Regional Aboriginal Partnerships Program

Supporting and empowering regional Aboriginal communities.

Regional Aboriginal Partnership Program design

The NSW Government’s Regional Aboriginal Partnerships Program (RAPP) improves social and economic outcomes for Aboriginal communities across regional NSW.

The RAPP works to address the Closing the Gap Priority Reform Five – Employment, Business Growth, and Economic Prosperity.

The program empowers Aboriginal people within NSW to access pathways through education, training, employment and business support to reach their aspirations.

The RAPP program builds on strong cultural connections to achieve positive economic, social, cultural, and emotional outcomes and establish focused partnerships with Aboriginal youth, schools, and businesses to support more meaningful and stable employment outcomes.

The RAPP team live in community, are connected to Country, and work with their local community to co-design programs and initiatives that will suit each region’s needs and aspirations.

Aboriginal organisations and businesses can contact their local APM (see contact details below) to discuss their goals and pathways that may assist them.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is committed to making a positive difference for Aboriginal people in regional NSW and embedding Aboriginal inclusion in everything we do. Discover more about our Aboriginal Outcomes Strategy here.

Contact an Aboriginal Partnership Manager

Aboriginal Partnership Managers (APMs) bring an Aboriginal cultural lens and process when working with Aboriginal businesses, organisations, and communities in regional NSW as part of the RAPP.

APMs partner with Aboriginal organisations and businesses and help them identify and achieve their goals by:

  • providing information and referrals to support services
  • connecting them with government staff
  • proactively seeking opportunities to build relationships within community
  • exploring opportunities to successfully apply for funding.

Connect with your local Aboriginal Partnership Manager to find out more about the support available to Aboriginal organisations and businesses.

RegionContact and email address
Central Coast and Hunter
Central West
Illawarra-Shoalhaven
New England North West
North Coast
Orana Far West
Riverina Murray
South East
General enquiries

 

Program recipients

Here is the list of program recipients, under four streams.

