The program has 3 key objectives:

• Enabling Aboriginal communities to gain more autonomy over their projects, strengthening their ability to deliver favourable results for their cultural heritage, cultural practices and the environment.
• Promoting the sharing and safeguarding of cultural knowledge among Aboriginal groups, government agencies and the community. This enables Aboriginal people to influence the management and preservation of their cultural and environmental resources on their ancestral lands.
• Ensuring land that is culturally important to Aboriginal communities is protected, restored, improved and managed by local Aboriginal groups, land managers and other stakeholders in a way that fosters Healthy Country. This approach deepens the connection between Aboriginal people and their traditional lands and waterways.

Funding

Grants of up to $150,000 and $250,000 are available over 2 stages:

• Stage 1 Planning - up to $20,000 for project planning.
• Stage 2 Implementation - up to $230,000 to complete the project on-ground works. Stage 2 funding is paid over 2 instalments and $3,000 must be allocated to the mandatory financial certification on completion of the project.

Note: Funding must be allocated towards the employment of a project manager (capped at up to 30%) to manage and coordinate all project activities across both stages of the project.

See the Protecting Our Places grants program guidelines 2025 for more information.

For each grant recipient, we will coordinate and deliver face-to-face workshops for 2 key staff/participants in your project at the beginning of Stage 1. In addition, proposed grantees are strongly encouraged to invite an Elder to participate in these workshops to act as a community representative, knowledge holder and relevant cultural authority.

These workshops will provide you with:

• support and guidance to develop a plan specific to your project
• mentoring, advice and networking opportunities
• an understanding of the Trust's reporting requirements.

Who can apply?

The following NSW Aboriginal community organisations/groups may apply:

• NSW Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs)
• NSW Aboriginal Corporations registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006
• NSW incorporated associations registered under Associations Incorporation Act 2009
• Non-distributing NSW co-operatives registered under Co-operatives National Law and associated Acts*
• NSW Registered Native Title Bodies Corporate (RNTBC).
• Australian public company limited by guarantee operating as a registered charity under the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.
  Note: applicants under this category must also demonstrate** that their organisation's primary objective is to support members and/or persons of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent in New South Wales.

Other Aboriginal organisations and groups are eligible to apply, however, these entities will need the support of another organisation that will perform the role of External Manager.

*Associations and co-operatives will undergo additional eligibility checks to ensure they are not-for-profit/non-distributing and that the organisation's objectives and activities seek to provide benefits for and involves the participation of local Aboriginal people and communities.

**Charities registered under the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission must provide a copy of their constitution to prove that their primary objective is to support Aboriginal persons and, where possible, a letter of support from either the NSW Aboriginal Land Council, their Local Aboriginal Land Council or another registered Aboriginal organisation listed above.

• Phone: (02) 8837 6093
• Email: info@environmentaltrust.nsw.gov.au