Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: From $1,000 to $30,000
- Application opened: 16 February 2026
- Application closes: 13 March 2026, 5:00 pm
Program objective
The purpose of the Aboriginal Languages Revival Program is to support Communities in NSW to:
- develop new or emerging Language activities; and
- strengthen the capacity of Aboriginal groups and organisations doing early-stage Language work, to grow Language activities.
The objectives of the Aboriginal Languages Revival Program are to support:
- Aboriginal Communities to develop and establish Aboriginal Language activities and projects that benefit their Community or the wider NSW Aboriginal Community,
- Aboriginal Communities to develop their own resources and deliver projects to support Aboriginal Language growth and nurturing,
- Aboriginal Communities implement their projects and activities to promote the wider use and appreciation of Aboriginal Language, and
- Community projects that align with the objectives and functions of the AL Act through financial assistance.
This program is administered by Aboriginal Languages Trust.
Eligibility
Who can apply
To be eligible you must be either a
- A not-for-profit, Aboriginal Community organisation, working with Aboriginal Communities in NSW OR
- An Aboriginal sole trader whose primary business activity relates to NSW Languages (projects must not be profit making in nature).
Eligible organisation types are:
- An Aboriginal Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth)
- An Australian Registered Company or Corporation operating in NSW, incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)
- A Local Aboriginal Land Council established under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW).
- An Incorporated Association under state legislation
- An Incorporated Cooperative under state legislation
- An incorporated Trustee on behalf of a TrustOR
- If you are an unincorporated group, evidence must be provided that you have entered into a valid and current agreement with an eligible organisation (from the types listed above) to auspice the funding
Applicants must be located in NSW and/or delivering a service to communities within NSW. Applicants must have, or be willing to obtain, public liability of at least $10 million per claim.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Funding can be used for projects that meet the aims and the objectives of the Aboriginal Languages Revival Program to support:
- Aboriginal Communities to develop and establish Aboriginal Language activities and projects that benefit their Community or the wider NSW Aboriginal Community,
- Aboriginal Communities to develop their own resources and deliver projects to support Aboriginal Language growth and nurturing,
- Aboriginal Communities implement their projects and activities to promote the wider use and appreciation of Aboriginal Language, and
- Community projects that align with the objectives and functions of the Aboriginal Languages Act 2017 through financial assistance.
When the project can start and end
The project should be started by 1 July 2026 and the project must be completed by 30 June 2027.
What costs you can apply for
Funding can be used for projects that meet the aims and objectives of Aboriginal Languages Revival Program. The following are examples of the types of activities that may be funded (Projects do not need to be limited to these examples):
- Employ a Language speaker/educator to support the delivery of Language to Community.
- Develop Language resources and education packages to support Language learning by Community.
- Hold on-Country Community Language workshops/gatherings to strengthen Cultural Knowledge and the promote the connection of Language to Culture and Country.
- Develop and deliver online Language classes to Community.
- Transcribe historical Language recordings to support Language revitalisation.
Who can’t apply
The following are not eligible to apply:
- Individuals.
- Federal, State or Local Government agency and/or body, including public schools and hospitals.
- Public/government-funded schools, University, TAFE, Adult and/or Adult and Community Education (ACE) organisations.
- For-profit organisations, including Aboriginal businesses (exception for certain Aboriginal sole trader businesses).
- Unincorporated organisations or groups without an eligible auspicing organisation.
- An organisation, group or sole trader that has not met project requirements, including acquittal and reporting for funding received from the ALT in the previous two years.
- You have been found to have provided false or misleading information in applying for previous grants through the ALT.
Note: Applicants who are not eligible for funding cannot apply through an eligible organisation under an auspice arrangement. For example, an Aboriginal for-profit business cannot apply for program funding through an auspice arrangement with an Aboriginal Community-Controlled Not-for-Profit organisation.
What costs you can't apply for
Funding cannot be used for:
- Capital purchases, such as buildings, construction capital works including renovations, or purchase of land.
- Purchasing or leasing large equipment, including any type of vehicle.
- Buying a business or tools of trade.
- Sitting fees, travel allowance, or costs associated with membership of Board/Councils.
- International travel costs. Proposals for domestic travel need to demonstrate benefit to the project, organisation, or community.
- Costs that are not directly associated with the delivery of the project.
Types of projects not funded under this grant
- Capital purchases, such as buildings, construction capital works including renovations, or purchase of land.
- Purchasing or leasing large equipment, including any type of vehicle.
- Buying a business or tools of trade.
- Sitting fees, travel allowance, or costs associated with membership of Board/Councils.
- International travel costs. Proposals for domestic travel must demonstrate benefit to the project, organisation, or Community.
- Costs that are not directly associated with the delivery of the project.
Example projects
The following are examples of the types of activities that may be funded (projects do not need to be limited to these examples):
- Employ a Language speaker/educator to support the delivery of Language to Community.
- Develop Language resources and education packages to support Language learning by Community.
- Hold on-Country Community Language workshops/gatherings to strengthen Cultural Knowledge and the promote the connection of Language to Culture and Country.
- Develop and deliver online Language classes to Community.
- Transcribe historical Language recordings to support Language revitalisation.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
Not Applicable
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Address the assessment criteria
Applications are assessed against eligibility criteria. There are no assessment criteria.
Start the application
The ALT Aboriginal Languages Revival Program is an “open and non-competitive” funding round. This means the grant is open to all eligible applicants and eligible applicants will be assessed individually against the eligibility criteria only, and not against other applications.
As a non-competitive demand driven grant, applications will be assessed as they are received (on a first come first served basis). The grant program will be assessed annually to ensure ALT can meet expected demand, but we encourage applicants to submit their application as early as possible.
The ALT will administer the Aboriginal Languages Community Project Program using the electronic Management System, SmartyGrants, which enables the ALT to obtain sufficient information to verify applicant details, assess applications, and report on program outputs and outcomes. Applicants are encouraged to complete an online application form through the SmartyGrants Portal (https://alt.smartygrants.com.au/). You will need to create a secure account with log in name and password.
Supporting documents will be required for inclusion in the application. Refer to Section 2 of this Guide for information on the specific Selection Criteria.
After an application is submitted, you will receive a notification of receipt from SmartyGrants.
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Executive Director, Aboriginal Languages Trust
Stage 1: Eligibility Criteria
As applications are received, the ALT assessment team will screen all the applications against the program’s eligibility criteria (such as proof of Aboriginality). The applicant may be contacted if any further verification of evidence or information is required at this stage, including positive affirmation that they do not meet any of the excluding criteria. If your application is found to be ineligible, you will be notified in writing that your application has been unsuccessful.
Eligible applications will progress to establishment of a Funding Agreement.
Stage 2: Assessment Criteria
Applications are assessed against eligibility criteria. There are no assessment criteria.
The Departmental Delegate, Executive Director, ALT is the final decision maker based on the recommendations of the Assessor.
Anticipated assessment outcome date is 24/04/2026
Anticipated date for funding deed execution with successful applicants is 08/05/2026
Support and contact
Aboriginal Languages Trust
Community Investment Team
grants@alt.nsw.gov.au
1300 036 406