Resources and Information for Coordinators and Host Organisations Involved in the NSW Landcare Enabling Program

2023 Statewide Gathering Q & A

2023 Statewide Gathering Q & A

Introduction, Aboriginal Engagement & Working Together Update (Craig Little, Landcare NSW)

Could you tell us a little more about Clarence Landcare Network Steering Committee? How many people on it?

There are 8 people on the steering committee and they have been wanting an Aboriginal person for some time to sit on their committee. I have introduced Elisabeth Smith to the committee and Barbara Lindly is guiding Elisabeth through the process.

Our LLS Aboriginal Support Officers are 3 days a week. Perhaps this program could support/ fund them at an extra 2 days for regional Landcare focus?

This is something to consider. It would need to have a well considered work plan to ensure focus remains on Landcare for the days funded.

Do you think that part time (3 days per week) will work for AEOs in the region?

We are guided by the needs of the network or region and will depend on funding allocation overall.
Finer details are yet to be worked out.

Richmond Landcare Reconciliation Action Plan session (Michael Kennedy & Kathryn Kermode)

I noticed that the plan runs from March 2023 to June 2024. Does it have to be updated annually?

There are several stages of RAPs with a Reflect RAP being the first step. This is where we are on our journey. This outlines what we want to achieve in a year long journey before we progress to the next step. Most organisations will progress through the different stages of the RAP framework. Find out more about the different RAPs on Reconciliation Australia’s website https://www.reconciliation.org.au/reconciliation-action-plans/

How important is it for Landcare to be not just using connection to country but actively helping build Aboriginal connection to country?

First Nations people are connected to Country. It is not Landcare’s role to build Aboriginal connection to Country as this already exists. I (Kath) believe our challenge is to better understand the importance and the value of First Nations connection to Country and to understand and respect this deep connection. By listening to and being guided by First Nations people we can better understand the Country on which we work and learn to understand what Connection to Country really means.

The Aboriginal Landcare Coordinator Role & Replicating Around other Regions - PANEL (Nioka Dupond, Michael Kennedy, Nicole Maher & Craig Little).

Regarding fee for service for First Nations, to avoid being "ripped off" by those trying to charge too much, would it be possible for Landcare NSW to provide a list of fees for Service that would be reasonable as a guide?

This is currently being considered and a costing framework is not yet developed.
Initial thoughts maybe $100 to $150 per meeting but each Landcare group when applying for a grant should incorporate a fee in that grant

How have you helped make connections with Landcare and the first nations communities?

As the Aboriginal Engagement Manager I have been visiting all groups that participated in the small grants and asking how their connections are going and what assistance they need connecting to their local Aboriginal groups.
I liaise with the local LALC and invite them to meet with their local Landcare group/s.
The Landcare group drives this engagement from here on by organising a meeting.

In the region, is there active involvement from Aboriginal groups from all across the region, or from some smaller areas?

Involvement is growing but minimal at this time but I expect to expand that involvement in the next program.

Do you think we would benefit from a male and female ALC to help with men and women's business?

As the Aboriginal Engagement Manager I do believe a male and female would be ideal in delivering a better outcome for the program.
This may not be practically possible but worth considering and complementing existing LLS Aboriginal staff.

Schools Eat Dirt Program (Melanie Tyas, Uncle Micklo Jarrett, Bibi Barba & Bellingen High School Teacher & Students)

Are you doing this voluntarily as a parent or as a Landcare Co-ordinator or both?

Mel Tya received a grant to deliver the project. Mel was working four days a week as the Regional Community of Practice Coordinator for the NSW Landcare Program, so this became her fifth day. Mel was a ranger for NPWS prior to this role, and felt she needed to do something on the ground. Applying for this funding was much like most of the coordinators who apply for grants, so they can keep project managing. It's about giving the kids the best we can, and creating a community that supports them and helps them to achieve their goals.

Is the eat dirt program a written program that can be used by other schools?

It will be as one of the deliverables is a teachers' kit. I have a workshop with teachers, students and other stakeholders on the 15th of June to help finalise the project and after that we will produce the kit. In the last two terms, we will actually get the teachers delivering the program whilst mentoring their peers.

How long are the sessions each week?

We were doing one day per week. We'd start with Gumbaynggirr learning, then we'd do art therapy, planting veggie gardens, bush regen, darts with maths and then we end with nature journalling or primal games. We were trialling what would work. The aim now is to teach the teachers how to teach this way. All lessons are outside and the teachers come to the students, not the other way round. We are trying to break down the silos, so that the learning is project based and cross-curricula.

What next?

