Funding to support the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm transition to Community-control and residential services
Stage 1: Partnership and Readiness Grant
This grant will identify an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) partner to plan for Community-control of the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm (NBHF).
The ACCO partner will be funded to:
- work in partnership with the Health and Community Services Directorate (HCSD)
- plan and prepare to transition the NBHF to Community-control.
This grant doesn’t involve service delivery at the NBHF. The HCSD will continue to manage current day-program operations at the NBHF over the term of the Grant.
Who this is for
The grant is for new, emerging and existing Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) that operate and have established governance structures in the ACT.
You could be a new or emerging ACCO, an established ACCOs, or innovative ACCO-led consortium.
What you get
Funding to support the preparation for transition to Community-control of the NBHF.
Check if you can apply
You can apply if you’re:
- an ACCO that meets Clause 44 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap
- an ACCO-led partnership or collaboration.
The applicant ACCO must operate, and have established governance structures, in the ACT.
Applicants must have no overdue acquittals.
What you can do
This grant is for activities to support your vision for how to transition the NBHF. It will fund the collaborative groundwork between your ACCO and partners (including the HCSD) to support future Community-control and service delivery at the NBHF.
The funding can be used to make sure your ACCO has the capacity and capability to take over Community-control of the NBHF day-program operations.
Over the term of the grant, and in partnership, you will develop:
- a transition governance mechanism
- a detailed transition plan
- organisational readiness to implement the above plan
You won’t be required to provide services over the term of this grant. The HCSD will continue to fund and manage current NBHF operations.
The term of the grant is one year at first.
Before you apply
You should read the grant requirement guidelines before you apply.
Industry briefing session
The industry briefing session is on 28 November 2025. You can attend either in-person and virtually. We’ll record the session and share online after 28 November 2025.
Apply
To apply online:
- Register or log into your account.
- Follow the instructions to complete your application.
After you apply
We'll assess your application and let you know the outcome late March or early April. We’ll notify you by phone and in writing.
In line with Priority Reform 3: Transforming Government Organisations of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, we are working to do things differently.
We have developed an assessment process that centres self-determination and cultural knowledge relevant to the ACT and region.
Following the eligibility check, a panel will assess your application.
The panel composition and structure have been deeply considered to achieve our aims of a culturally responsive process.
We will let you of any specific conditions attached to the grant and will set up a time to start contract negotiations.
We will use a standard agreement, called a deed of grant. The deed of grant will include:
- the grant we are offering
- how to accept an offer
- details on the funded grant amount
- details of the activities for which you are funded
- the term of your funded activity for which you must expend the grant amount in full
- how to acquit your grant funds when you have completed the project.
Contact us
If you need help or have questions, contact us.
Email: PSRContracts@act.gov.au