The Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) is a statutory authority established in 1995 to assist Indigenous Australians to acquire and manage land in a sustainable way to achieve cultural, social, economic and environmental benefits.
The ILC is Indigenous-controlled with the Chairperson and at least four other members being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. Board members are appointed by the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. The ILC receives an annual payment from investment returns of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Account in order to run its business and programs.
The ILC's Land Acquisition and Land Management Programs work to address three priority outcomes to improve the wellbeing of Indigenous Australians:
- Access to and protection of cultural and environmental values;
- Socio-economic development; and
- Access to education.
By committing to these priorities, the ILC is helping to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, and build a secure and sustainable Indigenous land base now and for future generations.
The Land Acquisition Program assists Indigenous groups acquire land for various purposes:
- The Cultural and Environmental Values category assists by acquiring land that provides access to and protection of significant cultural and/or environmental values; and
- The Socio-economic Development category acquires land that provides significant Indigenous socio-economic benefits, in particular training and employment outcomes.
The properties purchased by the ILC vary, ranging from small urban blocks to large outback cattle stations and properties of Indigenous cultural and environmental significance.
The Land Management Program assists Indigenous landholders in urban, regional and remote areas to deliver Indigenous benefits by building capacity to sustainably manage land and develop viable land uses.
The ILC calls for land management applications from Indigenous landholders and organisations under two categories:
- Property-based projects, which focuses on improving land condition, developing infrastructure and assisting with land management activities; and
- Property management planning, which assists Indigenous landholders to develop a plan for managing and using their property.
The ILC can also assist with addressing urgent health and safety issues on Indigenous-held land where people are at risk, or for asset protection.
The ILC assesses applications against each other to determine those that will achieve the greatest Indigenous benefits for cost within the funds available. Priority is given to projects that provide Indigenous people with sustainable jobs and training that leads to employment on Indigenous-held land.
For more information, see the website of the Indigenous Land Corporation.