FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Green Army Project Guidelines

Round 1

April 2014

Green Army Programme: Project guidelines 2014-15draft version 5Page

Table of Contents

Part 1: Introduction

1.1 About the Green Army Programme

1.2 Programme objectives

1.3 Green Army resources

1.4 Programme delivery

Part 2: Green Army Projects and Applications

2.1 Green Army Project

2.2 Green Army Applications

2.3 Consultation and community support

2.4 Indigenous engagement

2.5 Likely Participant interest

2.6 Work Health and Safety

2.7 Participant training

2.8 Project monitoring and reporting

Part 3 Green Army Project Activities

3.1 Activities that are not supported through the Green Army Programme

Part 4: Eligibility Requirements and Declarations

4.1 Eligibility

4.2 Application declarations

Part 5: Selection of Projects and Assessment

5.1 Investment Priorities

5.2 Selection Criteria

5.3 Assessment process

Part 6 Application

6.1 How to apply

6.2 Things to know when completing an Application

6.3 Late Applications

Part 7 Succesful Projects

7.1 Agreement with a Service Provider

7.2 Promotion and publicity

Part 8 Rights and responsibilities

8.1 Rights and responsibilities of the Applicant

8.2 Rights and responsibilities of the Australian Government

8.3 Confidentiality and privacy

Part 9 Enquires and complaints

9.1 Contact details

Part 10: Glossary of terms

IMPORTANTINFORMATION

The Green Army Project Guidelines Round 1 (Guidelines) provide information to help interested organisations, or individuals to prepare a Green Army Project Application (Application)that includes either a single Green Army Project (Project)or a set of linked Projects. The Guidelines include information on the Application process and criteria that will be used to assessApplications submitted under this ProjectApplication Round one.

An Application to the Australian Government under the Green Army Programme (Programme) may be for one or more (up to twelve) Projects, to deliver specified conservation outcomes.

A single Application comprising multipleProjects must be linked by a common location site and/or theme.

Each Green Army Project involves a Green Army Team (Team) of up to nine Participants and a Team Supervisor working to deliver conservation activities for between 20-26 weeks.

SuccessfulApplicants will be invited to enter into aProject Agreement with a Service Provider, and become a Project Sponsor.

A separate processis being undertaken for tenderingto become a Service Provider (recruiting, training and supervising Participants). Go to information about this.

A separate process will be undertaken for young people to become a Green Army Team Participant. Further information on this will be made available at

The Australian Government has committed 150 Projects identified during the 2013 Federal election campaign. If yourProject was a 2013 election commitment you will be contacted separately.

KEY DATES

These Guidelines are for Green Army proposals that must commencebetween 1 July 2014and 30 June 2015, and must be completed by 30 June 2016.Please monitor the Department of the Environment’swebsite for details of how to apply for Projects that commence in the 2015-16 financial year and beyond.

To be considered in this round (round one), Applications need to be lodged by 4:00pm (Canberra time)9 May2014.

SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

Step 1:Read these Guidelines and any other relevant information made available on the Department’s website(

Step 2:Complete the online Application form available at from the Department’s website:( addressing each of the selection criteria in the relevant fields. If you do not have access to the internet, you can request a hard copy Green Army Application Form by calling the Green Army Hotline on
1800 780 730.

Step 3:Submit your Application by the closing date and ensure that you keep a copy for your records. Additional information provided by the Applicant,but not requested in the Application form, will not be assessed.

* © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia, 2014.

The Green Army Project Guidelines Round 1 are licensed by the Commonwealth of Australia for use under a Creative Commons By Attribution 3.0 Australia licence with the exception of the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia, the logo of the Department of the Environment, content supplied by third parties, and any images depicting people. For licence conditions see:

This document should be attributed as ‘Green Army Project Guidelines Round 1 Commonwealth of Australia 2014’.

The Commonwealth of Australia has made all reasonable efforts to identify content supplied by third parties using the following format ‘© Copyright, [name of third party]’.

Cover image:

Dungrove Farm near Bothwell, Tasmania. Photo: Nick Rains

Green Army Project Guidelines Round 1Page | 1

Part 1: Introduction

1.1 About the Green Army Programme

The Australian Government’s Plan for a Cleaner Environment rests on four pillars: clean air, clean land, clean water and heritage protection. This plan will help realise the Government's vision for the future by protecting and improving our environment for generations to come.

The Australian Government has committed to establishing a Green Army to help local communities deliver environment and heritage conservation outcomes across Australia.Projects delivered by Green Army Teams will be guided by local community needs and contribute to Australia’s environmental priorities and obligations to conserve and rehabilitate Australia’s natural, historic and Indigenous heritage assets.

The Programmeis a voluntaryprogramme available to a broad range of young Australians aged 17-24, including Indigenous Australians, school leavers, gap year students, graduates, and job seekers. It will provide young Australians with opportunities to develop skills, undertake training and gain experience in the delivery of conservation projects. Through this, Participants will enhance opportunities for careers and further training in conservation.

As the Australian Government continues to deliver on the Plan for a Cleaner Environment, there may be opportunities to align with other government initiatives, such as National Landcare Programmeand 20 Million Trees Programme.

