Supporting ACCO capability: GROW program grant recipients announced
The Office of Social Impact Investment (OSII) in partnership with the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is pleased to share the list of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) Governance, Resilience, Opportunities and Workforce (GROW) program grant recipients.
About the program
The NSW Government is investing nearly $1 million to encourage the sustainable growth of ACCOs, with a particular focus on those supporting young children and their families. The program is designed to strengthen the organisational capability of ACCOs in areas such as workforce development, governance, business strategy and data capability.
Responding to community insights
This initiative demonstrates OSII’s ongoing commitment to supporting sector capability building alongside driving measurable outcomes. The ACCOs GROW program originated from our consultations with Aboriginal communities as part of designing the Advancing education outcomes for First Nations girls SII. Across our discussions, we consistently heard the need for capability building support for ACCOs alongside funding for service delivery.
The program builds capability of ACCOs supporting young children and their families, recognising that addressing challenges early can have lasting impacts on education and life outcomes. This is particularly important as many ACCOs focused on early intervention, operate in intersectional policy areas and support families facing complex and interconnected issues.
The program aligns with the NSW Government’s Closing the Gap commitment to build the Aboriginal community-controlled sector and exhibits Government’s move to transition more Aboriginal focused services to ACCOs.
ACCO grant recipients
21 ACCOs were selected out of 72 applicants across NSW through an open and competitive process. Selected ACCOs represent a diverse mix of regions, based across metropolitan, regional and remote NSW communities. The grants range from $15,000 to $50,000 and will be used for ACCOs self-identified capability needs.
What the program will support
ACCOs will access a mix of specialist expertise, implement organisational tools and processes, and develop capability including through:
- engaging intermediaries
- training staff members
- developing strategic plans
- strengthening financial and governance capability
- improving data collection, monitoring and evaluation
- supporting community consultation, partnerships and culturally grounded planning.
The program will help strengthen organisational systems and leadership development to support the delivery of culturally safe services and enable organisational resilience.
Looking ahead
ACCOs selected through this program will commence their capability building projects in July 2026. As well as enhancing ACCOs’ capability to deliver better outcomes for Aboriginal children and their families, the program will provide valuable insights to inform NSW Government’s broader strategy of transitioning Aboriginal-focused service delivery to ACCOs. OSII looks forward to continuing to collaborate with our DCJ colleagues to deepen our shared understanding of and to better support the sector.