Trust Overview
The Aboriginal Fishing Trust Fund (AFTF) provides grants and loans for the enhancement, maintenance and protection of Aboriginal cultural fishing as well as for Aboriginal communities to develop businesses associated with fisheries resources throughout NSW.
The Trust is established under the Fisheries Management Act 1994 which directs expenditure and establishes other key operational rules including the involvement of the Aboriginal Fishing Advisory Council (AFAC) in advising on expenditure.
Applications for funds are assessed on their merits against set criteria.
The 2024 funding round is currently CLOSED. Check back here regularly for future funding rounds dates.
Projects funded by the Trust
The AFTF looks to fund a wide range of projects across both coastal and inland regions in NSW, which promote Aboriginal cultural fishing or provide fishing related economic opportunities for Aboriginal people.
Who can apply?
To be eligible applicants must be:
- An Aboriginal person, or
- An Aboriginal entity, which includes a family/clan or community organisation, or an Aboriginal owned and run business, or
- Someone acting on behalf of an Aboriginal entity.
Note: please refer to the 'Guidelines for Applicants' for the definition of these for the purposes of this program.
Apply for funds
How are funding decision made?
Applications for funding will be first assessed by the Aboriginal Fishing Trust Expenditure Committee (AFTEC). The AFTEC assesses and ranks applications against set criteria and provides its views to the AFAC. After considering applications and the advice of AFTEC, the AFAC then provide its view to the Minister for Agriculture over expenditure from the Trust. The income and expenditure from the AFTF is subject to an annual audit by the NSW Auditor-General and regular announcements are made about expenditure from the Trust.
