Get funding to learn about land management
You can get sponsored to learn more about and grow your skills in land management.
The sponsorship covers registration and course fees as well as travel and accommodation costs to attend events.
It will be offered to two applicants under the Natural Resource Management Champions program.
The program is funded through the Established Pest Animals and Weeds measure. To find out more go to the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture and Water Resources website.
Who can apply
To apply for this sponsorship you must be able to show:
- an active interest in land management
- a long-term commitment to the pastoral industry
- a desire to learn and put in place actions that lead to sustainable rangelands management.
When it takes place
The sponsorship program will run from 1 August 2017 to 30 December 2018.
You will need to undertake the sponsored activities during this time.
What you can get
The sponsorship will cover your expenses including registration and course fees, travel fares, meals and accommodation.
As part of the sponsorship you will need to choose at least three activities from two categories.
You must do the following activities as part of the sponsorship:
- visit western Queensland to learn about the impacts of prickly acacia
- take part in a catchment scale weed planning meeting
- learn how weeds are surveyed and mapped.
To find out more see the list of activities.
List of activities
You must choose at least three activities from each table below. The required activities count toward this. You can select all activities.
Category 1 - increasing knowledge
| Activity | Details | Estimated duration | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visit western Queensland to learn about the impacts of prickly acacia - required activity | Travel with a weed officer to western Queensland to witness how prickly acacia impacts on cattle production. Get a firsthand account of the prickly acacia management challenges faced by pastoralists. | Six days | Negotiable |
| Catchment scale weed management planning - required activity | Visit another station in the Northern Territory with a weed officer to take part in a catchment scale weed planning meeting. Learn about the principles of weed management and the importance of working with neighbours. | Four days | Negotiable |
| MLA Grazing Fundamentals | Gain a broad understanding of the components of the grazing production system and the core, scientifically backed principles behind optimising grazing land productivity. Learn about the local influences on pasture yield and quality and how seasonal planning and strategic management can be used to achieve land condition and animal production goals. | Two days | Dates to be determined |
| Pastoral Landcare meeting | Attend a pastoral Landcare meeting to gain exposure to how these groups are governed and how projects are developed from the ground up. Meet others who are passionate about natural resource management and start developing networks within the pastoral industry. | Two days | Negotiable |
| Australian Rangeland Society Conference | Travel to Port Augusta, South Australia to attend the 19th Biennial Conference of the Australian Rangeland Society. The conference theme is Transition to Transformation. Delegates will share their ideas and experience of the challenges and opportunities facing rangeland environments, industries and communities during a time of significant change. Meet scientists, government and industry representatives. | Six days | 25 to 28 September 2017 |
| Northern Territory Natural Resource Management Conference | Attend the annual Territory Natural Resource Management conference in Darwin in November 2017 or November 2018. Learn about projects in the Northern Territory and meet those who are involved. | Five days | November 2017 or 2018 |
Category 2 - developing skills
| Activity | Details | Estimated duration | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weed survey and mapping - required activity | Learn how weeds are surveyed and mapped to help inform weed management planning for pastoral properties. | Two days | Negotiable |
| Operation and maintenance of weed control equipment | Spend a day in the field with weed officers. Learn how to operate and maintain a range of weed control equipment. | Two days | Negotiable |
| One-on-one soil conservation | Spend two days with Daryl Hill from Soil Save to get personalised soil conservation training. Learn about causes and type of erosion, mitigation measures and machinery operation practices. Training will be tailored to the required level to ensure the candidates knowledge base is built upon. | Four days | Negotiable |
| Aerial incendiary training | Learn from staff at Bushfires NT how to safely operate and maintain aerial incendiary devices. | One day | Negotiable |
| Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | Take part in a training course with support from experienced GIS operators. GIS are used to capture, store, manage and display data in relation to a position on the earth’s surface. These systems are commonly used for pastoral property development and planning. | Negotiable | Negotiable |
| Fire Fighting One | Attend a Bushfires NT training course that provides knowledge and skills on fire behaviour, firefighting tactics and strategies, legislation and use and maintenance of operational equipment. This course has theory and practical components. | Three days | Dependent on course dates |
| ChemCert® Accreditation | Learn about industry best practice and national standards for working with chemicals. You can do the course online with self-paced learning or attend a two-day training session. | Two to four days | Negotiable |
| Shruburn project | Be a part of this long-term burning trial by joining Department of Primary Industry and Resources staff to help with managed burning and data collection. The Shruburn trial was established at Victoria River Research Station, Kidman Springs, in 1993 to learn more about managing woody vegetation. | Seven days | Dates to be determined |
| Rangelands monitoring | Join the Rangelands Monitoring team in the field to learn how Tier 1 sites are monitored on the pastoral estate and how to map pastoral property infrastructure. | Seven days | Dependent on field schedule |
How to apply
To nominate for this program follow these steps.
Step 1. Fill in the form.
To nominate yourself, fill in the NRM Champions form (229.1 kb).
If you are a manager and would like to nominate a staff member, fill in the NRM Champions manager's form (255.5 kb).
Step 2. Submit the form by email or post.
Weed Management
PMB 123
Katherine NT 0851
rangelands@nt.gov.au
Nominations close on 5 June 2017.
Contact
To find out more contact Weed Management by calling (08) 8973 8857 or emailing rangelands@nt.gov.au.
Last updated: 28 November 2017