Archived Grant Opportunity View - GO6660

The National Indigenous Australians Agency invites eligible applicants to submit applications for the 2024-28 Indigenous Rangers Program (IRP) Expansion Round One under the Indigenous Advancement Strategy. 

The IRP is a successful and well-respected program that assists First Nations people to manage Country in accordance with Traditional Owners’ objectives, delivering a range of environmental, cultural, social and economic development outcomes.  

The priorities of the IRP Expansion Round One are:

• Expanding the IRP footprint in places without Indigenous rangers, with state/territory based indicative allocations based on full time equivalent ranger positions.

• Increasing the number of women Indigenous rangers (or women’s ranger groups).

• Increasing Indigenous rangers on dedicated Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) currently without IRP rangers.

This is an open competitive grant opportunity. Existing ranger organisations and organisations seeking to start new ranger groups are encouraged to apply.

Your application must address at least one of the 3 IRP Expansion Round One priorities. Applications not expanding the IRP footprint must increase the number of women Indigenous rangers to be eligible. Applications expanding the footprint may be prioritised if they also increase the number of women Indigenous rangers. 

The intended outcomes of the IRP Expansion Round One are:

• An expanded IRP footprint in areas without Indigenous rangers.

• 550 new ranger positions funded, with an increased proportion of women rangers. 

• An increased proportion of IPAs having IRP funded rangers working on land and sea Country. 

• More self-sufficient and capable organisations able to deliver on the objectives of the program, take advantage of economic opportunities and build long term organisational capability and sustainability.

To be eligible you must:

• Have a legal right and/or right to access and manage the land included in your application

• Meet at least one of the following IRP Expansion priorities:

- Expanding the IRP footprint in places without Indigenous rangers, with state/territory based indicative allocations based on full time equivalent ranger positions.

- Increasing the number of women Indigenous rangers (or women’s ranger groups).

- Increasing Indigenous rangers on dedicated IPAs currently without IRP rangers.

• Use the Engagements, Activities and Budget Template provided in section 7.1 of the Grant Opportunity Guidelines (GOGs)

• Have an Australian Business Number (ABN)

• Where relevant, be registered for the purposes of GST

• Have an account with an Australian financial institution

• Be one of the entity types specified in section 4.1 of the GOGs.

The NIAA will not accept your application unless you:

• Have rectified any issues of previous non-compliance with existing Commonwealth agreements to the satisfaction of the Commonwealth, or be in the process of rectifying any issues of non-compliance with existing Commonwealth agreements to the satisfaction of the Commonwealth

• Are financially viable to the NIAA’s satisfaction.

Applications which include a new area not currently serviced by a ranger group (including applications from new or existing ranger groups) must: 

• Include written endorsement by relevant Traditional Owner representative bodies for that particular area, such as a Registered Native Title Bodies Corporate, or Registered Aboriginal Party. Written endorsement by these organisations should include all items specified in section 4.2 of the GOGs.

• Demonstrate that the applicant has a legal right to access the area and undertake the proposed activities, examples include, but not limited to, recognised Native Title rights and interests, freehold title or lease.

Successful applicants must complete their grant/project, including delivery of outcomes, by 30 June 2028.

$359,000,000.00

From $650,000.00 to $359,000,000.00

You must submit your application form online.  You will receive an electronic Application ID Number once your application has been lodged with the Agency. You should keep a copy of your application, Application ID Number and any supporting documents. 

If you find an error in your application after submitting it, you should contact the NIAA at IndigenousRangersGrants@niaa.gov.au. 

If we find an error or information that is missing, we may ask for clarification or additional information from you that will not change the nature of your application. The Agency can refuse to accept any additional information from you that would change your application after it has been received by the Agency.

It is important to read the Grant Opportunity Guidelines for this grant opportunity before applying, as they contain all information relevant to submitting an application. These and other Grant Opportunity Documents are available for download.

For an application to be considered, it must meet all the eligibility criteria listed in section 5 of the Grant Opportunity Guidelines. Applications must also address the assessment criteria listed in section 6. Applicants are expected to provide evidence supporting the eligibility and selection criteria as necessary.

Your application must address at least one of the three IRP Expansion Round One priorities (see Appendix 4 of the Grant Opportunity Guidelines) and include all necessary attachments (including the Engagements, Activities and Budget Template).