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PERMACULTURE INTERNATIONAL LTD.
an introduction…
Permaculture International Ltd (PIL) is a community-based organisation for
the permaculture movement in Australia.
The organisation’s focus is sustainable development as defined in the 1984
World Commission on Environment and Development, also known as the
Brundtland Commission. This is augmented by the sustainable development
agenda of the permaculture design system initially developed by Dr Bill
Mollison and David Holmgren, and described in their books and papers.
Permaculture International Ltd is a Registered Environmental Organisation
(REO) and has held a Deductible Gift Recipients (DGR) fund since 1998. In
relation to its REO status, projects supported by PIL comply with the purpose
of the scheme in protecting, improving, providing information and research
regarding Australia's natural environment and that of countries where local
organisations benefit from PIL support.
Over the past 30 years an estimated 100,000 Australians have undertaken
training in permaculture, including through its nationally-recognised
workplace training certificates and diploma (known as Accredited
Permaculture Training) and have participated in the projects of
permaculture organisations at local and regional levels.
Projects supported
Since 2012 Permaculture International Ltd has provided 15 grants to
community projects, four in Australia and eleven in other countries:
• Community nursery and training in land restoration — AEE Haiti,
$2000
• Landuse Planning and community managed forests — AAE Haiti,
$5000
• Community training centre, in rural development — Ockenden,
Cambodia, $1000
• Farmers & NGOs network in dryland Tamil Nadu — FRSD, Madurai,
India, $1000
• Solar pump and water supply for rural leadership training —
THREAD, Orissa India, $1000
• Orphanage food garden Umaja Orphanage — Kenya, $1000
• Train-the-Trainer MRM & Permaculture for leader farmers — Field
Farmers Association Sumatra, Indonesia, $500
• Training manual on community based NRM — Earthcare Education
Aotearoa, New Zealand, $500
• Community based training, erosion and farm planning — PRI, Kenya,
$1000
hello@permacultureaustralia.org.au | PO Box 230 Church Point 2105 | ACN 003 386 258
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• Community Planting — Mullumbimby Community Garden, NSW,
$500
• National Gathering, Australian City Farms & Community Gardens
Network, $500
• Community workshops on backyard food growing — Birallee Park
Community Centre, Wodonga, Victoria, $500
• Veterinarian support to remote rare breed herder communities in the
Suliman Mountains — SAVES, Pakistan, $1000
• Community education on natural resource management
Badilisha Ecovillage Trust, Lake Victoria, Kenya, $500
• Representation at Australian Permaculture Convergence, APC 11
New Zealand
• Yorta Yorta Indigenous community, Victoria, $500.
Some of these activities are supported by funds acquired through the DGR
scheme. The scheme has been critical to PIL's capacity to provide assistance
and environmental improvement both in Australia and overseas, including
disaster recovery.
Governance
Permaculture International Ltd (PIL) is a company limited by guarantee.
Formed in 1984, PIL's was established initially as a publisher of
Permaculture International Journal. Following a national meeting in 2010,
PIL adopted the trading name of Permaculture Australia to more accurately
represent its work.
PIL is a structured as a membership organisation, is governed by a volunteer
Board of Directors and works through volunteer teams. A practical value of
participation in PIL administration, on the Board of Directors or in the
organisation’s teams, is the gaining of transferable experience in
organisational management. This includes developing and improving skills
that may be used in the workplace and in other voluntary organisations.
Other governance characteristics include:
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a receipt is produced for all funds received
achieving environmental objectives is the primary purpose of PIL
PIL maintains a separate bank account for the fund
‘responsible people’, as a Public Fund Management Committee,
are registered as having oversight of the fund
PIL conducts an annual financial audit or review by a certified
auditor/reviewer
• PIL provides an annual report to the REO office.
hello@permacultureaustralia.org.au | PO Box 230 Church Point 2105 | ACN 003 386 258
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1.
The definition of 'environmental organisation' under the
income tax the Assessment Act 1997, including under
Subdivision 30- E
(1) Its principal purpose must be:
(a) the protection and enhancement of the natural environment or of a
significant aspect of the natural environment; or
(b) the provision of information or education, or the carrying on of
research, about the natural environment or a significant aspect of the
natural environment
PIL supports this definition as useful in recognising that wellbeing is
inextricably tied to the effective functioning of the environmental services
provided by natural systems.
