RFAs: Aboriginal and Local Business Participation in Recovery Program (Australia)

The Program funds business support and advisory services, employment support services and includes the Aboriginal Business Participation in Recovery Grants Scheme (Grants).

This Program is jointly funded under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) are delivering the Grants.

Objectives

• The anticipated goal and outcome of the Program are:
  • Goal: Increased Aboriginal participation in the workforce and regional economy.
  • Outcome: Workforce is developed, supported, and equipped.

Funding Information

• Grants are available as:
  • Services and training grants of up to $25,000 to cover non-capital costs for business establishment or growth such as insurance, business accreditation and training.
  • Equipment and assets grants of up to $100,000 to assist with the hire, lease or purchase of specialist equipment or assets.

Eligible Activities

• Services and training grants may be used for:
  • Engaging professional business services including
    • business planning,
    • business support,
    • taxation,
    • legal and financial services,
    • promotional branding,
    • website development and
    • marketing.
    • Reasonable intra-state travel and accommodation for individuals associated with receiving services.
  • Establishing or making improvements to internal business processes and systems, such as:
    • Purchase of specialised computer software and software licences, for example
      • tender management software,
      • project management software,
      • online sales and marketing systems,
      • accounting software,
      • implementation and certification of national and international standards and management systems.
    • Purchase of general computer software and software licences, for example, Microsoft Office, provided it is considered vital to and used exclusively for the business activities which align with the Kimberley Recovery Plan (above and beyond existing business-as-usual operations).
    • New or enhanced software or subscription costs
  • Training and up-skilling of workers which leads to improved operational processes, safety or new business services provided that training is delivered by a trainer with appropriate expertise, experience and qualifications.
    • Training course and resource fees.
    • Reasonable intra-state travel and accommodation for individuals associated with attending training.
  • Purchase of necessary consumables, supplies and materials related to the nature and type of enterprise to assist with initial operating costs.
    • Business insurance (professional indemnity, public liability etc.) and other necessary establishment overhead costs, such as business accreditation, registration and licences.
    • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) costs associated with business accreditation, licenses, tickets and contract requirements.
  • Costs associated with the development and production of branding and promotional materials, including uniforms.
• Equipment and assets grants:
  • Hire, lease, purchase and modification of plant, tools, equipment and light machinery which perform specific and specialised functions and are used exclusively for the business purposes e.g. power tools, bobcat, cherry picker, trailer modifications.
    • Hire is preferred over purchase.
    • For hired and purchased equipment, this includes costs associated with managing the procurement, mobilisation, transport and establishment.
    • Additionally for hired equipment, these costs include operation, maintenance, decommission, demobilising and disposal if relevant.
    • The full cost of purchasing an asset may be claimable on the grounds that:
      • the asset is directly necessary for and directly related to the delivery of eligible activities,
      • the asset was purchased after these Grants were announced on 6 May 2024,
      • the asset has a purchase value less than $2,000 (ex. GST), or where an asset has a purchase value greater than $2,000 (ex. GST), it can be demonstrated through a cost-benefit analysis that purchasing (instead of hiring or leasing) is the most fit-for-purpose and value-for-money option.
      • Ongoing liabilities associated with the asset after purchase and transfer of ownership are the responsibility of the grant recipient.
  • Establishing or making improvements to internal business infrastructure and systems such as:
    • Production systems, transportation and distribution systems, specialist IT and communication systems.
    • Purchase of computer hardware and office equipment upgrades provided it is considered vital to and used exclusively for the business activities which align with the Kimberley Recovery Plan (above and beyond existing business-as-usual operations).

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible to apply for a Grant, applicants must be an Aboriginal-owned small business or sole trading enterprise, that:
  • is registered with Supply Nation, Aboriginal Business Directory WA or Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (or contact DPIRD for further information)
  • operates and is located in the Shire of Derby-West Kimberley (SDWK); or operates in SDWK and is located within one of the below Local Government Areas (LGAs) and can demonstrate at least 2 years’ history of regularly providing goods and services to customers located in the SDWK;
    • Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley
    • Shire of Halls Creek
    • Shire of Broome
  • is establishing or expanding their business to participate in work aligned with the recovery needs outlined in the Kimberley Floods State Recovery and Resilience Plan 2023-2024 (Kimberley Recovery Plan); or supporting recovery and reconstruction work funded under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
  • has an active Australian Business Number (ABN);
  • has a business bank account;
  • has or will have appropriate levels of business insurance in place;
  • has or will have relevant qualifications, licenses and approvals required for the proposed activities or business being funded. Qualifications and licences are required prior to final approval of an equipment and assets grant.
  • can demonstrate appropriate business capability and having engaged with business support services as required.
• Another person may apply on behalf of an eligible applicant. ‘Authority to Act’ must be provided with the application. The grant will be paid directly to the applicant.

For more information, visit Australian Government.