Dieback detector dog grant

Dieback detector dogs and their handlers at Kings Park

Dieback detector dogs Alice (left) and Echo (right) with TATE Animal Handling Enterprises dieback detector dog handlers Ryan Tate, Dave Wilkin and Avery Keller on assignment at Kings Park with DBCA Plant Diseases Program Leader Dr Kylie Ireland (back left) and Plant Diseases Officer Nathan Ashburner (back right)]

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) is pleased to announce the opening of a dieback detector dog grant. The grant process will identify and award two suitable dog handlers with one of two conservation detector dogs trained to detect Phytophthora cinnamomi, the plant pathogen that causes Phytophthora dieback.

Applications are sought from experienced animal handlers and businesses with capacity to develop commercial dieback detector dog capacity in Western Australia.

The grant is being provided as a part of the Dieback Detector Dog project funded by the Australian Government Saving Native Species Program. The project is led by DBCA, with animal handling leadership from TATE Animal Training Enterprises.

Grants funding process

The dieback detector dog grant program is a competitive process undertaken in two stages:

Stage One

Call for Applications. Applications from experienced animal handlers that offer best value for money to achieve the desired outcomes for the Australian Government Saving Native Species Dieback Detector Dog project will be shortlisted.

Stage Two

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview and demonstrate their dog-handling capabilities. Successful applicants will be required to negotiate and enter into a Research Collaboration Agreement with DBCA.

How to apply

The application period for the dieback detector dog grant will open on the 11 March 2025 and close at 12pm (midday) 8 April 2025.

Please download and refer to the Dieback Detector Dog Grants Guidelines in the download section below. All applications must be submitted through the online portal.