PIL complies with the definition of 'environmental organisation' above in
raising funds through the DGR scheme to support works that build
environmental capacity to sustain environmental services.
PIL also recognises that agriculture can support environmental services as it
also draws upon them. Consequently, the use of DGR funding to support
appropriate farming systems and community development is pertinent to PIL.
An example of the type of support we offer is our recent funding of a
project in Haiti to reduce the environmental impact of charcoal producers
and goat herders on forest clearing.
2.
Requirements to be met by an organisation to be listed
on the register and maintain its listing
PIL supports all of the requirements as they currently stand, and upholds
them.
The requirements are achievable for PIL as a volunteer organisation.
hello@permacultureaustralia.org.au | PO Box 230 Church Point 2105 | ACN 003 386 258
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3.
Activities undertaken by organisations currently listed
on the Register and the extent to which these activities
involve on- ground environmental works
One hundred percent of PIL's DGR funds are put to microgrants of AU$500
to $5000 for community-based projects. Many of these are for community
infrastructure development.
These are all implemented as practical, 'on the ground' works such as
nursery propagation for erosion prevention plantings, veterinarian services
for rare breeds animals in remote areas, public education programs and
curriculum development, training delivery and institutional support for
community groups and similar.
PIL support for activities under REO status include:
• a recent project in Haiti to provide community training in district
mapping and the community management of forested areas
• a community training manual for rural development in East Timor
• seed funding for a network of farmer and rural development workers
in southern Tamil Nadu in India
• a curriculum development fund for resources on community based
sustainable development for rural communities in New Zealand.
To assist in project selection, PIL makes use of its Permafund Committee and
their score sheet tool (see attachment).
Education and advocacy
It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between educational and advocacy
activity because education is not value-free and in some forms is embodied
within advocacy.
Advocacy is also a component in negotiations that may take place in
planning and implementing projects. For example, supporting the inclusion
of women and children in decisions about planning and resource use.
hello@permacultureaustralia.org.au | PO Box 230 Church Point 2105 | ACN 003 386 258
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4.
Reporting requirements for organisations to disclose
donations and activities funded by donations
PIL reports annually to the REO office as well as the ASIC and ACNC.
PIL has an annual financial review or audit.
Keep reporting manageable
This level of reporting is a significant undertaking for a voluntary
organisation, however we accept the need for it and we have been able to
fulfil our reporting obligations.
We suggest, however, that any changes to reporting requirements be kept
within the time and skills capacity of voluntary organisations.
5.
The administration of the Register and potential
efficiency improvements
Organisations participating in the DGR scheme are best regarded as social
and environmental assets relevant to the future development of the nation.
The REO scheme is important to building, supporting and offering assistance
to the voluntary, community-based environment sector. The sector has
limited opportunity for self-funding and DGR status assists greatly in this.
Community-managed development
The sector offers significant opportunity to contribute and offer services to
the Australian community and to the further improvement of Australia’s
ecology.
DGR status facilitates this contribution, however it is the long term
commitment and preparedness of volunteers to support environmental
improvement that supplements government works in areas where
government services do not reach that is the strength of the sector. Most
REO groups are formed and managed by volunteers and respond to local
needs.
Supporting our tradition
The value of enabling the Australian tradition of voluntarism
In a time of budgetary constraint, capable communities can assist in
maintaining and improving environmental services and natural resource
management of both public and private land.
REO and DGR listing should be recognised as encouraging volunteer
contribution in the form of time, energy, knowledge and skills for the
betterment of Australia’s culture and natural environments. The huge
contribution by volunteers is a long-standing tradition that REO and DGR
status upholds, and is best recognised for doing this.
hello@permacultureaustralia.org.au | PO Box 230 Church Point 2105 | ACN 003 386 258
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Permaculture Australia supports the present arrangements for REOs as
contributors to the common good.
Efficiencies and the value of REOs
Recognising the personal and social benefit of participating in REOs,
especially in terms of skills development and experience — which for
individuals are workplace values — would enable a broader view of the
benefits of the scheme.
Efficiencies could contribute to gaining more impact from REOs by adding
capacity building elements such as an annual conference, newsletter and
training support for groups, as would establishing a peer referencing body
of REO groups. These things would improve the performance of REOs and
their cooperation with government and business.
