date specified in the Funding Deed, including the preparation and submission of a final project report evaluating the outcomes of the project.

Key Dates – Round One

Table 1 below presents anticipated key dates for the first round of funding of the Action on the Ground program. Subsequent rounds will be announced in future years and information on these will be available on the department’s website.

Who Can Apply?

Action on the Ground applications are sought from landholders, research, industry sectors, non-government, government and farmer ‘care’ ‘grower’ group/organisations and/or consortiums to undertake on-farm projects.

Action on the Ground grants are targeted towards the Australian agricultural sector. To be eligible, the applicant must be an Australian legal entity at the time the application is lodged, for example:

• an incorporated association
• a body corporate
• a company
• a cooperative society
• an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander corporation, council or incorporated association
• a duly constituted partnership or trust
• a sole trader.

An Action on the Ground application being made by a legal entity on behalf of a consortium of organisations/group of landholders/farmers will be required to provide information identifying all member organisations/landholders/farmers that they will be representing during the project. The Funding Deed will be entered into with the applicant (single entity) – who will be wholly responsible for the performance of the Funding Deed.

What qualifies for funding?

Applications for funding through the Action on the Ground program must meet the following requirements:

• Applicants must seek to trial or demonstrate agricultural greenhouse gas emission reductions or carbon sequestration as a result of specific management practices and/or technologies under one or more of the Action on the Ground priority areas (Section 2 – Purpose of the Action on the Ground program).
• Applicants must address all requirements of these guidelines and be submitted using the Action on the Ground application form in accordance with Section 7 – How to apply.
• Proposed works must be undertaken on-farm in Australia.
• The application must address the assessment criteria (Section 11 – How are applications assessed?).
• Applicants/consortium/partnership leader must have the agreement of the other consortium/partner organisations to submit the proposal e.g. CEO of company, agricultural sector organisation, chief executive of a government department.
• Proposed project activities must not duplicate activities for which the applicant is already receiving Commonwealth funding.

Eligible Activities

Examples of some activities that would be eligible for funding include practises and/or technologies that seek to address Action on the Ground priorities (Section 2 – Purpose of the Action on the Ground program) through on-farm projects’ that trial and demonstrate:

• animal management and feed strategies that can reduce methane emissions
• management strategies to reduce soil nitrous oxide emissions including the use of chemical inhibitors
• planting, rotation, cropping or grazing practices to either reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions from soil and/or increase carbon stored in soil
• on-farm management practices and abatement technologies to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural wastes
• other practices and abatement technologies that can be demonstrated on-farm to have the potential to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and/or increase carbon stored in soil.

Ineligible Activities

Examples of project activities that would be ineligible to receive funding through Action on the Ground include activities that:

• do not address any of the identified Action on the Ground priorities (Section 2 – Purpose of the Action on the Ground program)
• are already being undertaken by the applicant and funded through other Commonwealth programs
• seek funding to undertake subsequent devolved funding of projects. All entities receiving funding to deliver on-farm activities as part of a project must be identified in the application.
• have costs associated with either the development of a Carbon Farming Initiative methodology or implementation of a project under a Carbon Farming Initiative methodology
• focus on reduction of greenhouse gas emission associated with on-farm fuel use and/or power consumption
• aim to develop on-farm greenhouse gas emissions abatement plans without significant farm based activities that implement practices to reduce agricultural greenhouse emission and/or store carbon in soil.

Funding will only be paid for work outlined in the Funding Deed and undertaken as part of Action on the Ground. No payments will be made for works/research undertaken prior to the signing of the Funding Deed.

The following costs would be ineligible for payment through Action on the Ground. It is envisaged that provision of these activities would be part of an applicant’s contribution to the project.

• Capital expenditure for the purchase of assets such as office furniture and equipment, motor vehicles, computers, printers, photocopiers, construction, renovations and utilities.
• Costs involved in the purchase/upgrade of software including licenses.
• Any cost incurred prior to signing the Funding Deed with the Commonwealth.
• Core business expenses such as:
  • staff relocation costs
  • administration/overhead and infrastructure costs
  • international travel
  • living expenses for project staff.
• Australian domestic travel and living allowance that is not directly related to the project.
• Hospitality/catering costs.
• Financial support for feasibility studies.
• Commercially based activities, such as costs associated with:
  • the protection or patenting of intellectual property
  • activities of a distinctly commercial or proprietary nature that are aimed at selling or attracting investment
  • product development and the building or production of commercial prototypes.

