Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Up to $500,000
- Application opened: 1 July 2024
- Application closed: 25 July 2024, 5:00 pm
Program objective
The delivery of the pilot Training Program will aim to achieve the following objectives:
- support Aboriginal organisations to develop and improve their business management, governance and finance practices
- equip Aboriginal organisations with the tools and resources required to identify and deliver new commercial opportunities that create sustainable employment opportunities for Aboriginal people
- provide project management training that enables Aboriginal organisations to deliver major projects that support improved economic and employment outcomes for Aboriginal people.
Please read the Program Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions. Applicants can also review a sample funding deed.
This program is administered by Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Eligible applicants are:
- Aboriginal owned Registered Training Organisations
An Aboriginal owned Registered Training Organisation is defined as having a minimum of 50 per cent Aboriginal ownership that can be demonstrated through recognition from an appropriate organisation, such as:
- Supply Nation
- NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce
- Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations.
An applicant can also choose to provide a statutory declaration to demonstrate a minimum of 50 per cent Aboriginal ownership.
Applicants must provide evidence they are an incorporated entity by providing either an Australian Business Number (ABN), Australian Company Number (ACN) or an Indigenous Corporation Number (ICN). Eligible organisations that are unincorporated must provide evidence that they are registered with NSW Fair Trading under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 or another Act.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Applicants must demonstrate their ability to deliver a Training Program tailored for Aboriginal organisations by providing a detailed project delivery plan that meets the Program’s assessment criteria.
The Training Program must:
- be tailored and designed for Local Aboriginal Land Councils, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, and Native Title Prescribed Body Corporates
- be delivered at no cost to participants
- be delivered over a 12-month period within the 2 pilot regions.
The Training Program must be delivered as a pilot in the following NSW Aboriginal Land Council regions:
- North Western
- Mid North Coast.
A full list of the eligible Local Aboriginal Land Council areas located within the pilot regions is provided as an appendix to the program guidelines.
Eligible Aboriginal owned Registered Training Organisations do not need to be physically located in the pilot regions to be eligible to apply, however a strong local presence and demonstrated experience and understanding working with Aboriginal communities in the pilot regions will be preferred.
What costs you can apply for
Applicants may include up to 10 per cent of the requested funding for project contingency.
What costs you can't apply for
Costs that are not eligible for funding include:
- costs that would be considered business-as-usual activities and operations
- activities already funded or expecting to receive NSW Government funding
- activities, equipment or supplies that are already being supported through other sources
- financing costs, including interest and debt financing
- costs involved in the purchase or hire of software (including user licences) and ICT equipment, with the exception of equipment and software specifically related to the delivery of the Training Program and essential to its success
- costs such as rent and utilities unless specifically related to the delivery of the Training Program
- insurance costs (applicants must hold and maintain adequate insurance coverage for any liability arising from their participation in funded activities)
- depreciation of plant and equipment
- opportunity costs relating to allocating resources to the delivery of the Training Program
- retrospective funding to cover any expenditure related to the delivery of the Training Program that has occurred prior to both the applicant and the Department executing a funding deed.
What co-contributions are required
Eligible applicants are not required to provide a financial co-contribution towards their project.
Most recent recipients
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.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Minister for Regional NSW
An Assessment Panel will be convened by the Department to consider the eligibility and suitability of the applications received and to make recommendations to the Minister for Regional NSW for consideration and final approval.
The Assessment Panel may recommend partial funding for projects if there is insufficient funding available for the whole project, or where only a component of the project is considered eligible.
During the assessment process, the Department may ask applicants to provide additional information to assist in the assessment process. Advice may be sought from other NSW Government agencies or other sources to assist in the assessment of projects. Confidentiality will be maintained throughout the process.
The Department, at its sole discretion, can take other factors into account that may make an application ineligible for funding, such as any person, business or organisation that could cause reputational or other risk to the NSW Government.
Regional Development Advisory Council
The recommendations of the Assessment Panel will be reviewed by the Regional Development Advisory Council (Advisory Council) who will provide advice on the suitability of the proposed investments to the Minister for Regional NSW.
Decision Making
The decision maker for the Program is the Minister for Regional NSW.
The decision maker can consider the availability of funding, the Assessment Panel’s recommendations, and the advice of the Advisory Council before deciding which applications to approve. The NSW Government typically receives far more applications than it can support. Applicants are not guaranteed funding even if the application is of high merit.
Further, even if an application is successful, it may not be funded to the full amount requested.
The decision maker may take other factors into account that may result in an application being considered unsuitable for funding, including issues that could cause reputational or other risks to the NSW Government.
The decision maker’s decision is final in all matters, including:
- the approval of the grant
- the grant funding amount to be awarded, and
- the terms and conditions of the grant.
Anticipated assessment outcome date is Successful applicants will be notified from 26 August 2024 or as soon as possible after a decision has been made.
Support and contact
Please contact regionaldevelopmentroadmap@regional.nsw.gov.au for more information and support.