Last year nine Aboriginal organisations were supported to undertake activities that delivered services that achieved employment outcomes for Aboriginal people and helped support Indigenous environmental and cultural teams to work on country to protect and manage vegetation, threatened species habitats and Aboriginal cultural heritage.

This coming financial year North Coast Local Land Services will continue to work with Aboriginal partners to deliver services that support Aboriginal people to care for country and share traditional land management knowledge.

The Working on Country funding program will provide support in the range of $30,000 to $60,000 per project in the following areas:

·        Identifying, capturing or protecting Aboriginal  traditional knowledge and cultural heritage

·        Developing land management plans

·        Working on country to manage natural and cultural resources

“We are seeking project proposals from Aboriginal organisations, or those organisations working in partnership with them, to deliver services that deliver long term solutions to Working on Country,” senior Land Services officer Piers Harper said.

“This funding is designed to achieve employment outcomes for Aboriginal people and help to support Aboriginal environmental and cultural teams to work on Country to protect and manage vegetation, threatened species habitats and Aboriginal cultural heritage.

“Through consultation with our Aboriginal community advisory group we are ensuring that these funds are invested locally to deliver real opportunities to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage.”

Individual project proposals are sought in the range of $30,000 to $60,000. Across the North Coast region, a total of up to $275,000 has been made available.

Aboriginal organisations who wish to apply for this funding or receive more information can visit the North Coast Local Land Services website www.northcoast.lls.nsw.gov.au or contact Piers Harper on 6659-9403 or 0428 679-197 or e-mail piers.harper@lls.nsw.gov.au.