This Aboriginal Affairs NSW grant program provides funding to assist with the repair, reconstruction and minor resilience building measures for Aboriginal community infrastructure.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Up to $150,000
- Application opened: 14 October 2022
- Application closed: 25 November 2022, 2:00 pm
Program objective
The record-breaking flooding that occurred in parts of NSW in February-March 2022 had a significant impact on communities. Funding of $150 million was approved for a 2022 Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Package (CLIRP - the Package) jointly funded by the Commonwealth and NSW governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
The CLIRP will be delivered in two stages: The Priority Needs Program (PNP); and the Essential Community Assets Program (ECAP). The PNP will provide funding to assist with the repair, reconstruction and minor resilience building measures for Aboriginal community infrastructure. In addition, applicants may apply for funds to undertake damage assessments and planning and design work that may be necessary to participate in the second stage of the CLIRP ECAP.
Stream 1 – Local Aboriginal Land Councils – Asset Damage Assessment (ADA) and urgent minor infrastructure
Eligible Local Aboriginal Land Councils are invited to submit an application for funding up to $150,000 to:
- undertake an ADA on LALC-owned community infrastructure (up to $75,000); and
- undertake any minor, high-priority infrastructure/capital works projects that are urgent or have high social value, as well as planning for longer-term infrastructure works that are expected to be considered as part of the Essential Community Assets Program (up to $75,000).
This program is funded and administered by Aboriginal Affairs.
Eligibility
Who can apply
- NSW Aboriginal Land Councils
- Local Aboriginal Land Councils under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW) who are located within one of the eight targeted Local Government Areas:
- Ballina
- Byron
- Clarence Valley
- Hawkesbury
- Kyogle
- Lismore
- Richmond Valley
- Tweed.
Who can’t apply
Projects will not be eligible for funding if they do not align with the program outcomes.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Funding can be used for projects that meet the program outcomes of the 2022 Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Program.
Stream 1 funding can be sought for:
- Detailed asset and damage assessments, feasibility studies, detailed design and technical reports and planning for and preparation of business cases to support repair, reconstruction and potential minor resilience works of damaged assets
- Urgent minor capital works costs for the repair and/or replacement of Aboriginal community infrastructure, including works to make the damaged infrastructure more resilient to future disasters without changing the asset functionality. Works must be directly related to flood damaged assets that have not been covered through other government funding and/or insurance claims
- Minor non-fixed items that were impacted during the floods that were not otherwise insured but served a community purpose
- The delivery of eligible projects, including administration costs and project management costs not exceeding 20 per cent of the requested funding
- Repair and/or replacement (rebuild) works directly related to storm and flood damage that has not yet commenced
- Salary/wages and entitlements for non-ongoing employees specifically engaged for the projects
What can’t you apply for
Funding cannot be sought for:
- Costs that have already been covered or claimed under insurance or from other Australian or NSW government programs
- Repayment of existing debts or budget deficits
- Financing of budget deficits or insurance
- Administrative, overhead, operational and/or maintenance costs unrelated to the project
- Improvements or repairs to residences or other community infrastructure not directly damaged by the flooding
- Business as usual and/or commercial activities
- Salary/wages and on-costs for existing, budgeted employees
- Costs related to buying or upgrading non–fixed equipment or supplies unless it is a small component of a larger fixed project
- Costs that require recurrent or ongoing funding from the Australian or NSW governments.
Most recent recipients
What your application needs to include
You can also download the complete
File
2022 Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Package Aboriginal Priority Needs Program (DOCX 255.64KB)
Prepare your application with this checklist
All applicants are required to provide evidence of current public liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $10,000,000. Quotes and or technical reports for infrastructure component are required for Stream 1.
Address the eligibility criteria
Applicants must have public liability insurance of at least $10 million per claim. All applications will be screened for eligibility. It is intended that eligible applications will then be assessed and notified within four weeks of submission. Eligible Local Aboriginal Land Councils that have not met project requirements, including acquittal and reporting requirements, for any grant funding received from Aboriginal Affairs NSW in the previous two years will be required to partner with the NSW Aboriginal Land Council in an auspice arrangement.
Address the assessment criteria
Assessment and approval
This is a non-competitive program, where eligible organisations are invited to apply. Eligible applications are assessed against the assessment criteria for the relevant stream, not competitively against other applications. Only applications that are assessed as sufficiently meeting the assessment criteria will be recommended for funding.
Assessment Criteria (all streams)
Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:
- demonstrated consistency with CLIRP-APNP Program Outcomes
- project activities directly related to directly damaged community infrastructure in the 17 LALCs across the targeted 8 LGAs
- capacity of applicant to deliver the proposed project activities
- ability to commence proposed project activities within 6 months of approval.
To ensure consistency with the program purpose, project activities must demonstrate how they contribute to one or more of the following:
- basic social, cultural, and recreational amenity to local Aboriginal communities
- help support or safeguard community cohesion
- support the delivery of social support networks.
Assessment and Approval Process
Stream 1 applications will be assessed by a panel consisting of delegated representatives from the NSW Aboriginal Land Council and Aboriginal Affairs NSW.
Note that assessment panel members from the NSW Aboriginal Land Council must not be involved in the preparation of an application for funding under this program, or the delivery, monitoring or reporting against any project funded under this program, including where the NSW Aboriginal Land Council acts as an auspice for a Local Aboriginal Land Council.
All assessment recommendations will be provided in writing to the Minster for Aboriginal Affairs. The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs is the final decision maker, taking into consideration the recommendations of the assessment panel.
Unsuccessful applicants may re-apply at any time during the program open period.
Start the application
How to apply
Applications are to be completed online. Eligible Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs) will receive an application link directly from AANSW. If any eligible LALCs have not received a link from AANSW, please contact the Community Investments Team on
- phone 1800 019 998 or
- email grants@aboriginalaffairs.nsw.gov.au.
The applicant will be advised of the outcome of their project application within four weeks of submission.
Unsuccessful applicants will be offered a feedback session, if requested.
Please note, applications will not be accepted by other channels. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to allow sufficient time to submit applications using the online system, including allowing for unexpected delays.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: a panel consisting of delegated representatives from the NSW Aboriginal Land Council and Aboriginal Affairs NSW.
All assessment recommendations will be provided in writing to the Minster for Aboriginal Affairs. The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs is the final decision maker, taking into consideration the recommendations of the assessment panel.
Unsuccessful applicants may re-apply at any time during the program open period.
Support and contact
Complaints
Any concerns about the program should be submitted in writing to grants@aboriginalaffairs.nsw.gov.au.
If you do not agree with the way the AANSW has handled the issue, you may wish to contact the NSW Ombudsman via www.ombo.nsw.gov.au.
Support and contacts
For any questions regarding the AANSW 2022 Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Package – Aboriginal Priority Needs Program, please contact your regional office on the numbers below or Community Investments Team on;
Please note that while AANSW regional staff will be pleased to answer questions about the application process, they cannot provide advice or comments on the content or merits of your application.
| AANSW Regional Office | Contact Number |
|---|---|
| Coffs Harbour | 02 8575 1068 |
| Sydney | 02 8575 1105 |