Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: From $500 to $20,000
- Application opened: 18 November 2024
- Application closes: 21 March 2025, 4:00 pm
Program objective
The Cultural Grants Program:
- supports Aboriginal communities to strengthen, protect, and maintain traditional and contemporary expressions of Aboriginal culture
- supports Aboriginal cultural events and activities
- contributes to Aboriginal community wellbeing and healing through the use of Aboriginal culture and community connection
- facilitate sharing of Aboriginal cultural knowledge and skills between generations.
Please see the Quick Reference Guide, Program Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for more information. These include information about how we can help you to apply for a grant.
This program is administered by Aboriginal Affairs.
Eligibility
Who can apply
To be eligible for an Aboriginal Affairs NSW Cultural Grant you must be:
a not-for-profit, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO), working with Aboriginal communities in NSW, and one of the following organisation types
- an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth)
- a company incorporated in Australia under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)
- a Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW)
- an Incorporated Association (incorporated under state legislation, and commonly have ‘Association’ or ‘Incorporated’ or ‘Inc’ in their legal name)
- an Incorporated Cooperative (incorporated under state legislation, and commonly have ’Cooperative’ in their legal name)
- an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust;
OR
- An Aboriginal sole trader or business whose primary business activity relates to cultural expression or revitalisation (noting project applied under Cultural Grants Program must not be profit making in nature);
OR
- A not -for-profit unincorporated Aboriginal community group with an eligible not-for-profit auspice Applicants or their auspice organisation must also:
- Be an eligible legal entity located in NSW, and able to enter into a funding Deed with Aboriginal Affairs NSW (AANSW), Premier’s Department and have an Australian bank account;
- Have public liability insurance of at least $10 million per claim or be willing to purchase it and include the cost of insurance as part of the asked project budget within their application.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Projects must take place within NSW, and applicants must deliver a service to Aboriginal communities within NSW.
When the project can start and end
The project should be started by 1 January 2025 and the project must be completed by 31 December 2025.
What costs you can apply for
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 key state-wide and/or regional Aboriginal sporting and cultural events
- Purchasing minor equipment for event activities up to the value of $5000 (please refer to the FAQ 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% of the requested AANSW funding amount to cover remuneration costs. Refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for more information.
- Purchasing merchandise such hats, t-shirts, trophies, medals etc up to 10% of the requested funding amount.
Who can’t apply
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.
What costs you can't apply for
Funding cannot be used for:
- Costs for sports teams or cultural groups to attend competitions or events
- 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
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
The below documents are required before you submit your application:
Mandatory
- Public liability insurance (PLI) - Minimum $10 million per claim
Recommended
- Evidence of Community Support
Evidence of costs of goods and services for budget items such as venue hire, accommodation, catering, hiring and/or purchase of equipment (excluding cultural components/services)
- Evidence of the applicant organisation’s ACCO Status
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
The 2024-2025 AANSW Cultural Grants Program is non-competitive program where applications are assessed individually against the assessment criteria without reference to the comparative merits of other applications. Only applications meeting all minimum assessment criteria will be recommended for funding.
Applications will be assessed by the Grant Assessment Panel in the order they are received.
The recommendations made by the Grant Assessment Panel will be final and there will be no appeal to the recommendations or the decision made by the grant decision maker.
Assessment will be based on the following criteria:
Criterion 1: Project Quality
The project aligns with the program aims and objectives.
You must show:
- that the project meets and addresses the program aims and objectives
- A detailed project plan
A detailed description of activities
Criterion 2: Project impact
Clear description of the project objective, how it will be delivered, how the project will benefit the community, and will make tangible contribution to the cultural health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people in local areas within NSW, along with a list of project activities.
You must demonstrate this by submitting:
- A statement about why the project is needed, who will be involved, who the project will benefit, and how this will be achieved.
You may also upload:
Evidence of support from the local Aboriginal community i.e. local community groups, or elders. Any Letter of support (LoS) must be current and clearly supporting the organisation and project. The purpose of the LoS is to confirm that the applicant is recognised in the local community and is able to hold the event/project.
Criterion 3: Organisation’s capacity to deliver the project
The ability of the organisation to deliver the project objectives based on experience and resources, community supports such as partnerships with other organisations and participation in other community projects
You must show your:
- Experience managing previous projects, and the outcomes achieved
- Detail the resources to deliver the project and/or the relevant training and experience of key staff involved in the project
Capacity to assess risk and create mitigation plans. For example, if there are any potential risks associated with funding and mitigation plans to manage the risks.
Criterion 4: Value for money
How the implementation of the project/event/activity will achieve high quality outcomes for Aboriginal communities in a cost-effective way
You must show this by:
- Clearly demonstrating how budget items contribute to the project outcomes.
- Building a budget that is reasonable and realistic
- Including any quotes to support the budget line items
- Submitting a detailed budget aligned with the project activities and plan
An implementation plan with explanation of what the funding will do and how it will be spent
Start the application
How to apply
Applications must be submitted online (https://aboriginalaffairs.smartygrants.com.au/) via smartygrants. Applicants are advised to read Program Guidelines, Quick Reference Guide, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Applicants are encouraged to contact their nearest AANSW Regional Office to discuss their project.
An organisation can only receive one grant from the 2024–2025 Cultural Grants Program. An organisation may additionally act as an auspice for a maximum of two projects.
Unsuccessful applicants will be offered a feedback session if requested and may reapply for funding under the program during the opening period.
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: The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty
The 2024-2025 AANSW Cultural Grants Program is non-competitive program. Only applications that are deemed to meet all assessment criteria will be recommended for funding.
All applications will be assessed in order they are received.
All assessment recommendations will be provided in writing to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty (the Minister). The Minister is the final decision maker who will consider the recommendations of the Grant Assessment Panel (GAP).
Some applicants may be offered partial funding where budget includes ineligible items.
Applicants who are determined unsuccessful may reapply for funding at any time during the program opening period.
Anticipated assessment outcome date is Minimum 10 Weeks from the application submission date
Support and contact
Cultural Grants Community Information Session
When: Thursday 28 November 2024, 10.30am
Where: Online (Link will be shared via an email after the registration)
Registrations:https://www.eventbaba.com.au/events/Aboriginal-Affairs-NSW
More information:grants@aboriginalaffairs.nsw.gov.au.
We are holding a free information session about our Cultural Grants, including a Q&A. If you want to apply for a Cultural Grant, but you’re not sure how, this session will help you to plan your application.
A recording of the session will also be published online after the event.
We know that applying for a grant can be daunting for some organisations and we are happy to help with any technical aspect.
If you want to apply, but are not sure how please contact your nearest Regional Team or email grants@aboriginalaffairs.nsw.gov.au
Illawarra Southern 02 9228 5575
Batemans Bay
------------------------------------------------
New England North-west 02 8575 1172
Tamworth
------------------------------------------------
Greater Northern 02 9566 8318
Coffs Harbour
------------------------------------------------
Murdi Paaki 02 9228 3345
Broken HillBourke
------------------------------------------------
Binaal Billa 02 8575 1518
Dubbo
------------------------------------------------
Hunter Central Coast 02 9228 3402
Newcastle
------------------------------------------------
Greater Sydney 02 8229 2389
Sydney