The Northern Rivers Times
November 16, 2023
16 NEWS Our Region’s Councils & Events Richmond Valley Council has opened nominations for their 2024 Australia Day Awards. You can nominate your local community champions here. https:// richmondvalley.nsw.gov. au/community-services/ australia-day/ Byron Shire Council is inviting local businesses and the wider community to participate in the New Year’s Eve Soul Street Festival in Byron Bay. Interested parties are asked to complete the Soul Street Festival survey. More information is available from the Byron Shire Council website. Survey:
Council Website:
Tweed Shire Council is inviting residents to take snaps of their favourite trees. The Council’s ‘Cool Towns Urban Forest’ program aims to plant more trees in the Tweed to provide increased shade and cooling in settings where concrete, bitumen and built structures absorb and reflect heat. Learn more and submit your photos here https://www. yoursaytweed.com.au/ cool-towns . EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES Regenerative Farming Workshops Holistic Grazing at The Farm Ewingsdale The Farm at Ewingsdale is hosting a 3-day holistic grazing workshop from 14 to 16 November 2023. Dig deep into the understanding of managing livestock as a positive tool to restore environments. The workshop will cover the principles of Holistic Management to get grazing animals to mimic nature, constantly moving onto fresh pasture thereby creating high levels of litter and more uniform manure distribution with a resultant increase in soil carbon levels. https://thefarm.
com.au/adultworkshops/2023/11/14/ holistic-grazing-workshop Imagining the future of regenerative agriculture Namabunda Farm, an organic mixed farming and regenerative agro-forestry operation owned by Bundjalung Tribal Society is hosting a regenerative agriculture day from 10.00am to 3.30pm on Tuesday 21 November at 110-112 Whites Lane Alstonville. The day will include a tour of the farm and an opportunity to explore and discuss the potential future pathways of regenerative agriculture in Australia through a facilitated session. This workshop is open to farmers, agriculture students, agriculture sector workers, and those working in agriculture and environmental policy. https://www.eventbrite. com/e/workshopimagining-the-future-ofregenerative-agriculturetickets-737711674477 Introduction to Biodynamics with Conscious Ground Conscious Ground is hosting a 2-day biodynamics workshop in Myocum on 27 & 28 November 2023. This introductory workshop brings together the art and science of biodynamics, the ‘how and why’ biodynamic preparations work, and the practical skills you need to start applying them. https://events.humanitix. com/two-day-intro-tobiodynamics-or-consciousground-27-and-28november Get Set Educated with Screenworks Have you ever wanted to work on the set of a TV or Film Production but don’t know where to start? Are you currently working in Hospitality, Fashion, Hair, Makeup, Construction, Electrics - or practically ANY other job, but feel like a change? The SET EDUCATED one-day event is your chance to discover how you could get work in the screen industry - in jobs you may not have ever heard of. Meet those who deliver the magic to get stories to the screen. The Grips, Gaffers, Assistant Directors, Camera, Sound, Lighting and Art Departments, Wardrobe, Props, Makeup, Production office. The list goes on. SET EDUCATED is being held at the Ballina RSL 9:30am to 4:30pm on 25 November 2023. More information and tickets are available here. https://www. mediamentors.com.au/ event-details/ballina
Funding and Opportunities Featured Grants MVP Ventures Program opens to new applications in December The NSW Government has announced that the MVP Ventures Program will open for new applications on Monday, 4 December 2023. The program will provide up to $3 million annually until 2027 to support startups and innovative SMEs in the product lifecycle between early-stage research and mature investment opportunities. The grant amounts will start at $25,000 with the maximum amount being $50,000. To be eligible under this program, you must provide a 50% cash cocontribution towards the costs of the proposed project. To learn more about eligibility and assessment criteria, check out the full grant guidelines here. https://www.investment.nsw. gov.au/assets/INV00516-MVPVentures-Program-Guidelines2023-FA.pdf Rapid Response Bush Fire Grants Fire to Flourish and Northern Rivers Community Foundation have launched a Rapid Response Bushfire Fund for the Tenterfield and Clarence Valley Local Government Areas, as fires continue to burn. Properties with fire damage will be eligible to receive a grant of $3,000, subject to program guidelines. https://nrcf.org.au/grants/ northern-rivers-bushfire-grantprogram/ CLOSING IN NOVEMBER Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative – Small Network Grants Small Network Grants are now available to community organisations in regional and rural Australia to develop and deliver one-off events or initiatives to strengthen community networks and capabilities that build drought preparedness. Closes: 14 November 2023 Value: Up to $20,000 or $50,000 Run by: Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal https://frrr.org.au/funding/disasterresilience-and-climate-solutions/ small-networks-grants/
