Applications open for Indigenous Heritage Program grants

Indigenous communities across Australia can now make an application for funding to assist in the identification, conservation, and protection of their Indigenous heritage.

“The Indigenous Heritage Program is open to traditional owners, community groups and authorities acting on behalf of traditional owners or a local indigenous community,” Heritage Minister, Tony Burke said.

“Since 2004 the program has supported more than 450 indigenous heritage projects.

“Indigenous heritage projects provide education, training, employment and business opportunities that help indigenous Australians cultural obligations to care for country and maintain traditions.

Funding is available under five following categories:

Indigenous Heritage Program – Conservation: supports projects that conserve, restore or adapt an Indigenous heritage place. An Indigenous heritage place is a landscape, site or area that is particularly important to Indigenous people.
Indigenous Heritage Program – Identification: supports projects that identify and record an Indigenous heritage place. The program encourages projects which through research and documentation identify the traditional, scientific and other knowledge associated with the Indigenous heritage values of a place.
Heritage Planning: supports projects that assist with the identification, conservation and promotion of the Indigenous heritage values of a place.
Sharing Australia’s Indigenous Heritage: supports projects that interpret or explain a significant Indigenous heritage place or stories and promote the knowledge and understanding of Indigenous heritage via the internet.

Keeping Places: supports projects that provide small-scale keeping places to house ancestral remains and secret sacred objects that require restricted access.

Funding of up to $10,000 is available for individuals and funding of up to $100,000 is available for groups or organisations. Indigenous groups may also be eligible for funding of up to $250,000 for up to a three year period for more significant and long term projects.

Applications are open until 11 June 2012.

Information for applicants and the grant guidelines are available at www.environment.gov.au/heritage/programs/ihp/

27 March 2012.