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Funding for Murray–Darling Basin First Nations to develop cultural flows plans
Cultural Flows Planning for Cultural Economies
Closing date: Wednesday 15 October 2025 5:00pm AEDT Wed 15 Oct 2025 5:00pm AEDT
What do you get?
A grant of up to $300,000, to cover up to 100% of eligible expenditure.
Who is this for?
First Nations groups or organisations recognised as Basin Traditional Owners or able to demonstrate a traditional connection to the relevant Basin area.
About the program
The waters of the Murray–Darling Basin are vital to the connection to Culture and Country for over 50 First Nations communities. The impacts of colonisation have deeply affected access to water for these communities, First Nations people currently own less than 0.2% of surface water entitlements.
The $20 million Cultural Flows Planning for Cultural Economies program could help Basin First Nations be in a better position to take a stronger role in the ownership and management of water.
The program provides funding to Basin First Nations to:
- develop Cultural flows plans
- enhance governance structures to support a Nation’s water-based aspirations
- develop business plans.
The program can support Basin First Nations to:
- have a greater influence in water management and ownership
- meet their obligation to care for Country.
Funds available from this program cannot be used to purchase water entitlements or water infrastructure.
No matter your Nation's experience in Cultural flows planning, there are supports available now to help you get ready to apply. You can:
- watch videos on the Cultural flows planning stories of the Tati Tati and Murrawarri Basin Nations
- watch the video about applying for the Cultural Flows. This video covers things you need to know about the funding available, eligibility, key dates and where to find help.
- arrange a visioning workshop with the DCCEEW team to discuss how a grant might help your community, so you can make an informed decision about applying. Get in touch with the team to book a workshop at firstnationswater@dcceew.gov.au.
- join an online information session.
Learn more about these supports on the Cultural Flows Planning for Cultural Economies web page.
Applying for a grant may bring up sensitive themes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples regarding verification of Aboriginality and connection to Traditional Country.
If you or someone you know is having a difficult time, or if things just seem too much, reach out for help:
- 13Yarn - Call 13 92 76 for free and confidential crisis support 24/7 run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- Your local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Service Aboriginal Health info net.
- Lifeline provides telephone (24/7) and online (7 pm to midnight AEST) counselling. Call 13 11 14.
- Wellmob - Access free resources for sadness, worries, grief and loss.
For other organisations that also provide free support visit head2health.
Call 000 if you or someone you know is in an emergency or in immediate risk of harm.
Applying for the Cultural Flows program
(Visual – Nathan Dukes stands in front of a white background talking to camera)
Yuma, my name is Nathan Dukes. I'm a Mara and Jingili man living on Ngunnawal country.
I'd like to start off by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and pay respects to their Elders past and present.
This video is about applying for a grant through the Murray-Darling Basin Cultural Flows Planning for Cultural Economies program.
We will cover:
(Visual – Nathan Dukes stands in front of a white background talking to camera, words appear on screen spelling out each line as it is spoken)
how a grant can help with cultural flows planning, developing governance structures and water-dependent business planning, who's eligible, how to apply, how we assess your application, when things will happen, where you can get help and where you can find more information.
(Visual – Nathan Dukes stands in front of a white background talking to camera)
The Cultural Flows Planning for Cultural Economies grant program will fund Basin First Nations to do cultural flows planning.
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Cultural flows can benefit your nation spiritually, culturally, socially, environmentally and economically.
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You could receive a grant of up to $300,000 to develop, update or finish your cultural flows plan. You will have up to two years to complete your grant project and you can use the grant money for things like:
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setting up and running a working group, technical report writing, monitoring and evaluation activities, research or field work including surveys, monitoring, mapping, water models or gathering other research, water infrastructure planning, completing a business plan or improving governance structures.
(Visual – Nathan Dukes stands in front of a white background talking to camera)
The grant money cannot be used to purchase water entitlements, water infrastructure or land. To receive a grant you need to meet all of the eligibility criteria.
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You must be a First Nations group or an organisation recognised as a Murray Darling Basin Traditional Owner.
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A Murray-Darling Basin First Nations group can also partner with another group to deliver an eligible project.
(Visual – Nathan Dukes stands in front of a white background talking to camera)
If you make a joint application you must have a lead organisation who is the main driver.
You must have an ABN also known as an Australian Business Number and if you don't have an ABN you can work with a group that does and they can hold your funds.
(Visual – on a green background, a computer monitor animates on, with text reading www.business.gov.au/cultural-flows-grants, a mouse icon appears and clicks the link, then scrolls around a webpage)
To submit your application use the Business Grants Hub at www.business.gov.au/cultural-flows-grants
You'll find the grant opportunity guidelines and sample documents on this page.
When you're ready to start, click apply now and create an account. Follow the online instructions to complete and submit your application.
(Visual – Nathan Dukes stands in front of a white background talking to camera, text on screen appears as each line is spoken)
Make sure you provide all the information requested, address all eligibility criteria and include all necessary attachments,
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otherwise your application may not be able to be assessed.
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Your application will be assessed by a committee of experts made up of staff from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water and an independent member.
(Visual – Nathan Dukes stands in front of a white background talking to camera, half the screen has a magenta background with objectives, capacity, capability and resources being ticked off as they are spoken)
The committee will check that your project meets the objectives of the grant program and they'll also check your capacity, capability and resources to deliver your project
(Visual – On a purple background, a calendar reads 12 weeks, then an outline of a hand holding a pen animate on then off)
The assessment process will take around 12 weeks from when the grant program closes and we'll let you know the outcome in writing.
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Grant applications open on Tuesday the 5th of August, and will close on Wednesday the 15th of October 2025.
