Funding for First Nations communities to engage with clean energy development

You can apply if you:

• are a First Nations organisation or group
• have an Australian Business Number (ABN), and
• are an eligible entity.

Eligible entities include:

• an entity, incorporated in Australia (this includes corporations and Indigenous land management organisations registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations)
• a registered land council representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, or an entity that manages or holds land rights, native title or other Traditional Owner related agreements and settlements, including a land council established under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976
• an Australian incorporated not for profit association or cooperative
• an Australian incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust
• a partnership based in Australia.

You may be applying either for yourself or on behalf of another First Nations group without an ABN through an auspicing arrangement. The auspicing organisation or group must hold an ABN and meet the eligibility criteria in this section. Additional eligibility requirements can be found in section 4.2 of the grant opportunity guidelines.

You can’t apply if you are:

• any organisation not included above (or in section 4.1 of the grant opportunity guidelines)
• an organisation included on the National Redress Scheme’s list of Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme
• an organisation that is insolvent, subject to insolvency proceedings, or that has declared bankruptcy
• an employer of 100 or more employees that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act (2012)
• an individual
• a Regional Development Australia Committee
• 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)
• a non-corporate Commonwealth entity
• a non-First Nations group or organisation.

You must complete your project by 31 March 2028.

Your project must:

• be located in Australia

And aim to increase the capacity, capability and confidence of First Nations communities to:

• lead, participate or respond to clean energy development opportunities
• engage with clean energy developers and clean energy development opportunities.

Eligible activities must directly relate to the project and may include, but are not limited to:

• procurement of consulting, expert or professional advice to support negotiation and progression of clean energy development
• engagement through meetings and similar activities with Traditional Owners, members of organisations listed under section 4.1 of the grant opportunity guidelines, Native Title holders and other First Nations peoples as required
• engagement of a representative to negotiate with clean energy developers and/or progress a clean energy project on behalf of the applicant
• employment of staff to support the project
• training, skills, and information-based activities in relation to the project
• activities to improve skills and governance capability, to respond to or develop clean energy project opportunities
• business planning and management training and/or activities to improve skills and governance capability of First Nations communities affected by clean energy development opportunities
• reasonable administrative costs or incremental costs associated with the project.

See section 5 of the grant opportunity guidelines for more information.

You can apply for a grant between $5,000 and $80,000.

You can use this grant funding for advisory services (independent consultants and experts) and/or staff engagement to support activities related to clean energy project:

• development
• negotiation
• engagement with community
• community representation
• technical expertise
• legal advice
• financial advice
• renewable resource mapping 
• training programs
• administrative support
• monitoring and reporting
• community benefit agreements.