Awards, Grants & Scholarships
Friends of Parks and Nature offers grants to volunteer member groups for work in parks, as described below.
Grants
Friends of Parks and Nature 2024 Grants Program
A 5 year funding commitment of $3 million by the State Government is supporting volunteers with in park activities between 2022 – 2026 (inclusive). The popular Friends of Parks & Nature Grant Program is providing funding to deliver practical on-ground conservation works to support the great work that the Friends of Parks & Nature groups do in South Australia’s National Parks and reserves.
Applications to fund interpretive signage will also be considered and are subject to approval by National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) staff (or the relevant landowner). Funding to support the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), safety training or equipment, hand tools, secure storage and monitoring equipment can also be applied for. Member groups can also include up to $2,000 in fuel subsidies as part of the budget submission in their application (the NPWS Volunteer Fuel Subsidy policy criteria will apply to this aspect). Full details of application requirements can be found in the latest Grant Guidelines.
The 2024 round of Friends of Parks & Nature Grants closed on 31 October and offered grants of up to $15,000 per application, with up to $675,000 in funding available in 2024–2025. The program is focused on conservation-based activities including the protection of biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage or European heritage activities across national parks and reserves, and the broader landscape where the outcomes are consistent with the objectives of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. This may also include the purchase of minor plant/equipment and other materials/services that supports a group’s project conservation outcomes. Grant funding is available for activities up to 12 months in duration, with the project commencing when payment is received.
Successful applicants will be announced in December 2024 and a new round will be offered in 2025 with written applications to be lodged electronically on the DEW SmartyGrants Website. For eligibility or specific grant application questions please contact DEW Volunteer Programs staff at: DEWVolunteers@sa.gov.au or telephone 8124 4784.
2023-24 Fuel Subsidy Grants Program
The Friends of Parks & Nature Fuel Subsidy Grant Program 2023-2024 is currently closed. Grants up to $2,000 per application are available to registered Friends of Parks & Nature Member Groups for distances over 300km. This grant aims to reduce some of the out-of-pocket expenses borne by volunteers whilst supporting South Australia’s national parks and conservation programs. This funding is for work already planned or business as usual, not special projects.
A new round of fuel subsidy funding will be available in 2025, so keep an eye on this page for announcements.
To read the 2024 guidelines and frequently asked questions please follow this link.
Successful 2023-24 Small Grants Program recipients
The Friends of Parks & Nature small grant program recognises the significant work undertaken by Friends of Parks & Nature groups supporting South Australia’s national parks and conservation programs. This funding helps groups to undertake a range of threat abatement, biodiversity conservation, Aboriginal cultural heritage and European heritage projects in the state’s national parks and reserves and includes off-park landscape-scale threatened species or other eligible projects.
In 2023, individual grants of up to $5,000 were awarded to:
FUEL SUBSIDY GRANT
Gift Fund Grant application form
Gift Fund Grant Information
Grant News
Awards
For significant volunteer contribution
With the support of DEW, Friends of Parks and Nature offers awards for volunteers who have made a significant contribution in a number of different categories. In the past, these have included habitat restoration and protection, wildlife protection and recovery, innovation, cultural and structural heritage and community engagement. Nominations are currently not open.
Award information
Award application form
Award News
Scholarships
Educational Scholarship program 2020
The aim of the scholarship is to engage students of all ages in on-park environmental activities by providing financial support through a collaborative learning process with a local Friends of Parks and Nature group.
Scholarship brochure