(Visual – Nathan Dukes stands in front of a white background talking to camera, which transitions to a purple background with a phone and email icon with 13 28 46 and culturalflows@industry.gov.au writing on underneath)
Just remember there's help if you need it. Reach out to the team by calling Business Grants Hub on 13 28 46 or emailing culturalflows@industry.gov.au
(Visual – on a magenta background, a computer animates on, with text on screen reading www.business.gov.au/cultural-flows-grants)
If you'd like to learn more about the Cultural Flows Planning for Cultural Economies grant program visit the Business Grants Hub at www.business.gov.au/cultural-flows-grants
(Visual – on a green background, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water logo sits above text that reads: To find out more, visit www.business.gov.ay/cultural-flows-grants. On the right of screen is a ripple artwork)
Information sessions
Attend an online information webinar in August 2025 to answer any questions about applying for a grant. Anyone interested in applying for a grant is encouraged to join.
You can attend as many sessions as you wish. These sessions will not be recorded for your privacy and comfort. If you cannot make it, we will have a separate recording of the presentation available to view.
Click on the following Teams links to register for the webinars:
Be sure to read through the material on the Cultural flows website before you attend.
Check if you can apply
You can apply if you meet the eligibility criteria. The eligibility criteria are a set of rules that describe who we can consider for this grant. You can apply if you:
- are an eligible entity
- have an eligible project
- have eligible expenditure.
The rules are in the grant opportunity guidelines.
You can apply if you:
- have an Australian business number (ABN), unless you are not entitled to one
- and are one of the following:
- an entity, incorporated in Australia (this includes Indigenous land management organisations registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations)
- a registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land council
- an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth)
- an incorporated not for profit association or cooperative
- an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust
- a partnership.
You must also be or be partnering with a consortium with a First Nations group or organisation recognised as a Basin Traditional Owner(s) or able to demonstrate a traditional connection to the relevant area for which you are applying.
We can only accept applications where the Traditional Owner status of the applicant or members of the consortium can be verified using one of the methods below:
- Native title determination (search National Native Title Register)
- Registered Aboriginal Party (Victoria's Registered Aboriginal Parties | aboriginalheritagecouncil.vic.gov.au)
- Land rights agreements
- ORIC (Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations)
- Office of the Registrar Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983
- Relevant Local Aboriginal Land Councils
- New South Wales Aboriginal Land Councils
- Relevant Elders councils
- Declaration of Connection to Country.
If you are a First Nations group without an ABN, you may submit a joint application with an organisation that is able and agrees to obtain and manage funds on your behalf. The organisation must be a legal entity that is eligible to apply and must be the lead organisation on your joint application. Evidence of the arrangement is required.
You can’t apply if you are:
- an individual
- any organisation not included in section 4.1 of the grant opportunity guidelines
- an unincorporated association
- a trust (however, an incorporated trustee may apply on behalf of a trust)
- a Commonwealth, state, territory or local government body (including government business enterprises)
- an organisation, or your project partner is an organisation, included on the National Redress Scheme’s website on the list of ‘Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme’
- an employer of 100 or more employees that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act (2012).
Partner with other organisations
Joint applications from Basin First Nations groups are acceptable.
You must decide who the lead organisation is.
The lead organisation must fill out the application form and provide evidence of a formal arrangement with other parties to the application.
If we give your group the grant, the lead organisation:
- signs the grant agreement
- receives grant payments
- is responsible for making sure your group follows the rules in the grant agreement, including all reporting requirements.
You must complete your project within 2 years, and by 28 March 2028.
Your project must be delivered in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Your project must clearly identify the locality within the Basin to which it relates.
Your project must include at least one of the following:
- developing cultural flows plans that identify, clarify and quantify the water needs of Basin First Nations.
- data analysis
- completing business planning and/or enhancing governance structures and/or establishing as an entity that can secure ownership of water entitlements.
- activities to improve skills and governance capability among Basin First Nations, to manage water resources effectively.
You can use this grant funding for costs directly related to your project. This could include items such as:
- salaries for project staff, and on-costs (up to 30%)
- contractor or consultant costs
- expert advice (including legal and financial advice)
- technology equipment purchase/hire
- purchase of software
- costs incurred to set up as a legal entity to be able to own water
- training and development
- reasonable domestic travel including meals, accommodation and transportation
- catering
- project contingency costs (maximum 10%)
- administrative costs (maximum 15%)
- purchase of a water access licence (not water entitlement).
How to apply
Check if you’re ready to apply for a grant
Finding a suitable grant opportunity is just the start of the process to get funding. The application process can take time and effort. Understanding the entire process will help you be grant ready and may improve your chances of getting funding.
Use our checklist to find out what it takes to apply for a grant.
When you're ready to apply
When the online form is available, you must submit your application through the online portal. You’ll need to set up an account when you first log into the portal. The portal allows you to apply for and manage a grant or service in a secure online environment.
First we check that you meet the eligibility criteria. Then we assess your application against the assessment criteria.
The assessment criteria are a set of rules that describe how we must assess each application.
There are 2 assessment criteria for this program, of equal weighting:
- Alignment with program objectives and intended outcomes of the Program).
- Capacity, capability and resources to deliver the project).
The amount of detail and supporting evidence you provide should be relative to the project size, complexity and grant amount requested. The sample application form displays character limits.
We will only award funding to applications that score at least 50% against both assessment criterion.
Apply now
Apply for the Cultural Flows Planning for Cultural Economies program now
Before you apply, make sure you:
- read and understand the grant opportunity guidelines
- are able to meet the eligibility requirements of the grant opportunity.
Sample applications
The best way to understand what information you need to provide is to start an application. We have also provided a version to download at the bottom of this page.
Technical help
See our customer portal's frequently asked questions to help with your queries. If you can't find your answer, contact us for assistance.
Contact
Need help?
Let us answer your question over the phone, email or live chat.
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