The Australian Government is inviting applications via a targeted process to apply to deliver services under Program 2.1 Conserve, protect and sustainably manage Australia's natural environment through a nature positive approach.

The program objective is to strengthen the conservation and protection of Australia's environmental and cultural values through establishing and managing IPAs. The program also contributes to social and economic benefits for First Nations people.

The expected outcomes of the program are:

• Australia's National Reserve System (NRS) has increased and the condition of Australia's environment across land and sea has improved
• First Nations people are empowered to fulfil their custodial obligations over land and sea Country and achieve environmental, cultural, social, and economic benefits
• enhanced collaboration between First Nations people and partners and strengthened governance for the protection, conservation and sustainable management of Australia's land and seascapes.

To be eligible, you must be an:

  Indigenous organisation or an Indigenous enterprise as defined in the Glossary (see section 14). If you do not have an Indigenous Corporation Number (ICN), you must provide a statutory declaration by an authorised officer of the applicant, stating that your organisation is at least 51% owned or controlled by Indigenous persons or the Indigenous enterprise has 50% Indigenous ownership.

and be one of the following entity types:

• a company
• an Indigenous corporation, for example:
  • a Registered Native Title Body Corporate or Prescribed Body Corporate (PBC) nominated to hold and manage native title rights and interests under the Native Title Act 1993[1] (Cth)
  • a recognised Native Title Representative Body/Service Provider
  • a Traditional Owner Corporation, incorporated for the purposes of representing Traditional Owners recognised under the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010[2] (Victoria)
  • a Traditional Owner Group Entity established for the purposes of representing Traditional Owners under an alternative native title settlement agreement
  • an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and /or Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006[3]
•   a Corporate Commonwealth entity
• a Corporate State or Territory entity
• an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust
• an incorporated association
• cooperative registered under the Co-operatives National Law
• Local Government

• Email: support@communitygrants.gov.au