Appendix 1 - Discretionary Grants

AAA - FarmBis Australia

To extend the accreditation system, associated standards and audit protocols already developed to a self-contained training program with required competencies aligned to the current Seafood Industry Training Package (equivalent to Certificate IV). Such extension will include preparation and development of resource materials accessible and acceptable to fishing industry participants.

To develop and trial a training program and procedure support manual which integrates food quality, food safety and workplace safety requirements with business improvement objectives and can be used by Australian wild catch fishing co-operatives to promote and establish enterprise 'best practice'.

To develop and pilot an effective OHS risk management system, develop and evaluate training resources and guidance material to deliver OHS risk management training through existing horticulture industry networks and State Farm Safety Training Centres. To integrate OHS risk management with market QA requirements for horticulture products. To facilitate the adoption of the OHS management system by horticultural industries in all states through the provision of training and services to introduce and pilot the system.

To assist the Australian apple industry to improve their export performance. The project will deliver a series of three interactive workshops, piloted in SA and then delivered nationally through trained industry champions, specifically targeted at improving export performance.

Managing New Initiatives (MNI) is a project designed to provide innovative farmers with a mechanism to implement change. This project seeks to develop, pilot and refine an Innovative Change Management Model (ICMM) and to trial the use of this model with 50 farmers across Eastern Australia. The ICMM will be piloted in the established networks of the industry partners and a consortium of 11 rural accountancy firms.

To optimise the productive capacity of Australian banana farms and the business management performance of proprietors participating in the project "Benchmarking the Australian Banana Industry", by providing education and training support to assist producers.

The program will encompass all modes of transport (rail, sea, air and road) and will focus on the "what one must do to maintain produce quality yet reduce transport costs, but ensure on-time customer delivery and quality". It will augment producer skills for identifying selecting, contracting, partnering with others, monitoring freight distribution, route selection for overseas markets, transport insurance, AQIS export documentation and freight forwarding.

To meet the accelerating demand by seafood producers, nationally, to help them build capacity to meet the growing consumer demand (domestically and internationally) for safe seafood produced in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.

Industry Leadership - Women and Young People in rural Industries

Young People in Rural Industries Program – awarded 8 Study Awards to enable young people working in rural industries to gain the skills and experiences they need to make a greater contribution their industry.

Young People in Rural Industries Program – awarded 6 International Observers scholarships to improve the confidence, communication and interpersonal skills of young rural people to develop relationships with industry and government representatives.

Young People in Rural Industries Program – awarded 6 Young People’s Rural Network Grants (to non-government organisations) to improve young people’s leadership and decision-making potential, and encourage young people to be more aware of issues affecting their industry or community.

Young People in Rural Industries Program –38 individuals were selected to attend the Young Rural Leaders’ Course to provide young people with the necessary skills and knowledge to engage more effectively and influentially with industry and government at the national level.

Young People in Rural Industries Program – 30 individuals were selected to attend the Export Market Development Training Course to foster export awareness in Australia’s young rural leaders and expose them to the concepts and skills required to conduct export business.

Young People in Rural Industries Program – awarded 14 Young People’s Corporate Governance scholarships to the Australian Institute of Company Directors to improve young people's corporate governance skills.

Young People in Rural Industries Program – Australian Rural Youth Sponsorship for the National Young Farmer Competition to increase the profile of the event and of young people with industry and the public.

Young People in Rural Industries Program – National Farmers’ Federation Sponsorship to organise an Australian delegation to the World Congress of Young Farmers.

Women in Rural Industries Program – awarded 13 Industry Partnership Corporate Governance for Rural Women scholarships to the Australian Institute of Company Directors to improve women’s corporate governance skills. Scholarships are 25 per cent funded by the department and 75 per cent by individual rural research and development corporations.

Women in Rural Industries Program - Country Women’s Association Emergency Drought Aid Fund – to provide emergency funding for farming families awaiting Exceptional Circumstances support.

