Overall Guidelines
Funding is only provided to eligible organisations and for proposals that:
- are for the benefit of Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory
- do not duplicate existing sources of funding (ABA funding can be used to leverage or complement other funding sources)
- are cost effective, and
- are made by organisations with strong governance.
Where a ‘for-profit’ organisation applies for ABA funding, FaHCSIA will take into account income tax implications in determining whether the proposal represents best value for money for the use of ABA funds.
Where possible, funding should encourage the development of economic opportunities for and/or business and workforce skills of Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory.
Where possible, ABA funding should leverage investment from other sources, including the private sector.
In addition to the above criteria, proposals will be assessed against the funding principles and criteria listed under the relevant funding category for which ABA funding is being sought.
Funding Categories
Applications for funding can be made under the following categories:
- Major Economic Projects
- Small Business Initiatives
- Land and Sea Management
- Community Enhancement
- Scholarship and Sponsorship in Education and Leadership
- Ceremonial and Funeral Support (Northern Territory Land Councils only)
In addition ABA funding is available for arts infrastructure. Although this is not a formal funding category, guidance on funding considerations is provided at the end of this section.
[ top ]
Major Economic Projects
The aim of this category is to facilitate projects that support improved economic outcomes for current and future generations of Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory. Funds may be provided for projects to develop the infrastructure necessary to generate investment in economic development, or for seed funding for initiatives that will deliver economic development outcomes for Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory.
Key Principles – major economic projects
- funding will seek to complement rather than duplicate existing initiatives. This will include projects with economic potential which would otherwise not go ahead
- investments must be capable of yielding or contributing to net economic benefits for the immediate or future benefit of Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory
- funding may combine a number of funding instruments, including equity investments and grant payments, depending on the circumstances and which include consideration of whether the organisation is established for-profit
- proposals are compatible with regional development plans or other formal statements of community aspirations (if applicable)
- proposals are capable of yielding economic benefits that clearly extend beyond project proponents to the community.
Funding Criteria – major economic projects
Investment proposals for funding under this category will be assessed against the following criteria:
- are large scale or have potential to become large scale
- require one-off funding with long-term economic benefit
- have the potential capacity to attract equity contributions from other participants
- create new and sustainable jobs for Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory
- show a reasonable rate of return (for that sector and/or industry), unless they are infrastructure projects
- have appropriate management structures with proven management skills.
Small Business Initiatives
The aim of the small business initiatives funding category is to support small and medium-sized business investments which foster wealth-creation for Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory.
Key Principles – small business initiatives
- funding will encourage the development of the business and workforce skills of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory
- funding will be one-off and not exceed $100,000
- funding will create new and sustainable jobs for Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory
- funding will complement rather than replace or duplicate existing initiatives.
Funding Criteria – small business initiatives
Proposals under the small business initiatives category will be assessed against the following funding criteria:
- are capable of yielding economic benefits that clearly extend beyond project proponents to the community
- can confirm that no alternative funding sources can be accessed
- have community support and agreement on outcomes sought
- have appropriate management structures with proven management skills.
[ top ]
Land and Sea Management
Funds may be provided to enable Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory to engage in land and sea management to assist in protecting and caring for Aboriginal land.
Key Principles – land and sea management proposals
- projects that involve Aboriginal Rangers in providing care and assistance to land and sea are encouraged
- projects that involve value or promote Aboriginal pharmacopeia (bush medicine) are encouraged
- projects should develop a Land Use Agreement (where appropriate)
- projects manage the use and development of land and sea resources in an ecologically and culturally sustainable way.
Funding Criteria – land and sea management proposals
Land and Sea Management proposals are assessed against the following funding criteria:
- are cost-effective
- have high levels of community support and agreement on outcomes sought
- provide opportunities for co-investment by the Australian and Territory Governments in shared objectives
- provide evidence of strong governance
- will identify how they will show measurable improvement in land and other resource conditions and social outcomes
- show plausible pathways to long-term sustainability at the end of ABA funding
- will be compatible with regional development plans or other formal statements of community aspirations (if applicable).
Community Enhancement
Funds may be provided for community enhancement purposes for Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory. This may include funding for related infrastructure, fixed assets and other services in remote communities.
The term ‘community’ is used in the broad sense to mean a group of Aboriginal people living within a particular local area in the Northern Territory. Community enhancement refers to improvements that will be beneficial to either all or some of the Aboriginal people living in that locality.
Key Principle – community enhancement proposals
- Projects that add to the quality of life or improve services offered to Aboriginal people living on their land in the Northern Territory are encouraged.
Funding Criteria – community enhancement proposals
Community Enhancement projects are assessed against the following funding criteria:
- address a specific and clearly defined community issue or need
- demonstrate community support for the proposed project
- enhance a community or its facilities (eg. education, sporting and cultural facilities)
- will be compatible with regional development plans or other formal statements of community aspirations (if applicable)
- will complement rather than replace or duplicate existing initiatives
- are cost effective and provide value for money.
[ top ]
Scholarship and Sponsorship in Education and Leadership
Eligible organisations can submit proposals to fund Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory to undertake education and leadership training.
Key Principles – scholarship in education and leadership proposals
- projects that are eligible for other Commonwealth funding may not be considered
- innovative projects that provide unique educational or other development opportunities for young Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory are encouraged
- projects that offer leverage for joint funding arrangements with other bodies are encouraged.
Funding Criteria – scholarship in education and leadership proposals
Projects proposing to offer scholarships or other forms of awards or other development opportunities will need to describe how the application process will operate including:
- how applications are to be called
- how scholarship applications will be assessed
- the level of financial and other support that is proposed to be offered
- how successful candidates will share or report upon their experiences to the sponsor body and other Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory.
Ceremonial and Funeral Support (Northern Territory Land Councils only)
In recognition of the importance of such activities to Aboriginal people, funding may be provided to Land Councils established under theALRA to contribute to the costs of ceremonial activities in connection with Aboriginal land and to meet funeral expenses.
Key Funding Principles – ceremonial and funeral support
- As a general rule no more than $500,000 per annum per Land Council will be approved for this funding category.
- Land Councils must provide a copy of their funding policy or describe how decisions will be made, including the amounts that may be provided, in administering funds for the purpose of:
- ceremonial activities
- assisting with funeral expenses.
- Applications will be considered by the ABA Advisory Committee before a recommendation is made to the Minister.
Supplementary Information - Arts Infrastructure
The aim of arts infrastructure funding is to support the Indigenous art and craft sector as an element of Indigenous economic development in the Northern Territory. Funding will be targeted to provide one-off funding for strategic investment in capital infrastructure that will contribute to the long term benefit and sustainability of Northern Territory art centres and their artists, and to the Northern Territory Indigenous art industry in general.
Capital infrastructure in this context includes buildings, other structures and establishment of assets necessary for the creation, storage, marketing and showcasing of indigenous visual arts, including accommodation for art centre coordinators.
Considerations for Arts Infrastructure Projects include:
- improving conditions for artists and art centre workers
- strengthening and improving business and workforce skills and the sustainability of art centres
- contributing to the employment, training and professional development of local Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory, and supporting economic development
- increasing the capacity of the sector to produce, store, market and export quality indigenous visual arts
- demonstrating a high level of community support, and involving the local community in decision-making and implementation of the projects
- sustainability of activities when ABA funding ends.