Improvements must be made with a view to their achievability by voluntary
organisations operating within their skills, financial and time constraints.
PIL proposes that government consult closely with participating
organisations regarding efficiency improvements so that they remain
relevant and achievable.
6.
Compliance arrangements and the measures available
to the Department of the Environment and the
Australian Taxation Office to investigate breaches of
the Act and Ministerial Guidelines by listed
organisations
It is PIL's attitude that DGR must not be abused. PIL's assessment and
monitoring process is our means of avoiding this.
With 100 percent of PIL DGR donations being used to support approved
projects, no donations are used for internal management needs, which are
all supported by voluntary work.
Compliance arrangements need be kept simple and within the capacity of
voluntary organisations to ensure they are enacted.
Consulting DGR recipient organisations on changes to compliance
arrangements would help achieve that, to the benefit of both the
organisations and the Department.
hello@permacultureaustralia.org.au | PO Box 230 Church Point 2105 | ACN 003 386 258
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7.
Relevant governance arrangements in international
jurisdictions, and exploring methods to adopt best
practice in Australia
Australia’s international development sector offers a positive example of
international best practice in building capacity and establishing a selfregulating capability for a sector.
Their code of practice for development assistance agencies is widely
respected as has establishing a set of standards that all member agencies
voluntarily adhere to.
In conclusion
PIL’s work has been enabled through its REO and DGR status and we look
forward to being able to continue our work under these arrangements. We
believe that the status enables good works to be carried out by the diversity
of organisations that have such status.
We encourage the Department to confer with us and others with REO status
in improving the system. PIL is ready to discuss the operation and future of
the scheme with government and other stakeholders.
Submitted on behalf of the Board of directors of
Permaculture International Ltd by John McKenzie and Fern Rainbow.
hello@permacultureaustralia.org.au | PO Box 230 Church Point 2105 | ACN 003 386 258
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ATTACHMENT 1
Permafund Project assessment – 2014
Please Score 1-5
1–poor
PROJECT NAME:
John M
John C
Alexia
Chris
Virginia
Boyd
Bruce
Jed
5–good
Realistic and viable.
That it appears well conceived and has a
reasonable chance of success.
Bang for Buck.
That the project will bring a productive benefit,
that the work to be done will bring useful impact,
useful community development,
Where need is greatest.
That it offers support to communities who are less
able to support themselves.
Aligns with the REO requirements.
That it meets the environmental criteria established
in the Registered Environmental Organisation
guidelines. See below.
In Australia or overseas.
Currently there is no REO requirement.
Capacity for useful ongoing connection
Relationship with the partner agency and their
community beyond the one grant.
Capacity for adding value beyond the
simple transfer of grant funds.
Are there useful relationships and capacity
building that can happen for the partner agency
and for Permafund to build skills and strengthen
both agencies.
Capacity to generate learning.
Lessons learnt that can be used to inform future
work and the wider permaculture community, and
development agency community.
Capacity for verification of project
authenticity.
Attachment 1 — Submission from Permaculture International Ltd
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Quote from guidelines for Registered Environment Organisations (REO)
An environmental organisation’s principal purpose must be:
a) the protection and enhancement of the natural environment or a significant aspect of the
natural environment. or
b) the provision of information or education, or the carrying on of research, about the natural
environment or a significant aspect of the natural environment.
The environmental purpose must be the organisation’s principal purpose. The objects of the
organisation must be set in the context of the natural environment. This includes all aspects of the
natural surroundings of humans, whether affecting them as individuals or in social groupings. The
term natural to describe `environment’ is used to make a distinction between the natural environment
and other types of environments eg • built; • cultural; and • historic environments.
The natural environment and concern for it would include, for example: significant natural areas
such as rainforests; wildlife and their habitats; issues affecting the environment such as air and water
quality, waste minimisation, soil conservation, and biodiversity; and promotion of ecologically
sustainable development principles.
The natural environment would exclude, for example: constructions such as the retaining walls of
dams, cultivated parks and gardens, zoos and wildlife parks (except those parks and zoos
principally carried on for the purposes of species preservation); and cultural sites and heritage
properties.
Attachment 1 — Submission from Permaculture International Ltd
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