2025-2026 AANSW Cultural Grants Program

To be eligible for funding, applicants must be one of the following:

1. A not-for-profit organisation, and one of the following:
   • An Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO)
   • An Aboriginal not-for-profit organisation
2. An unincorporated Aboriginal community group with an eligible Auspice
3. An Aboriginal Sole Trader or Business whose primary business activity relates to cultural expression or revitalisation

Applicants or their Auspice must also:

1. Be a legal entity located in NSW or in a bordering community that delivers services to Aboriginal communities in NSW
2. Propose a project to be delivered in NSW
3. Have public liability of at least $10 million per claim (or be willing to purchase as part of the application to support the project)
4. Have no outstanding requirements relating to previous funding from AANSW

*More detail about eligible applicants and auspicing arrangements can be found in the Cultural Grants Program Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Aboriginal community organisations and groups across NSW.

The following are a few examples of the types of projects that may be considered for funding:

• Women’s or Men’s gathering on Country
• Cultural health and wellbeing camps
• Create and digitise Aboriginal history of the local community
• State-wide or regional music and/or cultural festival
• Workshops

To be eligible, projects must also: 

• Take place within NSW
• Meet the objectives of the Cultural Grants program

The project should be started by 23 January 2026 and the project must be completed by 31 December 2026.

• Increased local cultural engagement and strengthened cultural identity and pride
• Improved knowledge and awareness of cultural heritage
• Sustained use of cultural knowledge and practices
• Improvement in community wellbeing and resilience
• Enhanced capacity of community organisations to manage grant funding and events

Funding can be used for:

• Consumables – such as catering, equipment and materials for activities (excluding alcohol) – for the purposes of the project or event
• Hiring equipment to be used for the period of the project or event
• Engaging contractors such as facilitators, trainers and teachers
• Eligible costs associated with holding state-wide and/or regional Aboriginal sporting and cultural events
• Purchasing minor equipment for event activities up to the value of $5,000 (please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for guidance on minor equipment)
• Administering the project, with up to 10% of the requested AANSW funding amount being able to be used for this task or as auspice fees where there is an auspicing arrangement
• Eligible sole trader/business applicants may include up to 10 percent of the requested AANSW funding amount to cover remuneration costs. Refer to the FAQs for more information.
• Purchasing merchandise such hats, t-shirts, trophies, medals etc up to 10% of the requested funding amount.

You are not eligible to apply if you are: 

• An individual (unless you are an Aboriginal sole trader whose primary business activity relates to cultural expression or revitalisation)
• Non-Aboriginal groups or organisations (except for eligible auspice organisations auspicing an unincorporated Aboriginal community group)
• Incorporated not-for-profit organisations not controlled or operated by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• Federal and State Government agencies and bodies, including NSW public schools and hospitals
• Unincorporated organisations or groups without an eligible auspicing organisation
• Organisations that have not met project requirements, including acquitting and reporting for any grant funding received from Aboriginal Affairs NSW (AANSW) in the previous two years.
• Organisations with redress sanctions as described in the National Redress Scheme.

Funding cannot be used for:

• Costs for sports teams or cultural groups to attend competitions or events (e.g. entry fees to sport and dance competitions)
• Capital costs – any type of building, construction, major equipment, or capital works including renovations to a building, housing related costs or the purchase of land
• Purchase of vehicles
• Wages and salaries and on-costs for ongoing staff
• Wages, salaries and remuneration for sole traders or consultants
• Sitting fees, travel allowance or costs associated with membership of boards/councils
• Activities that may create an ongoing dependency on cultural grant funding, such as funding that is required over multiple years
• Costs that are not directly associated with the delivery of the project
• Activities related to NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout or NAIDOC week events, which have a separate funding program
• Retrospective funding for activities and events that have already been held
• International travel costs (proposals for domestic travel costs need to demonstrate the benefits of travel to the project, organisation, and community)
• Operational and business as usual costs.
• any Gift vouchers or petrol vouchers etc.

Cultural Grants Grant funding cannot be used for:

• NAIDOC week events and activities which have their own funding round
• NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout
• Costs of teams or groups to attend/participate in competitions (e.g. entry fees to a competition/event, sponsorships etc.)

For projects needing to be delivered between:

• 23 January - 2 March 2026, please apply by 23 November 2025
• 2 March - 6 April 2026, please apply by 11 January 2026
• 6 April - 1 June 2026, please apply by 15 February 2026
• 1 June - 31 December 2026, please apply by 31 March 2026