The Public Awareness Program (PAP) funds initiatives that raise public awareness in the wider community of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues and culture. The program has two elements:
- Public Awareness grants
- Funding for NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) activities.
Public Awareness
Public Awareness grants are made to selected activities that are capable of reaching a significant audience of non-Indigenous people. The program provides supplementary funding, and is not intended to finance the whole project. Its broad aims are:
- to promote to the wider community an understanding of, and respect for, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures
- to encourage in the wider community the development of positive attitudes towards Indigenous Australians
- to inform the wider community about contemporary issues that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and communities.
NAIDOC
NAIDOC celebrations are held annually (usually in the first full week in July). Funds are available (in whole or part) to community-based organisations or other bodies to assist with the cost of their NAIDOC activities. More information about NAIDOC, including National NAIDOC activities, is available at the NAIDOC site.