Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan Caring for Country - Aboriginal Business Grants - Round 2

photo of worker planting trees in Cumberland Plain

This grant program supports Aboriginal-owned businesses to build capacity and become tender-ready for opportunities linked to the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan (CPCP).

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Key information

  • Status: Closed
  • Grant amount: Up to $25,000
  • Application opened: 26 August 2025
  • Application closed: 31 December 2025, 5:00 pm

Program objective

The Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan (CPCP)Caring for Country - Aboriginal Business Development Grant Program - Round 2 is an open non-competitive grants program with the objectives to: 

  • support Aboriginal owned businesses to build capacity and capability to ensure they are best placed to capitalise on the opportunities arising from the implementation phase of the CPCP over the next three decades, and
  • support Aboriginal owned businesses to become tender ready and compete for future tenders related to the CPCP with both the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and our delivery partners. 

The CPCP supports the delivery of housing, jobs and infrastructure while protecting important biodiversity, including threatened plants and animals.

This grant program is part of the NSW Government’s goal of supporting Aboriginal economic participation through the Caring for Country Aboriginal Outcomes Strategy 2024–2033.

The implementation of this Strategy helps deliver the NSW Government’s goal to:

  • improve the health and wellbeing of Country
  • promote Aboriginal culture and knowledge
  • support the Aboriginal communities to maintain distinctive relationships with land and waters in Western Sydney
  • support economic participation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

The program is proudly funded by the NSW government and administered in partnership with Yarpa.

This program is funded and administered by Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.

Eligibility

The Program is only open to Aboriginal Businesses that are located within the CPCP area or can demonstrate that they are operating within the CPCP area. 

The business must meet all the eligibility criteria to apply.

What can the funding be used for?

  • training and upskilling
  • certification and licensing for Aboriginal businesses and their employees so they can be ready for tendering opportunities arising from the CPCP
  • buying or upgrading of equipment and non-material assets that are crucial to reinforcing the capability of businesses to be competitive
  • creating educational materials for schools, educational institutions and community, in relation to the environment and caring for Country, Specialised business support services. 

Multiple activities can be undertaken by each business, but all the activities applied for must not exceed $25,000 (excluding GST) in total.

Who can apply

To be eligible, businesses must:

  • Be at least  50% Aboriginal owned, managed and controlled
  • Have an ABN and be GST-registered
  • Have been trading for at least 2 years
  • Be located in or operating within the *CPCP area
  • Work in one or more eligible sectors, including:
    • Land and cultural land management
    • Natural resource management
    • Ecological restoration
    • Environmental and site impact assessments
    • Cultural heritage and signage
    • Pest and weed management
    • Landscape and groundworks contracting
    • Biodiversity Assessment Method (BAM) services
    • Cultural tourism and education
    • Wildlife fencing

Note: Local Aboriginal Land Councils and non-Aboriginal businesses are not eligible to apply.

*CPCP LGAs:

  • Blacktown City
  • Blue Mountains City
  • Camden
  • Campbelltown City
  • Fairfield City
  • Hawkesbury City
  • Liverpool City
  • Penrith City
  • Wollondilly Shire

For more information on the grant program, go to the Yarpa Hub Caring for Country webpage.

What your application needs to include

You can download the full guidelines:


All businesses must meet the business eligibility criteria. The applicant needs to complete the application form and upload any supporting documentations to demonstrate the following: 

  • Have attended a free one-on-one consultation with a Yarpa Business Coach to determine eligibility and suitability of the intended project.
  • Verification of being an Aboriginal business. This can be done by submitting one of the following options:
  1. Supply Nation registration or certification; or
  2. NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce registration; or
  3. Other relevant documentation. 

If the business is not registered or certified by Supply Nation or NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce verification will be at the discretion of Yarpa. 

  • If located outside of the CPCP area, evidence of work carried out within the CPCP area. This can include for example information on previous projects.
  • Demonstrate that tax and legal compliance are up to date e.g. tax return or letter from accountant 

Demonstrate how the project:

  •  links to the CPCP outcomes,
  • builds capacity and capability of the business to ensure they are best placed to take advantage of the opportunities arising from the CPCP implementation,
  • represents value for money and a clear link between budget items and project outcomes, demonstrates sound governance and a solid approach to project delivery within budget and timeframes and
  • demonstrates business benefits beyond the life of the grant.
  • Quotes with GST information for all activities, items and services (screenshots of quotes are not accepted)
  • Budget summary
  • For training, upskilling and certification - information from the provider Insurance certificates required for your business’ day-to-day operations and/or for the sake of intended project, including public liability insurance and workers’ insurance (if the business employs staff)
  • If applicable, explain how Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property will be protected.
  • Indicate if there are any confidentiality issues associated with their application and project funded by this grant program. 

Applicants are to address all criteria in their application and provide the supporting documents as required in the application form.

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How to apply

Before submitting the application, the Aboriginal business owner must meet with a Yarpa Business Coach to discuss the eligibility and suitability of the project.

  1. Read the guidelines (PDF 4.48MB) carefully to see if your business and project are eligible.
  2. Book in a time to meet with a Yarpa business coach to discuss the eligibility and suitability of your project.
  3. If you decide to apply:
    • Read and familiarise yourself with the application form and the information required to complete it.
    • Fill in the application form making sure you have provided all the information, upload any supporting information and submit the application.
  4. The applications open on 26 August 2025. The application window closes on 31 December 2025. All applications must be received by this date. However, as the applications will be assessed on a first come first served basis, we recommend summitting your application as early as possible. This also provides more time for project completion by the Program end date of 30 September 2026.
  5. All applicants will be advised in writing about the outcome of their application. Applicants are welcome to contact Yarpa to seek feedback on their applications. 

We welcome enquiries and are happy to discuss your eligibility and potential project ideas. 

Start the application

To apply for this grant go to Yarpa's website.

Apply now

After the application is submitted

Successful applications will be decided by: A Management Committee comprising of staff from Yarpa, the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and an independent Aboriginal representative.

Projects will be considered on a first come, first served basis and will be assessed within 8 weeks of an application being received. 

The application must meet the eligibility and assessment criteria. 

The application will be considered and assessed and either approved or declined by the Management Committee using the grant guidelines and assessment criteria. 

If the Management Committee considers that there is important information missing to fully assess the application, applicants may be asked to provide additional information within this timeframe.

Successful applicants will be required to enter into a Funding Agreement with Yarpa within 4 weeks of the grant offer being made. The agreed grant amount will be paid on the signing of the Funding Agreement. Applicants will:

Support and contact

Please contact the CFC grants coordinator at Yarpa:

Kasey Prendergast, Senior Program Officer. 

Email: caringforcountry@yarpa.com.au 

Phone:1300 017 177

Program evaluation

The program will be evaluated in line with the CPCP and Caring for Country Strategy's Monitoring and Evaluation frameworks. 

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