This program aims to publicly recognise an individual, group or organisation that has been involved in championing landcare and inspiring others to take action on their property or in their community. It acknowledges the remarkable commitment to caring for the land with improved sustainable land management practices, and promotional efforts to share their knowledge with others.
Award package worth $30,000 (excluding GST) is available to the winner. The prize includes a travel package to attend the National Landcare Awards gala dinner for the award ceremony.
An individual, group or organisation can only be nominated once. Nominations can be made more than once but this must be for another individual, group or organisation. Nominations can only be made by a third party. Self-nomination is not allowed.
The award will be presented at the 2025 National Landcare Awards gala dinner on 23 September 2025.
Eligible Activities
Eligible activities include natural resource management and sustainable land management practices through:
- Actively shaping and guiding innovative farming systems to improve sustainability and the quality of ecosystem services.
- Encouraging action and championing the uptake of more sustainable agriculture practices among landholders, farmers and primary producers.
- Creating awareness of the benefits of landcare to actively caring for the land.
- Mentoring and/or inspiring others to adopt best practice conservation land management practices to restore, enhance and protect the natural environment.
- Demonstrating an outstanding commitment to responding to environmental challenges into actionable, community-led solutions for biodiversity conservation, supporting threatened species and/or improved sustainable agriculture.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible nominees must be actively involved in landcare, natural resource management and sustainable agriculture and meet the following criteria:
- Individual: Australian citizen actively engaged in landcare or sustainable agriculture.
- Group: An Australian community-led group including landcare groups and landcare networks, farming system groups.
- Organisation: Australian-owned, not-for-profit, non-government entity, demonstrating leadership in natural resource management and sustainable agriculture. Applicants can include group-mart configured references.
- Involvement: Actively participating in landcare activities or sustainable agriculture initiatives.
- Commitment: Demonstrated dedication to environmental stewardship and promoting sustainable practices.
Former employees may enter but may not submit entries based on their work at LA.
Main Assessment Criteria
The main assessment criteria include whether an individual demonstrates the following qualities:
1. Landcare champion
- Actively involved in landcare.
- Shows a remarkable commitment to caring for the land.
- Has an outstanding commitment to local communities and drives community activity for the benefit of the environment and landcare.
2. Remarkable leader
- Inspires, educates and encourages others to take action on their own properties or through a landcare group.
- Champions the uptake of more sustainable agricultural practices and can demonstrate the adoption of improved practices among landholders as a consequence of this action.
3. Sustainable farm practice innovator
- Actively pursues, introduces and shapes innovative farming systems to improve productivity, profitability, sustainability, and the quality of natural resources.
Restrictions
Current LA employees or their immediate family members are not eligible to enter.