Expert Assistance

Contact us on 03 9005 6789 to see how we can make your bid competitive.

What is a Capability Technology Demonstrator (CTD)?

A Capability Technology Demonstrator (CTD) is a fully Government funded project that demonstrates how your technology might enhance Defence capability in a previously unexplored way. A CTD is demonstrated to a Defence audience, usually after 2 to 3 years of funded development.

What is the Capability Technology Demonstrator (CTD) Program?

The CTD Program is the Department of Defence’s flagship innovation program. It was established in 1997 to give Australian Defence industry opportunities to demonstrate how its ideas and technologies could enhance Australian Defence Force (ADF) capability. It has funded over $250 million to deliver over 100 technology demonstrations, 14 CTDs have entered service with the Australian Defence Force and many more are under consideration for further development.

The CTD Program is funded by the Capability Development Group and is managed by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO). It encourages the formation of multidisciplinary teams from Defence and industry, which can include individual innovators, company employees, military capability managers and scientists who design and monitor a CTD project through to demonstration.

Who can apply for CTD funding?

Initial proposals for CTDs are called for in April/May each year and can be accepted from Australian and New Zealand organisations.  Proposals from small to medium enterprises account for half of all successful CTDs.

What kinds of projects will the CTD Program support?

The CTD Program provides unique opportunities to demonstrate the capability potential of technology in Defence capability areas. Defence’s priority areas of interest in the Maritime, Aerospace, Land and Joint operational environments are listed in the annual CTD advertisement each April/May.  Successfully selected CTDs from past years are listed on the DSTO website and indicate that CTDs cover a wide range of technologies.  CTD applicants should familiarise themselves with the Public Defence Capability Plan or DCP (see Department of Defence website) and consider if there is a potential, long-term ‘home’ for their CTD proposal; that is, an upcoming DCP project that could conceivably use the proposed CTD technology in a more developed form. This could provide a further development path for some CTD technologies.

Applicants may wish to consider the following areas of capability interest which include (but are not limited to):

▶ Applications to support operational decision making

▶ Sensors/weapons applicable to complex environments

▶ Military platform survivability enhancing technologies

▶ Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) detection, warning and protection

▶ Non-lethal weapons and scalable effects

▶ Individual soldier equipment weight reduction

▶ Miniaturisation of platforms and components

▶ Robotics and unmanned systems

▶ Networking – architectures and systems integration for platforms and dismounted soldiers

▶ Optic fibre networks that can be incorporated into future warships

▶ Collision avoidance technologies for smaller Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

▶ Computing technology in support of Australian Defence Force deployed operations

▶ Advanced Geospatial Intelligence analytical environments

▶ Automated Geospatial Information production capabilities

▶ Remote and roving integrated Geospatial Intelligence Solutions

▶ Counter-mine/IED detection and neutralisation

▶ Enhanced Geospatial Intelligence storage solutions for strategic and tactical environments.

▶ Helicopter landing aids (improvements to operations in degraded visual environments for Army helicopters)

▶ Integrated platform emitter blanking (communications, radars and tactical data links)

▶ Launch and recovery systems for Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUV)

▶ Low cost simulation display technologies for C4I interface design and experimentation

▶ Tactical Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR)

▶ Integrated active masts (technologies that leverage off the ANZAC CEAFAR/CEAMOUNT mast)

▶ Underwater sensors that complement long range persistent underwater sensors

▶ Modelling and simulation behaviour repository that supports C2 simulation, anthropomorphic representations and human factors

What is the funding provided for successful CTD proposals?

Defence has undertaken over 100 CTDs ranging from $150,000 to $4,000,000 at a total cost exceeding $250 million. Defence payments are made on completion of meeting mutually developed project milestones.

How do I apply for a CTD?

The CTD Program operates on the basis of annual rounds. It calls for submissions from defence industry through public advertisements in April/May each year.

Interested entities should submit an initial proposal in the appropriate template provided by the advertised closing date in July of each year. Over 100 CTD initial proposals are received each year.

Expert Assistance

We have assisted many clients with their R&D and commercialisation projects that were funded by government grants. Our job is to make your application competitive. Typically we can assist with demonstrating the:

- potential to contribute to Defence capability development
- potential to transition into service
- level of technology and innovation
- extent to which Australian industry would benefit from receiving Defence assistance in demonstrating the technology.
- level of confidence in bringing the proposed technology to a successful demonstration.

