Landcare Grants to boost outstanding work of volunteers

Landcare groups and environmental volunteers are receiving more support to care for nature.

The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) is inviting applications for the Victorian Government Landcare Grants totaling $3.55 million to fund projects making a difference to enhance and protect Victoria’s great outdoors.

Landcare and environmental volunteer groups can apply for grants of up to $20,000 for projects, and $500 for support, from now until 23 April 2026.

“It is so important that we support the significant contribution that Landcare and environmental volunteer groups make to our communities managing projects that restore and enhance our parks, coastlines, nature reserves and waterways.”
DEECA Director of Environmental Investment and Programs, Lorna Mathieson

Last year 509 Landcare and environmental groups across the state shared in $3.56 million in grants, helping fund on-ground works, community education and engagement activities, group development and small grants supporting administrative functions including insurance, incorporation and operational costs.

Recipients included:

• Friends of Mallee Conservation’s project to develop a non-technical A4 identification guide and plain English key for Mallee Eucalypts. Assisting with the identification of both common and rare species and building awareness of the vegetation communities of north-west Victoria.
• Kiewa Catchment Landcare Group’s Sowing the Seeds: Educating the Next Generation project, enabling growth of the involvement of young people in Landcare and creating the next generation of Landcare leaders.
• Friends of Mallacoota to assist with the on-going effort to eradicate weeds from Gabo Island, a 154-hectare island off eastern Victoria

Grants are available to all Victorian Landcare and environmental volunteer groups, including Landcare and Friends groups, Conservation Management Networks, Committees of Management, Coastcare groups and Traditional Owner or Aboriginal groups and organisations working on Country.

For more information, visit environment.vic.gov.au/grants/victorian-landcare-grants.

Overview

The Victorian Government Landcare Grants are now open, with $3.55 million available in 2026 to support Landcare and environmental volunteer groups and networks to protect and restore Victoria’s landscapes and biodiversity.

Funding

– Project grants

Project Grants of up to $20,000 are available for on-ground works, community education and engagement, and group/network development activities that protect or improve natural assets such as native vegetation, native fauna, waterways, wetlands and soils.

– Support grants

Support Grants of up to $500 are available for assistance with costs such as insurance, incorporation and operational needs.

Eligibility

The grants are open to environmental volunteer groups, including Landcare groups and networks, Friends groups, Conservation Management Networks, Committees of Management, Coastcare groups and Aboriginal groups to support their important work in helping protect the health of our land, waterways and biodiversity.

Victorian Landcare or environmental volunteer group/network that is community-led and has a focus on on-ground land and natural environment improvement work.
This includes:

• Landcare groups/networks
• Friends of groups
• Conservation Management Networks
• Coastcare Victoria groups
• Committees of management
• Aboriginal groups/organisations working on Country.

How to Apply

2026 Victorian Smartygrants online application form

Timeline

Applications open:    4 March 2026
Applications close:    5pm Thursday 23 April 2026

Recipients notified:   August 2026
Projects completed:  30 November 2027

Guidelines

2026 Victorian Landcare Grants – Guidelines Wimmera Region PDF 580KB DOCX 2MB

Contact & More Information

For more information, contact Wimmera CMA – Community Delivery Manager, Joel Boyd joel.boyd@wcma.vic.gov.au or 0429 949 196.

“These grants continue to be of incredible value to Victoria and we’re proud to support the work of Landcare and environmental volunteers to protect our environment for generations to come.”
DEECA Director of Environmental Investment and Programs, Lorna Mathieson