There is a workshop planned for the 15th of June with the students, teachers and other stakeholders such as LLS, DPI, NPWS, LAL etc. The concept for this project is also for the students to engage in meaningful learning and to help realise some of the government's priorities. For example, one of DPI's priorities is Cane Toad control and as such we will weave this into the curriculum. LLS is working on the koala strategy, so we will see how we can assist in this space. Potentially this is growing koala habitat trees etc.

I love the ‘opt in’ & contract idea for students We’re there many who didn’t do it & what did they learn from those who did participate?

Most opted in however some did not. The reasons varied, but what we did learn is that they all loved getting their hands dirty and cutting down large privet trees. In our first term we did a lot of bush regen. When we removed the bush regen component and replaced it with art therapy, some of the students left. It was also great to see some of the students going out on their own and leaving their peer group. One girl actually said, it was really great, because she learnt how to deal with peer pressure. It was also funny to see some of them who opted out, keep turning up at random times.

How does this vary from Clontarf Academy?

The Clontarf Academy is only for Aboriginal male students and requires additional funding.
Our aim is to completely transform the way education is delivered in NSW. We have an environmental crisis, and we have a willing green army. We just have to connect the dots. Our education system is stuck in the industrial age. It needs to be radically overhauled. We need to stop grading students and making them feel worthless. We need to work on their strengths and teach them how to collaborate and how to innovate and to think critically and to work as part of a team. We also need to teach them how to grow and cook food. This is what we are trying to achieve. Mel has been a high school teacher, a NPWS ranger and now she gets to see what is happening in the rest of NSW. I am really excited about where this is going.

NSW Landcare Program team update (Peter Taylor - Program Manager Landcare NSW & Julie Busuttil - Program Manager, LLS)

Will funding be back paid to 1/7/23 or even 1/10 once new contracts come into effect? Some groups will need to self fund Coordinators through this period

LLS and LNSW are working together toward a seamless transition. We are planning to have transitional funding available as soon possible, hopefully by early July.

When does funding come through? Six months without funding?

We are hoping for funding to be provided through the September budget. In the interim, LLS and LNSW are working together toward a seamless transition. We are planning to have transitional funding available as soon possible, hopefully by early July.

How many coordinates will be funded in the new program?

The strategic business case was based on 72 full-time equivalent (FTE) Local Landcare Coordinator (LLC), 12 FTE Regional Landcare Coordinator (RLC) roles and 6 x 0.6FTE Aboriginal Landcare Officers (ALO).
The application process will be a regional submission.

How do I CAT report on activities after the 10 June?

CAT will continue to operate and should be used until a replacement system is made available (estimated Q1 2024).

When will the RALFs be informed on their role?

Although RALFS or now Sustainable Agricultural Officers (SAFs) are not part of the NSW Landcare Program scope, we will continue to work with them in the new Program.

Is there allowance for office or travel for coordinatior

The strategic business case included LLC, RLC and ALO salaries plus 2.5% CPI and 23% oncosts.
The funding is primarily for the salaries of these positions, not specifically for office travel for coordinator.

How do you propose host organisations cover costs for their LLCs over the 3-6 month window before the new program begins?

LLS and LNSW are working together toward a seamless transition. We are planning to have transitional funding available to existing hosts with the same FTE and costs as soon as possible, hopefully by early July.

How do we retain coordinators between the end of the contract and the new contracts?

We appreciate this is a challenging time. LLS and LNSW are working together toward a seamless transition. We are planning to have transitional funding available to existing hosts with the same FTE and costs as soon as possible, hopefully by early July

There is an obvious gap between end of June and start of new coordinator roles. Any suggestions as to what networks do to keep current staff engaged?

We appreciate this is a challenging time. LLS and LNSW are working together toward a seamless transition. We are planning to have transitional funding available to existing hosts with the same FTE and costs as soon as possible, hopefully by early July

Careers in landcare tend to be short term, we need to look at what motivates staff long term and change the mantra around the importance of these jobs outside of grant programs.

Great point and something we need to consider in the recruitment and resourcing of the new program.

When does funding come through?

We are hoping for funding to be provided through the September budget.
In the interim, LLS and LNSW are working together toward a seamless transition. We are planning to have transitional funding available as soon possible, hopefully by early July.

There is Landcarer which was developed for a digital uplift and a community of practice, and the Landcare NSW portal contains useful documents. Would the purpose digital uplift review those two systems and consider improving them or would it create something new?

The Program Team have already commenced discussions with Landcare Australia around any potential cross overs with Landcarer and a new fit for purpose system for the new program. This will be considered in the digital uplift process.

