The Andrews Labor Government is providing additional support to Aboriginal organisations to strengthen the resilience of communities in bushfire-affected areas.
Applications are now open for the new $3.8 million Aboriginal Community Mitigation and Crisis Management grants, with $1.8 million available for initiatives addressing crisis management, mitigation and planning and $2 million available to improve Aboriginal infrastructure to better prepare for future emergency events.
Administered by Bushfire Recovery Victoria, the first stream is for initiatives that address crisis management, mitigation and planning, with the second stream designed to improve Aboriginal infrastructure to better prepare for future emergency events.
Under the $1.8 million crisis management, mitigation and planning stream, grants of up to $450,000 are available to support Aboriginal organisations to develop and implement crisis planning and mitigation initiatives on bushfire-affected country.
This could include pre-bushfire season planning and mitigation works, public safety initiatives or training and capacity building for Traditional Owners and Aboriginal communities.
Under the $2 million improved Aboriginal infrastructure stream, grants of up to $1 million are available for projects addressing the structural needs of bushfire-affected Aboriginal communities.
This includes works on bushfire-affected Aboriginal infrastructure, upgrade or construction of local emergency shelters and facilities or fire-proofing existing community gathering spaces.
The Aboriginal Community Mitigation and Crisis Management grants are available for Incorporated Aboriginal organisations or social enterprises that support Aboriginal communities in bushfire recovery who had Country directly impacted by the 2019-20 Victorian bushfires.
Applications for the Aboriginal Community Mitigation and Crisis Management grants will close on 14 May 2021. For more information about the grants, or to submit an application, visit vic.gov.au/bushfire-recovery-support-aboriginal-communities.
Aboriginal Culture and Healing was established as a dedicated bushfire recovery pillar that stands alongside traditional recovery pillars of health, economy, natural environment and infrastructure.
This pillar supports projects led by Aboriginal community organisations and Traditional Owner groups that value and respect Aboriginal culture, address trauma, support healing and promote cultural safety.
As stated by Acting Minister for Police and Emergency Services Danny Pearson
"We're ensuring Aboriginal communities, who were disproportionately affected, by the fires get the support they need to lead their recovery, develop culturally safe crisis management plans and prepare for future emergencies."
As stated by Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Gabrielle Williams
"We know that bushfires have a significant impact on Aboriginal communities and we'll continue to work with them to make sure Country is protected and projects are Aboriginal community-led."
