• The JMC has spoken at length about the need to balance shorter term needs and priorities with longer term, enduring outcomes from the upcoming investment in the Aboriginal Partnerships program. The JMC also needed to consider these factors when putting in place phases 1 and 2.
• Different delivery options have been explored as to the most appropriate way to ensure the funding meets the objectives and outcomes. These options and considerations have been directly influenced by your feedback about what this phase should contain. We are sure it won’t surprise you that there are different needs across the state and differing needs create complexity for program and grant design and we are committed to try our best to make this work. 
• The JMC has agreed to deliver the Aboriginal Partnerships component in two stages.
• These stages will build on the regional engagement work led by Landcare NSW’s Aboriginal Partnerships Manager Den Barber with Landcare and Aboriginal people in 2024.
• The first stage includes:
  • supporting and collating learnings from existing Aboriginal Landcare Officers in two pilot regions
  • Procuring a qualified Aboriginal organisation to develop an Aboriginal Landcare Framework in consultation with Landcare, LLS and key stakeholders. This framework intends to provide a structure and resources that will support Landcare, now and into the future. It will develop tools and resources for Landcare groups that supports a culturally safe workplace and assists Landcare in co-designing Aboriginal partnership initiatives (for stage 2)
• Learnings from Stage 1 will be incorporated into Stage 2. This is likely to focus on funding opportunities for Phase 1 grantees in applying the Aboriginal Landcare Framework and co-design Aboriginal partnership initiatives

Key messages - Innovation and Partnerships component

• 2025 is a big year for Program implementation including:
  • Finalising the LEP Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement (MERI) Framework
  • Facilitating regional Landcare/LLS Memorandum of Understanding (MoU’s)
  • Digital Landcare solutions testing
  • FY24/25 acquittals and reporting (grantees)
  • Stage 1 and 2 of the LEP Aboriginal component
  • Design and implementation of the Innovation and Partnerships component
• The teams are working hard to meet these competing priorities whilst being mindful of current workloads and time constraints for grantees, coordinators and Regional Administration Support Officers
• It is likely funding for innovations and partnerships will be another grant and a separate contract delivered and managed by LLS with advice and support from Landcare NSW
• The focus areas are likely to align with the Minister’s priorities being:
  • Climate preparedness and adaptation
  • Natural Capital
  • Biosecurity
  • Partnerships
• It is likely this grant will not be open until Sep/Oct this year (2025) and will cover the period Jan/Feb 26 – Jun 27
• We appreciate delays may be frustrating, however sometimes a delay saves considerable time in the long run by ensuring that programs are sound and deliver what is intended.