Have you budgeted a raise for coordinators in the new program? Needed to address loss of staff, especially with inflation

We are hoping for funding to be provided through the September budget.
The strategic business case included LLC, RLC and ALO salaries plus 2.5% CPI and 23% oncosts. LLCs were based on $80k base for LLCs (excludes on costs) and $95k base for RLCS and ALOs.

Hi, I understand from 1 July 2023, RALFs will become SAFs (Sustainable Ag Facilitators). Please can we ensure SAFs are involved, part of the new Landcare program?

Although RALFS or now Sustainable Agricultural Officers (SAFs) are not part of the NSW Landcare Program scope, we will continue to work with them in the new Program.

Will this information and slides be shared with hosts and coordinators after the conference?

Yes. All presentations will be made available on Gateway under State Gathering tab.

Are you sure that $1m digital uplift is enough?

$1m was identified for the Strategic Business Case (SBC). A review of the key components within the SBC is underway to ensure appropriate funding is provided to each component.

So, there will be another 3-6month funding gap, similar to 4 years ago, where host organisations lost most of their experienced employees, yes?

We appreciate this is a challenging time. LLS and LNSW are working together toward a seamless transition. We are planning to have transitional funding available to existing hosts with the same FTE and costs as soon as possible, hopefully by early July.

To be clear - there is no carry over funding between July and dec 2023?

We appreciate this is a challenging time. LLS and LNSW are working together toward a seamless transition. We are planning to have transitional funding available to existing hosts with the same FTE and costs as soon as possible, hopefully by early July.

Roles & Responsibilities Focus Group presentation (Claudia Whythes & Lee Thompson)

There is too much thrown on to VOLUNTEER host organisations to have good governance especially as employers. What should be the hourly rate for Coordinators? How many hours in a standard week? Can we at least have templates and guidance? HR is so important and we are so underresourced but there should be standards that could be applied. What is full-time?

Any organisation that hosts an employee must have good governance, especially if receiving Government grants. As a guide, the maximum hourly rate for LLCs is $45/hour, $55 for RLCs and ALOs. The rate of pay should be commensurate with the skills and experience e.g., a more experienced coordinator with skillsets presumable would be paid at the higher rate.

Do you consider code of conduct and looking after carers?

Policies such as code of conduct and staff wellbeing will be considered as part of shared services hub.

What is FTE ?

Full Time Equivalent (ie 5 days per week / 35 hrs)

Reporting Focus Group Presentation (Louis Maree & Greg Thompson)

Who could you employ to design a proper quantitative/qualitative survey design for CAT?

This may form part of the findings of the digital review project

There are options in CAT for grant receipts but not progress reporting which is equally lengthy

Reporting on grants will be considered as part of the digital review process

CAT quarterly data dump needs to be more user friendly.

Noted

Do organisations that receive reports report back - with a strict deadline - and say how they have used material collected?

This question cannot be answered as written. It is unclear.

Has sales force been considered as a platform to capture contacts / activities and reporting for real time information?

This may be considered as part of the digital review project.

Standard chart of accounts great idea. Can that start 1 July 2023 to enable standard financial reporting?

This is currently being developed and led by Landcare NSW.

Where do we host shared documents?

Gateway is a good starting point for shared resources especially for Hosts under the 'Shared resources for hosts' tab. Further work needs to be done to have a centralised repository for shared documents.

Did you consider how do hosts and committees get access to reporting including program financial reporting and budget tracking?

CAT reporting is provided to coordinators quarterly. Hosts can request CAT reports for their group by emailing landcare.admin@lls.nsw.gov.au or coordinators can access the CAT dashboard via TEAMS. All hosts should have a copy of their financial report as it is the same report for each financial year.

As a coordinator I love that we can generate a case study on a completely separately funded project we are doing using that template. Could the case study website be a stand alone site that gets jazzed up and modernised with new capabilities?

Reporting including a revised case study process will be part of the digital review.

Can someone combine valuable elements of the current gateway with the new Landcare NSW website?

This will be considered as part of the digital review.

Cat needs to be set up to reflect what our own organisation has in its local priority/ implementation plan.

The CAT was primarily designed purely as an activity reporting tool for the NSW Landcare Program. Activities identified in a local or regional priority plan should be reflected in the CAT once the activity has been undertaken.

You say evidence is great however there is no clear guideline about what data is collected?.

Communication via the landcare.admin@lls.nsw.gov.au and Program newsletter states the reporting requirements which included: Case studies, CAT, annual survey, priority work plans and financial reports at the end of each FY. All of these forms of information are used to evaluate and track the program.

What ever happened to the Governance Health check?

