Introduction
This guide aims to assist subcontractors, including paid partners such as NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and local councils, as well as unpaid delivery partners like Landcare groups and other interest groups, with communication deliverables.
Our objective is to ensure that all communications about Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) funded work align with the branding and communication requirements of NSW Government, NSW Local Land Services (LLS) and its customers, including the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), and other relevant government agencies as additional funding is integrated into NHT project delivery during the 2023–28 funding period.
General guidelines
- There are brand, acknowledgement and communication guidelines to comply with when communicating about NHT-funded projects, as described in the information below.
- Photos and footage: must be high quality, and ensure you have permission in writing to use assets that are not taken by an employee of your organisation. Ensure consent forms have been obtained of any people in images.
- Accessible content: meet accessibility compliance standards prescribed by WCAG minimum standard 2.2AA, the Australian Government and the NSW Government.
Communication requirements and approvals
This table can be used to understand your communication obligations.
| Communication materials and activities, where funding has been received through the Panel of Regional Delivery Partners | Local Land Services approval required | Written acknowledgement needed | Australian Government logo to be used | NSW Government logo to be used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Media releases and press announcements See approvals | ||||
| Media activities, including newspapers, radio, podcasts and TV See approvals | ||||
| Signage and plaques See approvals | ||||
| Social media posts | ||||
| Publicity material – brochures, posters, etc. | ||||
| Websites (including project page and blogs) | ||||
| Reports | ||||
| Videos and PowerPoint presentations |
For media releases, signs and plaques: Australian Government must approve before publishing. A minimum of 7 business days is required for approval.
For media activities: Australian Government must be notified in advance.
Inform your Local Land Services contact and the NHT Communications Officer of these activities.
Australian Government logo
The plain Australian Government logo is required to be used in some communications. See the table above for when to use the logo, and follow the guidelines for use.
You can download a copy of the logo from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website. The logo must be presented as the same size (height) as the NSW Government logo.
Do not use the Australian Government logo on any merchandise.
NSW Government logo
Use the NSW Government logo in equal prominence with your organisation’s logo when communicating about NHT-funded work by your organisation. The relevant funding statement must also be included in the communication.
When communication requires the Australian Government logo to be included (see the table under Tagging on social media) then all 3 logos must appear on the information: Australian Government, NSW Government and your organisation’s logo. The Australian Government and NSW Government logos must be the same size as your own logo.
Samples, resources and logos can be found in the NSW Government Brand Toolbox under Guidelines > Sponsorships and Partnership > External Party led communications. Registration is required to access the toolbox.
Do not use the NSW Government logo on any merchandise.
Funding statements
A written acknowledgement of the funding source for activities is required to be used in most communications. See the table above for when to include acknowledgement.
Environment (DCCEEW) projects:
- This [work/project/event/resource] is funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and delivered [for/alongside*] Local Land Services, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.
*Paid subcontractors use ‘for’. Unpaid subcontractors (for example, community groups, volunteers) use ‘alongside’.
Sustainable agriculture (DAFF) projects:
- This [work/project/event/resource] is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program and delivered [for/ alongside*] Local Land Services, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.
*Paid subcontractors use ‘for’. Unpaid subcontractors (for example, community groups, volunteers) use ‘alongside’.
Activities supported by a Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator:
- This [work/project/event/resource] [is/was] supported by [Region] Local Land Services’ Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator. Sustainable Agriculture Facilitators are supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.
Verbal communication
This funding recognition is required when participating in spoken activities such as media interviews and podcasts:
- This [project/research/event] is [supported/funded] by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust.
Social media guidelines, hashtags and tags
- All social media posts required the respective funding statement and the compulsory hashtag.
- Where possible, the respective handle(s) should also be used.
Hashtags
For all projects, the compulsory hashtag is: #NaturalHeritageTrust
For all projects, optional hashtags are #LocalLandServices or #LLS.
| Environment projects – additional hashtags | Agriculture projects – additional hashtags |
|---|---|
Depending on the context of the post, to increase visibility, additional hashtags to consider are:
| Depending on the context of the post, to increase visibility, additional hashtags to consider are:
|
Tagging on social media
- Where possible, the relevant handle(s) should be used.
- Always tag Local Land Services when character limits allow.
- Refer to the DCCEEW column for communications related to environment, threatened species and Aboriginal engagement activities.
- Refer to the DAFF column for communications related to the climate-smart agriculture and Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator activities.
| Social channel | Local Land Services | DCCEEW | DAFF |
|---|---|---|---|
| @llsnsw | @TSCommissioner @ParksAustralia @dcceew | @DAFFgov | |
| @llsnsw | @tscommissioner @ParksAustralia @dcceew | @DAFFgov | |
| X | @llsnsw | @TSCommissioner @ParksAustralia @dcceew | @DAFFgov |
| Local Land Services | Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry |
Authorship disclaimer
When material contains a message or an opinion that could be interpreted as being that of Local Land Services or the Australian Government, and has not been officially endorsed by them, use one of these authorship disclaimer options:
- This [project/research/on-ground works] was supported by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust. Views and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian Government.
- This [video/podcast/radio segment] was developed by [name of developer of material/ publication]. Views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Local Land Services or the Australian Government.
When using, add the statement after the official funding statement for the activity (see earlier section in this guide for official funding statements).
Resources
- Australian Government logo options – use in line with the Australian Government Branding Guidelines
- NSW Government website – for logo, sponsorship and funding acknowledgement guidelines and branding guidelines.
- NSW Government Brand Toolbox – for samples, resources and logos; also see Guidelines > Sponsorships and Partnership > External Party led communications. Registration is required to access the toolbox.
Enquiries
Gina Gray, NHT Communications Officer, Local Land Services
Email: gina.gray@lls.nsw.gov.au