Aboriginal Affairs NSW Community and Place Grants Program in Australia

Deadline: 14-Oct-22

The Aboriginal Affairs NSW is seeking applications for the Community and Place Grants Program with an aim to deliver tangible local benefit and impact to Aboriginal communities against the Closing the Gap socio-economic outcome targets, recognising that Aboriginal communities have the solutions to problems or issues in their community.

The projects must contribute to the Closing the Gap targets specifically, not the broad outcome area. Applicants are strongly encouraged to familiarise themselves with the 17 socio-economic outcome targets under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

Objective 

• The Community and Place Grants Program aims to support one-off projects which include programs, equipment, vehicles and infrastructure developed by local Aboriginal communities and with local community support to drive change and contribute towards the 17 socio-economic outcome targets under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

Funding Information

A total of $15 million in funding is available in 2022/23 via two streams:

• Stream 1: Grants of up to and including $100,000.
• Stream 2: Grants between $100,001 and $250,000.

Applicants can apply once in each stream of funding.

Eligible Projects

The following are examples of the types of projects that may be considered for funding.

• Programs
  • Hosting mental health support meetings in the community to enhance social and emotional wellbeing
  • Running networking and mentoring events to empower economic participation and development of Aboriginal people
  • Facilitating outreach services to support young   people and minimise engagement with the criminal justice system
• Infrastructure
  • Refurbishing or upgrading a shelter that provides support to ensure that Aboriginal families and households are safe
  • LALCs acquiring land to facilitate Aboriginal communities maintaining a distinctive cultural,  spiritual, physical, and economic relationship with their land and waters
  • IT building upgrades to ACCO offices to support internet connectivity and digital inclusion
• Equipment and Vehicles
  • Purchasing study and educational materials for  youth centres to support students to achieve their full learning potential
  • Purchasing equipment for the provision of Aboriginal health services

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible for an Aboriginal Affairs NSW Community and Place Grant, applicants must be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled Organisation (ACCO) or an unincorporated Aboriginal community group with an agreement for an ACCO to auspice the funding.
• Unincorporated Aboriginal groups – Unincorporated groups must be Aboriginal community groups – that is, they must be led by Aboriginal people.
• An Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled Organisation delivers services, including land and resource management that builds the strength and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and people and is:
  • Incorporated under relevant legislation and not-for-profit;
  • Controlled and operated by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people;
  • Connected to the community, or communities, in which they deliver the services; and
  • Governed by a majority Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander governing body.
• Applicant organisation must be an eligible legal entity located in NSW and able to enter into a funding agreement with Aboriginal Affairs NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, have an Australian bank account and an Australian Business Number (ABN).
• Applicant organisations must have public liability of at least $10 million per claim or include the cost of insurance within their application.
• An unincorporated Aboriginal community group, which would otherwise not be eligible, may apply if it has entered into an agreement with an eligible applicant organisation, which has agreed to auspice the funding. In this situation the eligible organisation must demonstrate compliance with the two eligibility points.

Ineligible

Applicants not eligible for funding are:

• Individuals.
• Incorporated not-for-profit organisations not controlled or operated by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Unincorporated groups which are not led by Aboriginal people.
• Federal and State Government agencies and bodies.
• NSW Public Schools.
• For-profit organisations, including Aboriginal businesses.
• Unincorporated organisations or groups without an eligible auspicing organisation.
• Organisations that have not met project requirements, including acquittal, and reporting for funding received from Aboriginal Affairs NSW in the previous two years.

For more information, visit https://www.aboriginalaffairs.nsw.gov.au/grants/community-and-place-grants/