Indigenous Rangers Program Expansion Round 2

This grant opportunity is available under Program 1.1 – Jobs, Land and Economy of the IAS. The IAS provides grant funding for activities that address areas of need for First Nations peoples that align with targets agreed under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap (CtG). 

The Indigenous Rangers Program (IRP) Expansion Round 2 is an open competitive grant round. 

The IRP supports First Nations people to manage Country in accordance with the objectives of Traditional Owners, and to build career pathways in cultural and natural resource management.

Indigenous Rangers use traditional knowledge and cultural practices, and Western science, to manage land, river and sea Country and deliver environmental, cultural, social and economic development outcomes for First Nations communities. 

For the IRP Expansion Round 2, up to $165 million (GST exclusive) is available over 3 years (1 July 2025 to 30 June 2028) to create up to 500 full time equivalent ranger positions, equating to over 800 ranger jobs. Should further funding for the IRP Expansion Round 2 be made available, the NIAA may use this additional funding for this grant opportunity.

To be eligible you must:

• provide evidence of cultural authority and legal access to land included in your application (for more information see section 4 of the Grant Opportunity Guidelines (GOGs))
• complete and attach the Engagements, Activities and Budget Template (for more information see section 7 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 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

For organisations that operate with, or represent, multiple Traditional Owner groups across multiple locations, one application must be made per project/activity. Each project or activity representing different and distinct Traditional Owner groups and locations will require separate applications and will be assessed separately.