The Aboriginal Fishing Trust Fund provides grants and loans for the enhancement, maintenance and protection of Aboriginal cultural fishing as well as for Aboriginal communities to develop businesses associated with fisheries resources throughout NSW.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Up to $500,000
- Application opened: 1 June 2023
- Application closed: 25 August 2023
Program objective
-
This program is funded and administered by Department of Primary Industries.
Eligibility
Who can apply
To be eligible, applicants must be 1 of the following:
- an Aboriginal person
- an Aboriginal entity, such as a family/clan or community organisation or an Aboriginal owned and run business
- someone acting on behalf of an Aboriginal entity.
Types of projects funded under this grant
The Aboriginal Fishing Trust Fund program looks to provide funding to a wide variety of projects.
Priority areas for funding may include projects that fall into one or more of the following 6 platforms:
- education and training
- fishing access and facilities
- cultural fishing enhancement
- aquatic habitat rehabilitation and protection
- economic opportunities
- research.
There are different funding options to choose from when applying for funding:
- small projects – seeking less than $5000 of funding
- large projects – seeking up to $500,000 of funding
- low or zero interest loans.
Note: the upper funding limits are subject to available funds, and application for funds is competitive.
What can’t you apply for
Projects that would not receive favourable consideration, or would be considered a low priority include:
- projects with limited benefit to the Aboriginal community
- cultural celebrations that do not have a high education value
- payment of commercial fishing management fees/staff wages
- reimbursements for expenses incurred prior to funding being approved.
Example projects
The AFTF is looking to fund a wide range of projects including (but not limited to) the following:
- cultural fishing workshops and education programs
- cultural fishing signage
- maintaining and protecting fishing access to culturally significant areas
- fish stocking of culturally significant species
- assistance to negotiate and participate in Local Management Plans
- improving fish habitat
- protecting habitat from invasive species
- purchase of wild harvest fishing entitlements (shares)
- aquaculture (finfish, yabbies, mussels, oysters, algae)
- purchase of existing charter fishing business
- cultural tourism
- cultural harvest or cultural resource research projects.
Most recent recipients
What was approved
Approved for Aboriginal business
This project aims to give the opportunity to Wayilwan People to connect with their sacred waters site – Maliyaangaa Ngurra (known as the Macquarie Marshes) – and to fish there with handmade fishing lines and handmade fish traps - for the first time in hundreds of years.
$32,785 was approved by
Minister for AgricultureDate approved
February 2024Location of the project
WarrenLocation of the recipient
Central WestAbout the grant
Applications approved
8
Applications received
23
Aboriginal Fishing Trust Fund
Agency funding this grant
Department of Primary IndustriesProgram term
12 monthsWhat was approved
Approved for Commercial fishing business
This project aims to revitalise and sustain an Aboriginal fishing business by upgrading operational equipment needed for the business to be viable. This project will also facilitate sharing of knowledge and expertise, with a focus on future employment and training for Aboriginal youths.
$52,500 was approved by
Minister for AgricultureDate approved
February 2024Location of the project
Port StephensLocation of the recipient
Mid North CoastAbout the grant
Applications approved
8
Applications received
23
Aboriginal Fishing Trust Fund
Agency funding this grant
Department of Primary IndustriesProgram term
12 monthsWhat was approved
Approved for Gadhungal Marring Pty Ltd
This project will enable business capacity building and training, facilitating of traditional knowledge sharing and cultural tourism product feasibility and development.
$24,160 was approved by
Minister for AgricultureDate approved
February 2024Location of the recipient
ShoalhavenAbout the grant
Applications approved
8
Applications received
23
Aboriginal Fishing Trust Fund
Agency funding this grant
Department of Primary IndustriesProgram term
12 monthsWhat was approved
Approved for Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council
Workshop to provide an opportunity for the Elders and wise ones in the Aboriginal community to pass down their cultural knowledge and experience to younger generations ensuring that cultural fishing practices are learnt, valued, strengthened and intact.
$7,700 was approved by
Minister for AgricultureDate approved
February 2024Location of the recipient
HunterAbout the grant
Applications approved
8
Applications received
23
Aboriginal Fishing Trust Fund
Agency funding this grant
Department of Primary IndustriesProgram term
12 monthsWhat was approved
Approved for Muladha Gamara Pty Ltd
This project will support capacity building, traditional ecological knowledge sharing and launch of a new cultural kayaking experience in Mogo and Broulee NSW.
$37,000 was approved by
Minister for AgricultureDate approved
February 2024Location of the recipient
EurobodallaAbout the grant
Applications approved
8
Applications received
23
Aboriginal Fishing Trust Fund
Agency funding this grant
Department of Primary IndustriesProgram term
12 monthsWhat your application needs to include
It is recommended applicants read the Aboriginal Fishing Trust Fund Guidelines for Applicants (PDF 957.42KB) for full information.
Prepare your application with this checklist
There are 3 funding options. Choose the relevant application form for your funding option. Each application form includes a tailored checklist to help you apply.
Small grants
For projects seeking less than $5000 of funding, use the small grants application form (DOCX 1.24MB).
Large grants
For projects seeking up to $500,000 of funding, use the large grants application form (DOCX 1.22MB).
Loan applications
For projects seeking loans up to $500,000 of funding, use the loan application form (DOC 1.43MB).
Address the eligibility criteria
To be eligible, applicants must be an Aboriginal person, entity or business, or someone acting on behalf of an Aboriginal entity.
For definitions and details of supporting documentation, see the Aboriginal Fishing Trust Fund Guidelines for Applicants (PDF 957.42KB).
Address the assessment criteria
Applications will be assessed and ranked on their merit against 4 funding criteria and will need to address each of these criteria:
- How the project will meet at least 1 of the AFTF objectives:
- taking measures to enhance, maintain and protect Aboriginal cultural fishing
- providing economic development opportunities for Aboriginal communities in relation to fisheries resources.
- Value and extent of benefit to Aboriginal community: applications must identify how the project will deliver social, cultural, economic or environmental benefits to Aboriginal community and how it will address a need or a gap in a community.
- Cost effectiveness, value for money and sound budgeting: applications must demonstrate that the project provides value for money, that outputs and outcomes are clearly defined and scoped, and that appropriate financial management arrangements can be implemented.
- The capacity and commitment to undertake and complete the project (including adequacy of expertise within the project team, detailed cost estimates provided and demonstrated previous experience).
Start the application
Complete the appropriate funding application form and email or post it to the Aboriginal Fishing Trust Fund management team.
Email: aboriginal.fishingtrust@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Postal address:
NSW DPI,
LMB 3020,
Nowra NSW, 2541
Note: Email is the preferred method of receiving application forms.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: the NSW Minister for Agriculture
Submitted applications will be acknowledged upon being received.
Applications for funding will be first assessed by the Aboriginal Fishing Trust Expenditure Committee (AFTEC). The AFTEC assesses and ranks applications against set criteria and provides its views to the AFAC.
After considering applications and the advice of AFTEC, the AFAC then provide its view to the Minister for Agriculture over expenditure from the trust. The income and expenditure from the AFTF is subject to an annual audit by the NSW Auditor-General and regular announcements are made about expenditure from the trust.
Support and contact
For help completing your application and to ensure applications are consistent with priorities for funding contact the Aboriginal Fishing Trust Fund management team on (02) 4424 7421 or email Aboriginal.fishingtrust@dpi.nsw.gov.au