Women in Rural Industries Program - Industry Partnership Workshops - 4 national rural women's non-government organisations attended a facilitated workshop and received a grant to develop a business plan to work with industry.

Indigenous People in Rural Industries Program

Indigenous People in Rural Industries Program – awarded 1 scholarship to the Australian Rural Leadership Program.

National Biotechnology Strategy -Supply Chain Management Project

To help industry make informed decisions about biotechnology adoption and about appropriate supply chain management arrangements for genetically modified (GM) and non-GM products.

National Landcare Program

Regional capacity building for farm forestry in low to medium rainfall areas.

Providing regional bodies across Australia with assistance in developing community capacity building strategies.

Contribution to the production of the Australian Landcare Magazine.

New Industries Development Program

To commercialise the re-processing of bakery waste from bakeries into a high quality feed supplement for the dairy and other agricultural industries.

To commercialise the production of organic butter.

To conduct product testing and establish a pilot on site demonstration of grain aeration control system.

To commercialise a system that treats waste from olive oil production.

To commercialise a pre-packaged microwavable fresh asparagus product.

To take a new garlic variety and French technology through to a state of readiness for full scale commercial investment.

To commercialise a software program that seeks to address a gap in the tools possessed by the horticultural sector to make informed and accurate business decisions.

To commercialise Alpaca fibre supply chain.

To commercialise organic frozen vegetables.

To commercialise remote fluid monitoring systems.

Pest Animal Management Grants Program

Two grants were approved to reduce feral pigs by initial helicopter shooting followed by trapping and baiting.

Two grants were approved to build and distribute feral pig traps to serve as ongoing follow-up control measure on existing programs.

Three grants were approved for the initial knockdown of feral pig and goat populations through aerial shooting followed up by trapping/baiting.

Six grants were approved to take advantage of rabbit calicivirus and dry conditions to remove rabbit harbours through warren ripping and baiting.

Reduce wild dog predation by contracting a trapper to supplement baiting programs.

Initial knockdown of wild dog population through broadscale baiting followed up control through trapping and opportunistic baiting.

Coordinated fox baiting program. Den destruction/fumigation during breeding season.

Coordinated fox baiting program across all land tenures.

Reduce dingo, fox and feral pig numbers through aerial baiting around waterpoints.

Macropods and feral animals including foxes, feral pigs, cats, dingoes and feral goats will be culled through on-ground shooting.

Two grants were approved to cull a range of large macropod species. Reducing macropod grazing pressure in drought-affected south-west Queensland.

Cull a range of large macropod species (reduction of kangaroo numbers to a manageable level).

Plant Breeder's Rights

To provide a practical legal commentary on the Plant Breeder's Rights (PBR) legislation in Australia. The commentary is intended to benefit plant breeder's, researchers, business managers, lawyers, patent attorneys and policy makers by enhancing the understanding of PBR.

Rural Financial Counselling Service

Rural Financial Counselling Service – Part A approved 67 (of which 3 were extended) grants to community-based management committees seeking to employ a Rural Financial Counsellor. Counsellor to work with primary producers, some small rural businesses and fishing enterprises based in rural areas, who are experiencing financial hardship and have access to no other source of financial counselling assistance.

Rural Financial Counselling Service – Part B approved a grant to a community-based management committee seeking to employ a Rural Financial Counsellor to work with primary producers, who on issues of industry restructure. 

Emergency Rural Financial Counselling Service Funding – Approved 11 grants to community-based management committees seeking top-up financial assistance to overcome unforeseen expenditure (incurred largely as a result of the drought). Approved 11 grants to community-based management committees seeking top-up financial assistance to overcome unforeseen expenditure (incurred largely as a result of the drought). 

Science and Innovation Awards for Young People

Seventeen grants were approved to assist young people involved in Australia's agricultural, fisheries, food or forestry industries to undertake a project that will make an important and lasting contribution to their industry.