If you think you are eligible for this grant. Call us on 03 9005 6789 to discuss how we can maximise your chances of securing this funding

Timeline

Although times will vary slightly from year to year, the following time-line gives a general indication of when each stage takes place:

Closing date:  3 July 2012 by 5pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time)

CTD Round 16 – Cancellation

Due to recent budgetary adjustments, CTD Round 16 has been cancelled.

However, CTD Round 17 has been advertised in the national press (The Australian, 5 May) and industry presentations are occurring in most states, including Queensland (Cairns, 29 May), Victoria (Melbourne, 31 May) and New South Wales (Newcastle, 5 June).

All questions on CTD Rounds 16 and 17 should be directed to the Director of the CTD Program Office, Dr Alan Hinge:

Round 2 Recipients

• Agworld Pty Ltd (West Leederville): enhancing the capabilities of the software that captures, shares and manages data for the agricultural industry
• Australian Grown Superfoods Pty Ltd (Narrogin): to establish an Australian-based industry for Quinoa, a new wave of super food
• Bioactive Solutions (Floreat): research into the development of a cure and preventative solution for colon cancer
• Bioscience Pty Ltd (Forrestdale): IP protection for its unique discoveries into soils and how it can improve the production of grain
• Cocky Smart Pty Ltd (Victoria Park): engaging a commercialisation expert to progress an environmentally friendly, safe and effective repellent against flystrike in sheep
• Direct Nickel Pty Ltd (Karawara): a process to cheaply and cleanly recover nickel from laterite ores
• Ezifix Mining Solutions Pty Ltd (Manjimup): safer and cheaper conveyor belt maintenance system for the global mining industry
• Globaltech Corporation Pty Ltd (Canning Vale): ‘Markitwrite’ is an innovative core-sample marking device
• HP Wellhead Solutions (Maddington): commercialisation advice for a unique valve to control offshore oil or gas wells against wellhead blowouts
• Jet Net International Pty Ltd (Canning Vale): further development of a new generation abrasive water jet capable of cutting three to four times faster than existing systems for the manufacturing industry
• No-Rock Cafe Tables Pty Ltd (Dunsborough): to engage an industrial design agency to assist in the production of a device to stabilise table legs
• Quanterra Pty Ltd (Osborne Park): IP protection for a liquidity stress analysis system for financial markets
• Shift Geophysics Pty Ltd (Wilson): patent assistance for the technology behind a new unmanned aircraft
• Wintermute Metals Pty Ltd (Seville Grove): further development of a more environmentally friendly process to recycle platinum group metals from car wrecks and exhausts for re-use.

About

The Innovation Vouchers program will provide financial assistance (up to $20,000) to small to medium enterprises (SME’s) to access professional skills, services or knowledge that will enable them to advance their innovation or commercialisation activity in Western Australia.

Objectives

The major aim of the IVP, is to enable small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) to have access to, and establish collaborative relationships with, research providers and/or specialist commercialisation support services.

The objectives of the IVP are to support innovation initiatives that will:

• decrease the commercialisation gap;
• activate industry-government-research collaborations;
• increase R&D investment into Western Australia.

Levels of funding support

The level of funding support available under the IVP is up to a maximum of $20,000 per voucher over one year. Subsequent funding is subject to re-application and State Government priorities.

Where funding is allocated it will be on a competitive basis to those applicants clearly demonstrating that they meet the evaluation criteria.  State Government funding provided under the IVP is intended to support smallto-medium enterprises to access professional skills, services or knowledge that will enable these entities to advance an innovation or commercialisation activity in Western Australia.

Eligible expenditure includes:

• research and development (eg technical development and compliance testing);
• product development (eg engineering design work);
• technology transfer and intellectual property (eg protection of intellectual property, legal advice and licensing); and
• commercialisation support services (eg innovation management and consulting).

Eligibility criteria

The IVP can support activities that have strategic merit consistent with current State Government priorities, policies, programs and industry sector plans, and other initiatives consistent with the objects of the Act.  In order to be considered eligible, and to be included in the evaluation process, an application must meet the following criteria:

The applicant must:

• be a Western Australian based small-to-medium enterprise that employs less than 200 people;
• have an ABN/ACN;
• have evidence of a net cash co-investment of matched funds at a rate no less than 20:80 of applicant to State Government funding.  All co-investment items may be subject to an independent audit.  Note: State Government agency resources cannot be leveraged against the program unless prior written agreement from the Minister for Science and Innovation is obtained. In-kind support, in addition to the net cash co-investment, will demonstrate enhanced viability of the proposed project.
• must not have received, nor is likely to receive other Department of Commerce funding for the same project/initiative.

