Funding for Murray–Darling Basin First Nations to develop cultural flows plans

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 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 Traditional Owner status 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 must have an arrangement with an organisation that is able and agrees to auspice funds on your behalf. See grant opportunity guidelines for more information.

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).