A glossary for defined terms is located at Part 10 of these Guidelines.

1.2 Programme objectives

The Programme has a strong focus on achieving real and practical environment and heritage conservation outcomes, and will help thousands of young Australians explore career opportunities whilst gaining practical and hands-on skills, training and experience.

The Programme aims to engage, train and deploy a total of 15000 Participants to Projects between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2017, commencing with 2500 Participants in 2014–15, 5000 Participants in 2015–16 and 7500 Participants in 2016-17. From 2018–19 the Programme will engage 15 000 people per year.

The Programmehas four strategic objectives:

1.Environmental Conservation: Support the delivery of enduring environment and heritage conservation outcomes at the local, regional and national level.

2.Community Engagement: Work cooperatively with community groups, and help raise awareness of environment and heritage values in the community.

3.Green ArmyParticipation:Engage and deploy young Australians to participate in Green Army Teams, having highest regard for Participant safety, wellbeing and personal need and development.

4.Experience, skills and training: Provide Participants with opportunities to undertake training recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework, in a range of areas which increase their skills and qualifications.

1.3Green Army resources

The Australian Government has committed $300 million over four years to deliver the Programme. In 2014–15 up to $48.3 million, and in 2015–16 up to $96.4 million has been committed to deliver up to 250 Projects and 500 Projects, respectively.

From 2014–15 the Australian Government will support approximately 150 election commitment Projects. These Projects will be progressed in a manner that may differ from that outlined in these Guidelines. Details regarding these Projects will be available on the Department of the Environment’s website shortly.

The Programme will cover costs directly associated with a Green Army Team, including:

  • Participants’Allowances;
  • uniforms;
  • safety equipment;
  • basic materials (e.g. hand tools, first aid kits);
  • training costs;
  • transport costs (typically involving local transport to Project sites and training); and
  • insuranceto cover Participants and Team Supervisors.

In addition, the Programme will support consumable Project Specific Materials with an average value of $10 000per Project. These materials must directly support the delivery of Project activities. The acquisition of assets will not be supported. Where specified by the Department in an order for services (Order), the Service Provider must provide the Project Specific Materials in addition to basic tools. This will also be specified in the Project Agreement between the Service Provider and Project Sponsor.

It will be the responsibility of the Service Provider to source and provide Project Specific Materials to support delivery of the Project. No cash funding will be provided to Project Sponsors. Any costs and resources in addition to Project Specific Materials required to deliver the Project must be covered by Project Sponsors.

1.4Programmedelivery

Delivery of the Programmewill involve the following parties:

The Department of the Environment (the Department) will be responsible for co-ordinating the application phase and assessment of Applications, and making recommendations to the Minister for the Environment. The Department will be responsible for referring successfulProjectsto the Service Provider(s) who will work with Project Sponsors to deliver the approvedProject(s).

Service Provider(s)will becontracted by the Department to recruit, deploy, and pay,Participants and Team Supervisors, and to manage the delivery of Projects.This includes provision of the Project Specific Materials specified in an Order to support delivery of the agreed Project activities.Training forParticipants will be delivered by the Service Provider directly, or through a third party training provider.The Service Provider(s)will be required to negotiate a Project Agreement with the successful Applicants (Project Sponsors) that will outline how the Projects are to be delivered and covermatters such as roles and responsibilities, resources, a work plan, Work Health and Safety requirements, and reporting requirements.

Project Sponsorsare successful Applicants that have entered into a Project Agreement with a Service Provider. The Project Sponsor will be responsible for facilitating delivery of the agreed Project(s), including securingallProject costs (outside of those covered under the Programme), obtaining all required regulatory and non-regulatory approvals for work (where required), providing expert advice (where required), and Work Health and Safety elements. Project Sponsor requirements are outlined in Part 7, and will be detailed in the writtenProject Agreement entered into with the Service Provider.

ParticipantsareAustralian citizens or permanent residents between the ages of 17 and 24 recruited and engaged by the Service Provider(s). Participants will be required to enter into a Participant Agreement regarding their engagement in the Programme, with the Service Provider. Participants will be provided with a Green ArmyAllowance (Allowance) and engaged primarily on a full time basis. They will also be required to undertake nationally recognised training and are likely to come from the local area where the Project will be carried out.

Team Supervisorsareemployed by the Service Provider(s) to manage Green Army Teamson a full-time basis.Supervisors must be over 18 years old,be adequately experienced, andwill be primarily responsible for supervising Participants in the field to carry out activities as part of a Project, manage attendance, Work Health and Safety requirements and fieldreporting.

Figure 1 Green Army parties, and Programmedelivery.


Part 2:GreenArmy Projects and ApplicationS

An Application will include a proposal for one or more Projects.

2.1 Green Army Project

A Project involves a Team of up to nine Participants and a Team Supervisor engaged over a period of 20-26 weeks to deliver a suite of activities (see Part 3 for a list of supported activities) that support environmental and/or heritage conservation outcomes.

Projects may be carried out across urban, regional and remote Australia, on Public Land, Indigenous managed lands, or private land where there is a clear community and environmental and/or heritage benefit.