Ballina Shire Council Koala Habitat Restoration Small Grants Landowners in the Ballina Shire can apply for up to $10,000 for creating and restoring koala habitat on their property. Closes: 27 November 2023 Value: Up to $10,000
Run by: Ballina Shire Council https://ballina.nsw.gov.au/ koala-habitat-restoration-smallgrants%C2%A0%C2%A0 Level the Playing Field Program The Level the Playing Field Program investment will revive sports facilities by providing new, or upgrading existing sports facilities, amenities and sporting fields and support the provision of new and upgraded lighting that will enable more women and girls to train and compete in sports in a safe and inclusive environment. Closes: 30 November 2023 Value: $200,000 to $2 Million Run by: NSW Office of Sport https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/ grants/level-the-playing-fieldprogram CLOSING DECEMBER BRII Workplace Relations Usability Challenge Feasibility grant The Australian Government seeks innovative technology solutions to support engagement with modern awards. This grant opportunity will focus on making it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises to find, navigate, and utilise modern awards. Closes: 6 December 2023 Value: Up to $100,000 Run by: Australian Government https://business.gov.au/grantsand-programs/brii-workplacerelations-usability-challenge Club Grants Category 3 – Infrastructure Grants: arts and culture The objective of the Clubgrants Category 3 Infrastructure Grants program is to fund the costs of construction, alteration, renovation, completion and fit-out of buildings and community infrastructure to deliver outcomes for disadvantaged NSW communities, including regional, remote and drought-affected areas, culturally and linguistically diverse, disability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and disaster-affected communities. Opens 27 November 2023 Closes: 18 December 2023 Value: $50,000 to $200,000 Run by: NSW Office of Responsible Gambling More funding and opportunities can be found on the Grants Page of the RDA Northern Rivers website. https://www. rdanorthernrivers.org.au/ grants-opportunities-2/ HAVE YOUR SAY NSW Government Consultations Improving accessibility across NSW public transport
Transport for NSW invites people over the age of 16 to participate in a short survey to help inform their strategy for delivering an accessible state-wide transport system to improve transport access for people with lived experience of disability. Submissions close Friday 17 November 2023. https://www.haveyoursay.nsw. gov.au/transport-accessibility Early childhood education and care review The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) is reviewing the NSW early childhood education and care sector. They have released an Interim Report and welcome feedback from the community, including families from all backgrounds across NSW, as well as providers and workers in the sector, advocacy groups and sector representatives. Submissions close Friday 17 November 2023. https://www.haveyoursay.nsw. gov.au/ecec-review-ir See more NSW Government consultations here. https://www. nsw.gov.au/have-your-say AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT CONSULTATIONS National Nursing Workforce Strategy Stage One The Department of Health and Aged Care invites comments on the National Nursing Workforce Strategy. Submissions close Thursday 30 November 2023. https://consultations.health. gov.au/health-workforce/ nnwsconsultation/ Sustainable Finance Strategy The Treasury invites comments on Australia’s Sustainable Finance Strategy, which will support Australia’s pathway to net zero, by providing an ambitious and comprehensive framework for reducing barriers to investment into sustainable activities. Submissions close Friday 1 December 2023. https://treasury.gov.au/ consultation/c2023-456756 Better Delivery of Universal Services The Australian Government is examining universal service arrangements, considering changes in available technologies and consumer preferences over recent years, and is seeking views on the key outcomes that a modern universal service framework should deliver. Submissions close Friday 1 March 2024. https://www.infrastructure. gov.au/have-your-say/betterdelivery-universal-services