Items requested for funding must fall into one or more of the following categories:

• research and development (eg technical development and compliance testing);
• product development (eg engineering design work);
• technology transfer and intellectual property (eg protection of intellectual property, legal advice and licensing);
• commercialisation support services (eg innovation management and consulting).

Funding cannot be spent on general business/operational/business planning activities that are usual requirements of a business (eg training courses, salaries, hardware or software purchases, marketing or website development).

The activities proposed in the application must align with the aim and objectives of the program.

Evaluation criteria

Eligible applications will be evaluated against the following criteria:

• Need - the idea/innovation addresses a need or market issue; and o the applicant demonstrates how State Government funds will be utilised to advance the idea/innovation;
• Level of Impact/Change - delivers tangible benefits for industry and other end-users; generates Western Australian economic, social, environmental benefits and/or targets; enhances Western Australian innovation systems performance; and has the potential to leverage additional investment into Western Australia;
• Capability: the applicant can demonstrate their capability to use the specialist service provider to advance their idea/innovation;
• Capacity: that the applicant has the personnel with qualifications, skills and experience to utilise the specialist service outcomes to advance their idea/innovation;
• Collaboration: that the applicant demonstrates the need to access a specialist service provider and the collaboration between the applicant and the specialist service provider matches the need of the applicant to advance their idea/innovation;
• Competitive Advantage: the proposed idea/innovation has a competitive advantage in their market. i.e. through differentiation – cost benefits, product features, delivery and any other unique features;
• Financial Viability: the applicant will be viable as a distinct operating entity and continue to achieve its operating objectives and fulfil its goals for a period of one year from the commencement of IVP funding.

About

The Australian Clean Technologies (Cleantech) Competition was first run in 2011 as a way to identify the best ways of addressing the challenges of climate change and sustainability. The 2012 competition will be launched in May and will provide another opportunity for Australian cleantech companies to develop their businesses.

The clean technologies industry is worth $26 billion and employs over 45,000 people nationally. The Government’s goal is to ensure a sustainable and cohesive sector that helps Australia meet the growing needs of a green economy.

The competition will promote a uniquely Australian take on building the future of this high-tech, high-skill sector.

Ideas can be for technologies, services and policies that address pollution, waste treatment and energy storage, new ways of looking at energy efficiency, building materials, transportations systems, public utilities and much more.

2012 Competition Information Sessions

Come and hear about some of last year’s success stories and why this year the competition is bigger and better. Hear from last year’s finalists and about the Cleantech Business Accelerator Program and the Australian Cleantech Investment Showcase. Download flyer here

• Melbourne – 14 May, 5pm-7pm.
• Brisbane – 29 May, 6pm-9pm.
• Sydney – 23 May, 3:45pm-6pm – Following on from the Eco Innovation Forum

Cleantech Business Accelerator Program

Competition entrants will compete to quality for an intensive mentoring package that will see them receive the best advice and to give their businesses the greatest chance to move towards success. This Cleantech Business Accelerator Program will be tailored to suit the diversity of needs reflected in growing businesses – be it access to venture capitalists, patent support, legal advice, research support or corporate assurance.

Up to 30 of the best companies will qualify as Competition Semi-Finalists and be eligible to take part in the Cleantech Business Accelerator Program. This Program will be delivered over two months and will culminate in the companies preparing a business plan that they will be able to use to expand their businesses.

Finalists

Up to six companies will then be selected as Finalists and will receive additional advice and introductions.

The Australian Winner will be announced at an Investment Showcase and Gala Dinner in October. The Winner will be funded to represent Australia at the international GlobalCleantech Open Competition in the US in November 2012. All of the Finalists will be invited to join the Australian delegation attending this event.

The Australian competition is an initiative of the Gillard Government’s $8.2 million Supplier Advocate Program, and is supported by Enterprise Connect, Commercialisation Australia, CSIRO and Austrade.

More information is available at www.innovation.gov.au/supplieradvocates

About

$63 M has been allocated over four years to support targeted action related to chronic disease prevention and service improvement. On 1 May 2012, letters were sent to all applicants on the outcomes of the assessment process. That correspondence indicates whether you are invited to enter into contract negotiations with the Department, or whether your application has been unsuccessful in this instance.