The Governance Health Check is still available on Gateway under Shared Resources for Hosts https://landcare.nsw.gov.au/toolbox/shared-resources-for-hosts/ It has been provided as an optional tool to check your groups governance.

Do the people receiving the reports actually use them? Doesn't the mix up of data (e.g. hours of participation including everyone) produce potentially misleading information?

The reports were invaluable to both the Program Team to track progress, as well as the consultant that undertook the economic analysis and strategic business case. Without this data (which was reviewed and cleaned up as part of the process), the $59m request for funding would not have had data to support this.

What are the key considerations for reporting in the future?

We suggest reviewing the Reporting Focus Group presentation but essentially all reporting should be fit for purpose, collect only the necessary information and avoid duplication of entry.

Recruitment & Retention Focus Group Presentation (Lou Turner & Nicole Maher)

The love of Landcare is used to justify too much; over worked, 24/hr job, non-competitive salaries, jack of all trades, unpaid hours, 7am phone calls…. Does this degrade our ability to appear as a professional organisation?

As within any workplace, it is important to understand the capacity and capabilities of any team. Setting clear boundaries of work that can realistically be undertaken should be a discussion between the staff member and their employer.

Can we offer Coordinators a 'career path' or at least options, perhaps including temporary job swaps or placements?

This may be considered as part of the recruitment and resourcing component of the new program.

Considering committee turnover, Should the focus be on training volunteer committees to fulfil complex financial/employer obligations or should this done at a higher level?

The program has provided numerous training opportunities for committees including Confident Committees training, and House Paddock's HR bootcamp. There is also a monthly RLC Host Organisation meeting used as a forum to discuss shared challenges and knowledge across groups. There will be a continued focus on supporting hosts regarding HR, IR and WHS matters in the shared services hub - to be developed.

Is job satisfaction our only competitive edge to the 6 figure roles being offered (and selected for from our ranks)? It won’t be enough with the current state of cost of living

We are currently looking into other perks and benefits associated with the roles including flexible hours, salary sacrificing etc - we hope to summarise this within the coming months.

Did your group discuss burnout/coordinators being overwhelmed? Any thoughts on culture of hosts and program that reduce incidence of these issues?

As within any workplace, it is important to understand the capacity and capabilities of any team. Setting clear boundaries of work that can realistically be undertaken should be a discussion between the staff member and their employer. Clear line of sight of the strategic vision of a group also supports the understanding of what is required from staff and should be reflected in their work plan.

Job satisfaction is real and there are SO many perks to working for Landcare, but that is being pushed with the cost of living, and can only compete for so long with the (sometimes double) salary offered by state partners. We’re comparative roles/salaries considered in this discussion?

Currently and historically, we understand there is a discrepancy between government-paid roles and NFP roles. The strategic business case included LLC, RLC and ALO salaries plus 2.5% CPI and 23% oncosts. LLCs were based on $80k base for LLCs (excludes on costs) and $95k base for RLCS and ALOs.

I think it’s easy to say we should work for LC because we love it and job satisfaction but shouldn’t it also be up to new program to make people get the best of both worlds (Both job satisfaction and pride as well as people getting paid what they are worth and the value they bring to Landcare NSW) ?

Job satisfaction is an individual thing. What one person may deem as satisfying, another may not. The program has done its best to develop a compelling and value for money strategic business base giving the current economic environment, that would also be attractive to government investment.

How many hours should be allocated for professional development or is it own expense?

An allowance for training costs (courses etc) will be covered under PD but the hours to attend would need to form part of standard hours.

Advice re salary sacrificing would be great. We look into it but could not work out if we were eligible or it was worthwhile for the salary range?

Salary sacrificing is being looked at by LNSW however early research suggests that salary sacrificing may only be available to registered Not For Profits with FBT exemptions in place.

Used to be lots of useful templates in the LNSW website. Why were they taken down?

Due to changing legislation these templates were deemed to be out of date and therefore removed - we are looking into new templates as part of the shared services / support hub.

What has been uptake of Kim Boswell or Bec Fing by coordinator and hosts?

The Forever Agenda - Kimberley Boswell: 64 in Community Leaders Academy, 94 in Strategic Planning.
House Paddock - Rebecca Fing: 42 registrations

Is there a template/framework for handovers, not just whatever the current staff think of, ad hoc? New staff may not know what they need to ask.

This has been identified as an important template to be delivered and will be considered in the new program. An exit interview should be conducted when a staff member leaves and include a checklist of necessary information/assets to be handed back and system log ins revoked. It is a requirement that hosts inform landcare.admin@lls.nsw.gov.au when a staff member leaves. The program team, when informed, has undertaken exit interviews with coordinators.

