Bushfire Recovery Grants for Aboriginal Communities

This program aims to support Aboriginal community or Traditional Owner led projects that value and respect Aboriginal culture, address trauma, support healing and promote cultural safety, ownership, resilience and participation. It is within the $35 million Community Recovery and Resilience Grants Initiative which aims to provide financial support to locally-led and responsive programs that support the recovery of communities in Victoria's bushfire affected regions.

The initiative forms part of the $86 million Victorian Bushfires Community Recovery Package, jointly funded through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), which are the Commonwealth-state cost-sharing arrangements for providing financial support for relief and recovery activities resulting from natural disasters and terrorist acts.

The objectives of the Community Recovery and Resilience Grants Initiative are to:
- Improve community connectedness and cohesion.
- Support community development.
- Strengthen communities’ resilience against natural disaster.
- Build community capability and capacity for recovery.
- Empower communities to lead and direct their recovery process.

There are two streams of funding available:
1. Stream 1: Cultural Heritage Recovery
- To support immediate cultural heritage management needs across bushfire affected country.
- Grants of up to $500,000 are available.
- A total funding pool of $1.2 million is available.

2. Stream 2: Aboriginal Community Support
- For projects that address the needs of Aboriginal communities throughout recovery.
- Grants of up to $500,000 are available.
- A total funding pool of $2.3 million is available.

A total funding pool of $3.5 million is available.

Eligible applicants must:
- Be either:
a) An Aboriginal organisation that is an incorporated legal entity.
b) A social enterprise with a clearly stated purpose or mission related specifically to supporting Aboriginal communities in bushfire recovery.
- Have the capability to report to BRV on the outcomes and activities of the funded project.
- For applicants in Stream 1, have had their country directly impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires.
- Have a current Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Have no outstanding final reports or final reports required for any previous government grant programs.

Please refer to the Guidelines for the complete eligibility requirements.

Eligible projects must support the objectives of the Community Recovery and Resilience Grants initiative, including, but are not limited to:
1. Stream 1: Cultural Heritage Recovery
- Country mapping
- Protection works for ancestral remains
- Training and capacity building for Traditional Owner organisations
- Archaeological data collection and processing

2. Stream 2: Aboriginal Community Support
- Events to reconnect communities
- Training and capacity building workshops
- Activities to improve community resilience in future disasters
- Community development activities

The main assessment criteria include:
- The application demonstrates the project meets the program objectives and the extent to which those objectives are met. The program objectives are: (30%)
a) Valuing and respecting Aboriginal culture.
b) Addressing Aboriginal trauma and supporting healing.
c) Promoting Aboriginal cultural safety.
d) Promoting Aboriginal ownership, resilience and participation.
- The application demonstrates the extent to which the project: (30%)
a) Is delivery ready, supported by a clear approach and realistic timeframes.
b) Is financially viable, based on sound cost estimates and represents value for money.
c) Sources materials and resources to deliver the project which strengthens Aboriginal communities.
- The application demonstrates the extent of Aboriginal community participation: (20%)
a) Proposes a collaborative approach with a range of partners and indicates how they will contribute to the project.
b) Proposes an effective project management approach that ensures Aboriginal community participation.
c) Aboriginal communities have been engaged, including with project partners, in the development of application.
- The application demonstrates the extent to which the project addresses the direct impacts of the 2019-20 Victorian Bushfires on the local Aboriginal community. (20%)

The following are ineligible for funding:
- State and Federal government departments and agencies.
- Individuals and sole traders.
- Unincorporated community organisations.
- Commercial enterprises.
- Fixed trusts.
- Local Government Authorities (LGAs) including LGA managed, operated, administered and regulated trusts (can act as an auspice).
- Registered primary and secondary schools, preschools, TAFE institutes and universities (can act as an auspice).
- Commercial enterprises are not eligible to apply for a grant alone (they can partner with an organisation as a sponsor and only provide contributions).
- Offsetting of salaries, operating costs for existing staff or contractors.
- Feasibility studies, business plans, cost benefit analysis and economic impact studies.
- Projects that may have a negative impact on existing businesses/services.
- Passing on funding to a third party in the form of a sponsorship or grant.
- The purchase or land or buildings.
- The cost of works or activities covered by insurance.