Sponsorship

TAS Farm Innovation Hub Sponsorship Program

The Hub’s sponsorship program aims to support farmers, agricultural service providers, and researchers to access opportunities to build capacity and skills for drought resilience (e.g. training or events).

Funding up to $5,000 is available to community groups and organisations to contribute to the costs of running or attending events, training, or other activities that help farmers and farming communities become more prepared for drought and climate variability. This includes conferences or other events with a focus on tools or practices to build drought resilience, contribution to costs to attend training courses or conferences, or other similar activities.

Applications will need to demonstrate how the event or activity will contribute to one or more of the TAS Farm Innovation Hub’s regional drought resilience priorities listed below. Applications must address at least one of priorities 1-3.

1. FARM PLANNING AND PREPAREDNESS: Helping farmers understand their options and develop and implement plans to reduce drought risk, based on locally relevant and accessible data and information.
2. WATER: Contributing to a better understanding of catchment-scale water availability, allocations and demand, and farm-scale issues of reliable access and efficient use of water.
3. LANDSCAPES: Building knowledge and skills to increase the health of soil, vegetation and waterways, and measuring on-farm natural capital to support drought resilience.
4. CLIMATE: Supporting an improved understanding of changes in climate and using this information to guide drought preparedness (in conjunction with other priorities).
5. COMMUNITY: Building social connections, community leadership and well-being of people and communities (in conjunction with other priorities).

Who can apply?

• Organisations or community groups based in Tasmania. Individuals require an organisation or community group to apply on their behalf. 

What are the timeframes?

• Applications can be submitted at any time and will be assessed in two rounds:
  • Round 1 – due 20 November 2024
  • Round 2 – due 20 February 2025
• Applications will need to be submitted by close of business on the 20th day of the month for each round.
• Applicants will be advised of the outcomes within 4 weeks of the closing date.
• Funds will be transferred to successful applicants the month after the relevant grant round in December or March.
• Sponsored activities will need to be completed within six months of signing the approval letter. Activities funded in round 2 must be completed by 30 June 2025.

How are applications assessed?

Applications will be assessed by the TAS Farm Innovation Hub Sponsorship Committee considering:

• Alignment to the TAS Farm Innovation Hub’s regional drought resilience themes.
• How the activity/event will contribute to building skills, capacity, and/or networks for drought resilience.
• Who will benefit from the activity, and how benefits are shared (e.g. if training for one person, how will the learning or skills benefit their community).

The Sponsorship Committee will also consider other factors, such as the spread of organisations and industries supported. 

How much funding is available per application?

• Community groups and organisations may apply for up to $5,000.

How to apply?

• Applications can be submitted via the TAS Farm Innovation Hub Sponsorship Application form below.

For assistance, please get in touch with the Hub: fdf.tas.hub@utas.edu.au

What is required if the application is successful?

• Successful applicants will need to provide a brief summary and photos for promotional activities including the Hub newsletter and social media channels.
• Promotional materials including flyers should appropriately acknowledge the support provided by the TAS Farm Innovation Hub and the Future Drought Fund. The Hub will share these guidelines and information with successful applicants.
• If the sponsorship is to run an event, you will be required to provide evidence of appropriate public liability insurance.

Ineligible expenditure

Please note funding cannot be used for the following purposes:

• Costs of past activities.
• Subsidy of general ongoing administration of an organisation such as electricity, phone, computing hardware and rent.
• Work that duplicates other activities, events, or projects.
• Purchase of land.
• Major construction or capital expenditure.
• Purchase of vehicles.
• Overseas travel.
• Wages.
• Hospitality /catering for the purpose of entertaining clients or the project team.
• Activities or projects already funded by the Commonwealth, state, territory, or local government bodies.