The Future Industries Grant Program is a Sector Leadership initiative of the ILSC’s National Indigenous Land and Sea Strategy 2023-28 and the Sector Leadership – Future Industries Initiatives.

The aim of the Future Industries Grant Program is to increase Indigenous corporations’ access to independent specialist advice regarding economic opportunities on Country in priority land and water sectors.

The Future Industries Grant Program can assist Indigenous Corporations to make informed decisions that potentially support the creation of Indigenous businesses or income streams on Country. The Program grants are likely to support other feasibility or business planning work already completed or underway towards a significant project or opportunity.

The priority sectors are:

• Carbon
• Renewables and clean energy
• Environmental markets
• Inland water
• Fisheries and aquaculture

What assistance is available?

The amount of each grant will be determined following an assessment of the application but is capped at $50,000 (excluding GST) for each individual organisation.

The closing date for applications is 31 July 2025.

Who is eligible?

You must be able to answer ‘YES’ to all of the following criteria:

1.  Are you an incorporated entity and are you Indigenous-controlled?
2.  Are you compliant with your incorporating legislation?
3.  Does the grant application relate to Indigenous-held land and/or water-related rights or interests held by the Applicant?
4.  Will the grant improve your ability to make informed decisions regarding an opportunity concerning this land or water right or interest?
5.  Does the application relate to an opportunity in the ILSC’s priority sectors?

What we will fund

The funding can be used for the procurement for the following services, but are not limited to:

• Data collection and analysis
• Viability and cost benefit advice
• Commercial, financial and risk advice
• Legal, governance and tax advice
• Community consultation, planning and facilitated decision making

How we prioritise and assess eligible applications

The Future Industries Grant Program is a competitive program with a fixed budget. Our assessment criteria ensure we invest in the projects that deliver the highest possible outcomes to Indigenous Australians.

We prioritise projects that support Indigenous leadership in priority sectors that have the potential to create change and generate outcomes and opportunities for First Nations peoples and communities.

We will assess how the Future Industries Grant can support your organisation’s decision regarding investment in economic projects on Country. We assess projects competitively against the assessment criteria below and relatively against other project proposals we receive. The assessment criteria include Opportunities and Outcomes, Project Viability, Capability, and Financial Health.

Application and assessment process

1. Contact the ILSC.

Freecall 1800 818 490 or email NPT@ilsc.gov.au to discuss eligibility, request the program Application Form and Guidelines, and discuss what documentation you’ll need to provide.

2. Complete the application form.

Complete the application form and return to NPT@ilsc.gov.au along with the required attachments prior to close of business on 31 July 2025.

3. We will check your application for eligibility and completeness:

We may contact you regarding your organisation’s eligibility and completeness of your application before the closing date.

4. We will assess your application and inform you of the outcome:

Your application will be assessed against the program assessment criteria and against other applications. We aim to notify you of the outcome of your application by the end of August.

5. If approved, the ILSC will provide funding:

If your application is approved, the ILSC will develop a Grant of Money contract for your consideration and execution prior to the release of funding.

Ready to apply?

Indigenous corporations that wish to apply for the Future Industries Grant should freecall 1800 818 490 or email NPT@ilsc.gov.au for guidance and a copy of the Application Form and guidelines.