Round 2

Details of future funding opportunities will be advertised on the Department’s website and may be contained within the guidelines for a particular Fund. We have successfully raised over $1M from this grant. If you were unsuccessful in funding, feel free to call us on 03 9005 6789 or email us to discuss how we can assist your next application to be more competitive.

Fund objectives

The objective of the Chronic Disease Prevention and Service Improvement Fund is to support targeted action related to chronic disease prevention and service improvement, particularly within the primary care and community sectors to:

• Reduce the incidence of preventable mortality and morbidity;
• Maximise the wellbeing and quality of life of individuals affected by chronic disease from  initial diagnosis to end of life;
• Reduce the pressure on the health and hospital system including aged care; and
• Support evidence-based best practice in the prevention, detection, treatment and management  of chronic disease.

Fund Priorities

The following priority areas have been identified to achieve the Chronic Disease Prevention and Service Improvement Fund’s objectives and translate its key principles into practice:

1. Prevention across the continuum
2. Early detection and appropriate treatment
3. Integration and continuity of prevention and care
4. Self management

1. Prevention across the continuum

Prevention across the continuum enables a holistic approach towards prevention, with intervention at multiple points.  These intervention levels can be broadly grouped into three categories:

• primary prevention  – to prevent movement of the ‘well’ to the ‘at risk’ population
• secondary prevention – to prevent progression from ‘at risk’ to ‘established’ disease state
• tertiary prevention – to prevent and/or delay progression to complications from the disease.

The Department may fund a range of prevention and service improvement activities that address this priority area, including but not limited to:

• health promotion and risk reduction,
• improving health literacy,
• raising community awareness and capacity
• strengthening community action,
• monitoring and surveillance of risks,
• rehabilitation and patient support.

2. Early detection and appropriate treatment

To support a targeted approach to early detection and appropriate treatment, supporting activities that promote best-practice care and risk factor prevention and management.

The Department may fund a range of prevention and service improvement activities that address this priority area, including but not limited to:

• interventions to raise awareness of risk factors and follow up (not relating to MBS items)
• health promotion,
• support for patients, their carers and families,
• support for increased uptake of screening services particularly in hard to reach and under- screened population groups,
• support for end-of-life care,
• building the evidence to improve the knowledge base ,
• facilitating best practice,
• improving the safety and quality of care

3. Integration and continuity of prevention and care

To support the integration and continuity of prevention and care by ensuring that people are receiving all the services they need in a timely manner, maximising their health outcomes and enhancing their ‘patient journey’.
The Department may fund a range of prevention and service improvement activities that address this priority area, including but not limited to:

• collaborative and multidisciplinary models of care,
• capacity building and infrastructure support to enhance integration,
• strengthening community action,
• support for end-of-life care,
• support for patients, their carers and families,
• building the evidence to improve the knowledge base,
• facilitating best practice, and
• improving the safety and quality of care.

4. Self management

To support self management, enabling people with chronic disease to engage in activities that protect and promote health, monitoring and managing symptoms and signs of illness, managing the impacts of illness on functioning, emotions and interpersonal relationships, and negotiating and adhering to treatment regimens.  This priority emphasises a person-centred approach to care and decision-making in addressing chronic disease prevention and service improvement.
The Department may fund a range of prevention and service improvement activities that address
this priority area, including but not limited to:

• development of consumer education tools and resources,
• improving health literacy,
• professional training to promote self management,
• promotion of patient involved multidisciplinary care models,
• support for patients, their carers and families, and
• support for end-of-life care.

What Will Not Be Funded?

The Department will not fund activities that are inconsistent with the Fund Guidelines, that duplicate existing activities, resources or initiatives, or that will only assist an individual without having any impact on the wider community.

Some specific examples of activities that will not be funded include:

• capital works or construction;
• purchasing of major equipment or motor vehicles;
• long-term, recurrent or ongoing funding of routine service delivery;
• retrospective items/activities;
• activities undertaken by political organisations;
• activities that subsidise commercial activities.

Expert Assistance

We have successfully raised over $1M from this grant and have significant experience in many other health grants. Typical areas where we can be of assistance include:

• Demonstrating the identified need;
• Highlighting the relevance to current government policies and priorities;
• Complete the Project Plan and Budget Projections;
• Identify Outcomes that are measurable;
• Detail the applicant organisation’s experience or expertise in undertaking the project/s;
• Calculating the value for money; and
• Demonstrating capacity to deliver quality outcomes

Call us on 03 9005 6789 or email us to discuss how we can assist further.