NSW Government is pleased to announce applications for Protecting our Places Grant Program to encourage and empower Aboriginal communities to protect, conserve and restore landscapes and waterways important to them.

Purpose

This program is designed to empower and provide opportunities for Aboriginal organizations to undertake projects that:

• contribute to ongoing sustainable management of significant Aboriginal cultural landscapes in New South Wales
• contribute to healthier environments and communities
• develop the project management capabilities of Aboriginal groups
• encourage new collaborations and positive relationships with other organizations, government and stakeholders.

Objectives

The program’s outcomes are achieved through the following objectives:

• To facilitate the sharing and protection of cultural knowledge with and between Aboriginal groups, government and public stakeholders and to enable Aboriginal people to contribute to the improvement and the management of environmental and cultural resources on Country.
• To increase the amount of culturally significant Aboriginal land protected, restored, enhanced and managed by local Aboriginal groups, land managers and stakeholders and support connection to Country.
• The Protecting Our Places program is an appropriate, effective and sustainable mechanism to deliver Government policy, priorities and outcomes.

Projects under the Protecting our Places program are implemented over two stages:

• Stage 1 – planning from 6 to 12 months in duration.
• Stage 2 – implementation from 18 to 24 months in duration.

Funding Information

Grants of up to $80,000 are available over the 2 stages:

• Stage 1 Planning – up to $12,000 for project planning.
• Stage 2 Implementation – up to $67,000 to complete the project on-ground works, plus $1000 quarantined for the mandatory financial audit, totaling $68,000.
• Note: A funding cap of up to 30% must be allocated towards the employment of a Project Manager to manage and coordinate all project activities across both stages of the project.

Eligibility Criteria

The following NSW Aboriginal community organizations/groups can apply:

• NSW Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs)
• NSW Aboriginal Corporations registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006
• NSW Incorporated Associations registered under Associations Incorporation Act 2009
• Non-distributing NSW Co-operatives registered under Co-operatives National Law and associated Acts
• NSW Registered Native Title Body Corporates (RNTBC).

For more information, visit NSW Government.