TEAMS is used by LLS. Our region uses Zoom. Will these/should these be standardised?

This will form part of the digital review.

If a handover is mandatory how do we achieve that when there is a 3-6 month gap in funding and a loss of staff? I realise I’m stating the obvious but just for the record

We appreciate this is a challenging time. LLS and LNSW are working together toward a seamless transition. We are planning to have transitional funding available to existing hosts with the same FTE and costs as soon as possible, hopefully by early July.

Is induction responsibility of chair, coordinator or program team?

Induction is a shared responsibility. It is the responsibility of the host to induct any staff member into their specific organisation/group. It is the responsibility of the Program to ensure adequate induction is available to new coordinators in the program. It is the responsibility of the coordinator to ensure they undertake these inductions, suggested within the first 4 weeks of commencing in the role.

Mandatory handover only works if there is no delay in recruiting upon receipt of outgoing staff member's resignation. Is there an existing induction process? Where is it to be found?

This has been identified as an important template to be delivered and will be considered in the new program. An exit interview should be conducted when a staff member leaves and include a checklist of necessary information/assets to be handed back and system log ins revoked. It is a requirement that hosts inform landcare.admin@lls.nsw.gov.au when a staff member leaves. The program team, when informed, has undertaken exit interviews with coordinators. Existing induction is available on Gateway https://landcare.nsw.gov.au/toolbox/induction-for-new-coordinators/

Is there currently a structured on boarding kit that includes what the roles and responsibilities of LC and the LC program are including expectations and where we all sit in the food chain?

Not at present - but this is being looked at as part of the shared services / support hub under the new program.

Could there be an induction/training session for all existing/new local coordinators and host organisations at the start of the new program? I.e. to get everyone on he same page

This was a finding of the focus groups and is being considered as part of the new Program. Existing induction is available on Gateway https://landcare.nsw.gov.au/toolbox/induction-for-new-coordinators/

Landslips: Landcare Steps Up (Emma Stone & Ivy Young)

How did you select which properties to fund? Were there selection criteria for the site and landholders?

To ensure a justifiable, transparent and replicable selection process the Project Officer, in consultation with the Steering Committee, created a Landslide Prioritisation Matrix in order to rank landslides based on their impact to threatened species or threatened ecological communities. In short, the extents of all the registered landslides were mapped in ArcGIS using post-flood aerial imagery. The Spatial Analysis process then assigned each landslide a rating between 0-5 for five criteria with each criterion having a distinct weighting in regard to the overall ranking of the landslide. Landslides were then assigned a total score out of 100 and ranked accordingly. The top 50 properties were then selected for the creation of remediation plans.
For Phase 2 of the Landslip Recovery Project, we selected a subset of sites from the 50 remediation plans. This time the focus was specifically on Lowland Subtropical Rainforest. Sites were deemed ineligible for Phase 2 if they were unsafe for works crews to access or work on, were inaccessible without significant earthworks, were impacting on, or had the potential to impact on, public roads or houses or required controlled activity permits or other permissions unachievable in the short timeframe of the project.

Were there sites where you thought revegetation or hydro mulching would not be enough to remediate the site or TECs and so more physical engineering and structures were needed?

Yes! The vast majority of sites could have benefited from some earthworks including minor works like reducing the steepness of the batter and redirecting water off the site. Other minor interventions could be sedimentation and erosion control structures like coir logs or mesh. Many of the slips require significant engineering solutions to stabilise the site. In most instances the cost of these works, and the geotechnical assessments and designs required to carry them out, are too prohibitive.

Sundies out West (Louise Turner & Vanessa Anderson)

Are there any qualification requirements to take on a role or become more involved with Junior Landcare? Cheers!

Not really but you will need a current Working With Childrens Check (WWCC) for the state you are in. An idea of what you want to do, how you are going to do it, what age group or groups you would like to work with Know a little bit about Junior Landcare, what they are doing, what they offer in regard to resources and other connections. Maybe work in with your local school, girl guides, scouts, church group, sporting/community group or your local Landcare group A passion for working with children.

Filling Biodiversity Gaps (Amalia Pahlow & Chris Roberts)

How did you seek landowners to participate in the program?

We promote the program at events and in the local media - interested landholders can complete an Expression of Interest form to be involved. We also work with colleagues at Council (they have a Biodiversity Grant Program) to identify properties that they know that may be appropriate.

Are there state forests in the area, and if so is there any collaboration with them?

There are no State Forests in the Tweed, only National Parks - we try to work with National Parks as many sites adjoining National Park estate, but they don't always have time/ funds to contribute.