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 2025-26 Grants Program
The 2025-26 round of Friends of Parks and Nature Grants are now open and you can apply here.
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 Grants Program is providing funding to deliver practical on-ground conservation works to support the great work that the Friends of Parks & Nature volunteer 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, safety equipment, hand tools, secure storage and wildlife monitoring equipment can also be applied for.
Member groups can also include up to $2,000 in fuel subsidies as part of 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.
Offer grants of up to $15,000 per application, with a total funding pool of up to $700,000 available. The program emphasises conservation activities such as protecting and restoring biodiversity, preserving Aboriginal cultural heritage and undertaking European heritage restoration. These efforts span national parks, reserves and broader landscapes, and align with the objectives of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. The program can also assist groups in the purchase of minor plant/equipment and other materials/services that support project’s conservation outcomes. This year, grant funding is available for projects that span an 18-month period, with commencement upon receipt of payment.
For eligibility or specific grant application questions please contact DEW Volunteer Programs and Community Partnerships staff at: DEWVolunteers@sa.gov.au or telephone the Grants Officer on 0439 870 378.
For more information, watch the recorded information session here.
2025 Friends of Parks and Nature Award Winners
On Saturday 30 August, the Friends of Parks and Nature Inc and National Parks and Wildlife Service SA along with sponsors Nature Foundation, Green Adelaide, ElectraNet and Adelaide Airport gathered to celebrate the incredible contributions of our Friends of Parks and Nature volunteers at the 2025 Awards Dinner at the Adelaide Pavilion. It was a night filled with inspiration and connection as we acknowledged the people and groups who help protect and conserve South Australia’s natural environment. The night began with Jack Buckskin from Kuma Kaaru and his daughter Mahleaha, who welcomed us to Country, the Deputy Premier, The Hon. Susan Close, Minister for Climate, Environment and Science delivered an opening address followed by Sophie Green from Fungi Map presenting on recent surveys which were supported by recent Citizen Science Grants.
To view photos from the night, click here.
To read more about the finalists submissions, click here.
Congratulations to all our Award Winners and Nominees!
Your dedication and commitment to conservation, community, and connection with nature is truly remarkable.
Nature Foundation Habitat Restoration and Protection Award
GOLD: Friends of Brownhill Creek
SILVER: Friends of Kenneth Stirling Conservation Park
Green Adelaide Wildlife Protection and Recovery Award
GOLD: Friends of Bool and Hacks Lagoons
SILVER: Friends of Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park
Adelaide Airport Limited Community Engagement Award
GOLD: Walking SA
SILVER: Friends of Black Hill and Morialta Parks
ElectraNet Innovation Award
GOLD: Friends of the Heysen Trail and other Walking Trails Inc.
National Parks and Wildlife SA Cultural and Structural Heritage Award
GOLD: Friends of Old Government House
Thank you to all the volunteers who attended the awards dinner. We would also like to acknowledge the support of our sponsors: Nature Foundation, ElectraNet, Adelaide Airport, and Green Adelaide.
2025 Fuel Subsidy Grants Program
The 2025 Friends of Parks and Nature Fuel Subsidy Grant Program is opening on 24 March 2025 for one month. Grants of up to $2,000 per application are available to registered Friends of Parks and Nature Member Groups that conduct work on remote DEW land. 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 specifically for work already planned or business as usual, not special projects, and you can read the 2025 frequently asked questions and guidelines here.
Successful 2024-25 Grants Program recipients
The Friends of Parks and Nature grant program recognises the significant work undertaken by Friends of Parks and 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 2024-25, individual grants of up to $15,000 were awarded to:
View the full list here
FUEL SUBSIDY GRANT
FOPN Grant guidelines
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.
Award News
Scholarships
Educational Scholarship program
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.
Please note, this program is not currently open.
Scholarship brochure