2.2 Green Army Applications

A single Application under the Programme can include one or more (up to twelve) linked Projects to help deliver an overarching specified conservation objective. AnApplication may include one Project(of 20-26 weeks), or include multiple Projects(of 20-26 weeks) covering a period of up to 24 months.

Where an entity would like a Green Army Team to undertake work for a short period, the entitymay partner with others to develop a suite of activities linked by a common location, site or theme, which could be undertaken by a Green Army Team over a 20-26 week period.

Applications can be developed by an individual, organisation or a consortium of organisations. Each Application will be required to meet the eligibility requirements (see Part 4) and should address each of the selection criteria (see Part 5).

Where a consortium has developed anApplication, one organisation must take overall responsibility for the Application (including the proposed Projects) and be able to enter into a Project Agreement with the Service Provider as a Project Sponsor.

Multi-Project Applications

In Applicationsthat contain more than one Project,all Projects in the Application must work towards a common conservation outcome, and be defined by a common location, site or theme. The Application may include, for example, multiple Projects to deliver activities in relation to the conservation of a specific ecological community(or part thereof), heritage site, water body, or habitat.

Multi-Project Applicationsmay seek to deliverconcurrentProjects (up to three Projects at the same time) or consecutive (back to back)Projects. An Application can include a maximum of 12 Projects. All Projects within an Application will need to be completed by 30 June 2016.

Where an Applicant is seeking multiple Projects that do not clearly relate to a shared conservation outcome, separate Applications should be lodged for each Project.

Figure 2 (next page) outlines three Application scenarios.

Figure 2Green Army Application scenarios

2.3Consultation and community support

All Applicants are strongly encouraged to engage with relevant local Indigenous organisations and traditional owners,local government and planning authorities,community groups, land holders/managers, regional catchment and natural resource management organisations, or other relevant partieswhen developing their Application. This will ensure that activities are feasible, take into account natural and cultural values of the area and local knowledge, and are aligned with local community aspirations and relevant environment and heritage plans.

Applicants must ensure that their Application complies with all requirements set out in any applicable Commonwealth, state, territory, and local government laws, and ensure that all necessary planning, approvals and/or permits are in place prior to the commencement of a Project. This includes the necessary permits and the written consent of relevant traditional owners or appropriate Indigenous organisations where activities may directly affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sites, places,values or communites (also see Part 4).

2.4Indigenous engagement

The Australian Government values Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s knowledge of, andrelationship with country, and recognises this important contribution to the protection of Australia’s natural and cultural heritage. The Australian Government is also committed to improving education and employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians, particularly in remote areas, as part of overcoming Indigenous disadvantage.

Applications that support the participation of young Indigenous Australians are encouraged.For example, such Applications may include collaborative Projects on Indigenous-managed lands, orprovideopportunities for the transfer of traditional knowledge.

Applications that engage Indigenous Elders to provide cultural guidance, mentoring and support to Projects involving Indigenous managed lands or significant sites, places or values, are also encouraged. It will be the responsibility of the Project Sponsor to co-ordinate and support this engagement.

Guidance on the correct protocols and approach when engaging with the rightful traditional owners can be found in the Department’s Ask First: A guide to respecting Indigenous heritage places and values booklet (

2.5 Likely Participant interest

Applicants developing an Applicationshould consider whether there are likely to be young people from the local area who will be interested in the proposed Project(s).The Applicant is not required to co-ordinate teams of potential Participants, or recruit Participants. This will be undertaken by the Service Provider(s). However, likely Participant interest is a practical issue to keep in mind when developing anApplication.

2.6Work Health and Safety

Work Health and Safety is a high priority for the Programme. Projects Sponsors must comply(and ensure that their subcontractors comply) with the provisions of all relevant statutes, regulations, by-laws and requirements of any Commonwealth, state, territory or local authority including those arising under the WHS Laws.

Service Providers will be responsible for, consult and seek input and agreement from Project Sponsors in, the development of Project specific Work Health and Safety plans. Such plans will include the identification and assessment of safety risks, the identification of mitigation strategies to address such risks and the party responsible for implementing these, the identification of any Participant training requirements to ensure their safety while on site, and the development of emergency plans for each Project.

Service Providers may also require Project Sponsors to contact or provide the contact information of any other stakeholders, such as land managers who may have some shared responsibility for the Work Health Safety ofTeams, for advice and agreement on the development of these plans.

Project Sponsors will also need to provide a safe work environment, including safe access to the site where work is being carried out, where they have control of this, and ensure that any equipment provided (other than that provided by the Service Provider) for use in the Project is in good working order and meets necessary safety, performance and servicing standards.

The Service Provider, through the Team Supervisor, will otherwise be responsible for managing the Work Health and Safety of Participants while they are undertaking a Project.

2.7 Participant training

Participantswill be required to undertake a minimum level of training. This will include, for example, Work Health and Safety training, and may include Project specific training such as training in handling herbicide chemicals. This may also include cultural awareness training where Teams have Indigenous and non-Indigenous Participants, or where activities concern Indigenous communities, heritage or places. Service Providers will be responsible for organising the training for Participants in consultation with, and provided by Registered Training Organisations.