Culture and identity grants
Project name / functionRecipient nameRecipient locationFunding amountProject term
Bermagui Survival Day FestivalBermagui Survival Day FestivalBega Valley Shire Council$10,000Jun-25
Arakwal Family Cultural Camp Bundjalung of Byron Bay Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (Arakwal)Byron Shire Council$10,000Jun-25
Bunbari ProjectFlagstaff GroupShoalhaven City Council$10,000Jun-25
“Real Country” – Telling the Gilgandra Local Aboriginal Community Story Gilgandra Shire CouncilGilgandra Shire Council$10,000Jun-25
Happy Healthy Families 2023 Program Maari Ma Health BalranaldBalranald Shire Council$10,000Jun-25
Multiplex – John Hunter Health Innovation Precinct – Employability Training Training Services NSWLake Macquarie City Council$10,000Jun-25
Reconciliation Conference Illawarra Area Child CareWollongong City Council$10,000Jun-25
Tamworth NAIDOC Week 2023Gomeroi Dance Company (GDC)Tamworth Regional Council$10,000Jun-25
Dareton Nurra and Wiimatjira Gardening, Arts and Craft ProgramDareton LALCWentworth Shire Council$10,000Jun-25
Coonamble Community GardensCoonamble LALCCoonamble Shire Council$10,000Jun-25
Tourist, interpretive panels acknowledging the Aboriginal history of Paroo-Darling National ParkNSW National Parks and Wildlife Services - Broken Hill for Paroo-Darling Aboriginal Co-Management CommitteeCentral Darling Shire Council$5,900Jun-25
Wellbeing Hub "Cultural Meeting Place" NarromineNarromine High SchoolNarromine Shire Council$10,000Jun-25
Dhuluny - Wiradyuri Resistance: A community commemoration of the Wiradyuri Homeland and the declaration of Martial Law in BathurstWiradjuri Traditional Owners Central West Aboriginal CorporationBathurst Regional Council$9,903Jun-25
Broken Hill NAIDOC in the ParkMaari Ma Health Aboriginal CorporationBroken Hill City Council$10,000Jun-25
Winanga-y Dreaming Cultural Leadership CampWinanga-y Dreaming Cultural Leadership CampLake Macquarie City Council$9,900Jun-25
Mogo NAIDOC Big Day Out 2023Mogo Local Aboriginal Land Council Bega Valley Shire Council$10,000Jun-25
Baaka Cultural CentreBaaka Cultural Centre Wilcannia Aboriginal CorporationCentral Darling Shire Council$10,000Jun-25
GamIlaraay Language & Cultural LessonsTamworth Family Support ServicesTamworth Regional Council$10,000Jun-25
Moree Blak MarketsFirst Hand SolutionsMoree Plains Shire Council$10,000Jun-25
Illawarra GraduationJuborsay Aboriginal Education Consultative GroupKiama, The Council of the Municipality of$10,000Jun-25
Cowra Community GardenCowra Local Aboriginal Land CouncilCowra Shire Council$10,000Jun-25
Shoalhaven Graduation CeremonyNowra Youth CentreShoalhaven City Council$10,000Jun-25
Shoalhaven Pre-SchoolShoalhaven Community PreschoolShoalhaven City Council$10,000Jun-25
Triple Care FarmMission Australia Triple Care FarmKiama, The Council of the Municipality of$10,000Jun-25
Wilcannia Fashion ParadeDomestic Violence NSW Service ManagementCentral Darling Shire Council$5,000Jun-25
Giiyong FestivalSouth East Arts (NSW) Inc. Bega Valley Shire Council$10,000Jun-25
Didgeridoo Making & MentoringRMRA Enterprises Pty Ltd.Wagga Wagga City Council$10,000Jun-25
Warrabinga Cultural Sustainability ExpoWarranbinga NTCACMid-Western Regional Council$9,780Jun-25
TWAC Cultural Continuation & ConnectionTalbragar Wiradjuri Aboriginal Corporation Dubbo Regional Council$10,000Jun-25
Remastering Parkes Wiradjuri SongsParkes Wiradjuri Language GroupParkes Shire Council$10,000Jun-25
STEMFest 2023Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional CouncilQueanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council$6,948Jun-25
Ad hoc grants
Project name / functionRecipient nameRecipient locationFunding amountProject term
Brewarrina Coffee VanBrewarrina Shire CouncilBrewarrina Shire Council$65,000Jun-25
Western NSW Aboriginal Wellness Worker ProgramMarathon Health Ltd.Dubbo Regional Council$1,000,000Jun-25
Rugby Creates ChancesNew South Wales Rugby Union Ltd.Dubbo Regional Council$1,500,000Jun-25
NSW Aboriginal Rugby League KnockoutNewcastle All BlacksCentral Coast Council$100,000Jun-25
Memoranda of understanding
Project name / functionRecipient nameRecipient locationFunding amountProject term
STARs ProgramSouth Grafton High SchoolClarence Valley Council$138,000Dec-24
STARs ProgramJames Fallon High SchoolAlbury City Council$120,750Dec-24
STARs ProgramInverell High SchoolInverell Shire Council$86,250Dec-24
STARs ProgramTumut High SchoolSnowy Valleys Council$69,000Dec-24
Gather & Grow, 2024NSW Treasury, Aboriginal Procurement $50,000Jun-24
Sponsorships
Project name / functionRecipient nameRecipient locationFunding amountProject term
Surfest Indigenous Classic, 2024Surfest Ltd.Newcastle City Council$84,077Dec-24
Saltwater Freshwater Festival 2024Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance Aboriginal CorporationCoffs Harbour City Council$50,000Dec-24
On this page

Acknowledgement of Country

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development acknowledges that it stands on Country which always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters, and we show our respect for Elders past and present.

We are committed to providing places in which Aboriginal people are included socially, culturally and economically through thoughtful and collaborative approaches to our work.

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