The long journey to Native Title and Self Determination.
Additional Assistance Programs
While FNBGGGTB offers a range of opportunities, many other great programs and support services may be available to you.
View programs developed to support Indigenous Australians including community, housing, employment, and financial needs.
We've compiled a list of low/no interest loans/Savings Schemes/Grants, Scholarships and Assistance Programs that are available to the public that may be of interest to you or help someone you know in the community.
If there are any grants/funding/scholarships which you think we can add to this list please contact us.
View programs & support services
Financial and social support assistance may be available if you have been impacted by a disaster.
You can apply for a grant by:
- submitting an online application using this form
- calling the Community Recovery hotline on 1800 173 349
- visiting a Community Recovery Hub
Personal hardship financial assistance is available for Queensland communities impacted by Tropical Low 29U and related flooding March 2026 in defined local government areas.
If you have been affected by this event, you can:
- check if your area is eligible for financial assistance
- find out about the different grants available
- locate your nearest Community Recovery Hub
- access brochures for key community support contacts in your area
- find out about other support services available.
Wide Bay Kids and FNBGGGTB Connected Beginnings are excited to offer this program to First Nations families with children aged 0-5 years in the Bundaberg region as a joint commitment to community well-being.
KiSS, is the Bundaberg communities trusted service for child car seat fittings, hire and car seat Rent To Buy service. Conveniently located at their central Bundaberg premises, they're here to ensure the safety of young people on the road.
The Rent To Buy program offers professionally installed car seats ensuring safety and support for children as they grow. Receipts will receive expert advice to help guide them through the process of installing a new car seat, changing or adding extra seats to a vehicle. They will work with the community to keep precious passengers safe and secure.
Program Benefits:
- Cultural Respect: Professionally installed car seats that respect and honour cultural traditions.
- This initiative is designed with respect for cultural values, ensuring safety and support for children as they grow within our community
- Long-Term Use: Suitable for children from 0 to 8 years old.
- Flexible Payment Plans: Choose between a 1-year or 2-year payment plans.
- Ownership: Own the car seat at the end of the agreement.
- LIMITED AVAILABILITY. Ony 10 families in the Bundaberg region will be approved for this program.
Click here to view program flyer.
For more details and to apply, contact Suellen Mewburn FNBGGGTB Connected Beginnings Coordinator
Phone: (07) 4167 0037
Email: connected.beginnings@pccctrust.com.au
Website: www.pccctrust.com.au
www.widebaykids.com.au/kids-in-safe-seats-connected-beginnings-program-bundaberg/
FNBGGGTB Connected Beginnings and Tucka-Time is excited to announce a 10-week program designed to enhance the involvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families in health and early childhood education and care.
For those seeking to explore healthy nutrition and lifestyle choices, look no further. Join our complimentary sessions every Tuesday starting from April 23rd, 2024.
This program offers children and families access to culturally relevant support services such as:
- Maternal and child health
- Early childhood education and care
- Family support
- Preschools and schools
- Local government and council assistance
Reserve your spot as bookings are necessary and spaces are limited!
To access the program flyer, click here.
For any additional inquiries, please reach out to 07 4167 0037 or reception@fnbgggtb.com.au
This program is proudly supported by the Connected Beginnings Program.
Play On! Sports Vouchers are currently open for applications.
If you’re a Queensland parent, carer or guardian, you can apply for a voucher of up to $200 for your child to use for sporting memberships, registration or participation fees with a registered activity provider.
Key dates
- 29 January 2026: Round 2 opened for parents, carers or guardians to apply for vouchers
- 12 June 2026: Round 2 voucher applications close (unless exhausted earlier)
- 19 June 2026: Final date for vouchers received in Rounds 1 and 2 to be presented to an activity provider.
Housing & Employment (HEP) Program
Struggling to pay your rent whilst studying?
You may be eligible for the Housing and Employment Program, which provides financial and other supports for low-income earners to sustain their tenancy while studying.
The Program is delivered by MAX Solutions and is funded under the Qld Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy.
Click here to view the HEP flyer
For more information and to check eligibility, contact the Bundaberg Case Manager, Janelle, on 0459 097 145.
Everybody is at risk of getting COVID-19. For most people, they will only develop mild illness and recover easily, but others may develop severe sickness.
People with weaker immune systems are more likely to get seriously ill. This puts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and people with chronic health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease) at a higher risk.
Queensland Health is working closely with key stakeholders across the state to ensure First Nations Queenslanders have access to current, culturally appropriate and localised information.
This page contains information to help you protect yourself, your family and community.
You can also:
- visit Make the Choice
- download COVID Resources for First Nations peoples .
Learn more at https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/all/prevention/covid-19/information-for/first-nations/covid-19-information
Mob Strong Debt Help
Mob Strong Debt Help is a free legal advice service about money matters for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from anywhere in Australia. Financial Rights Legal Centre specialise in the law about consumer loans (like credit cards, payday loans, car loans and home loans), banking, debt recovery and insurance (like car, home, travel, life, funeral, and pet insurance).
Financial Rights Legal Centre is a specialist community legal centre. They are non-government, non-profit organisation and provide information, advice and assistance to individuals and also argue for a fairer financial services market for consumers, particularly low-income and disadvantaged consumers.
- ABSTUDY can help you and your family with study, Australian Apprenticeship or traineeship costs, as well as travel.
- Relocation Scholarship can help if you need to move to, or from, a remote or regional area to study. It’s paid once a year.
- Student Start-up Loan is a voluntary loan you can get up to twice a year. You can get it if you’re an eligible higher education student. It can help you buy study-related items like textbooks.
- Tertiary Access Payment helps students with the cost of moving from an outer regional or remote area for tertiary study.
- Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme can help you with the extra study costs for your children. It's for people who can’t go to a state or public school on a daily basis because they either:
- live in an isolated area
- have a disability or special education need.
- You may also be able to get Remote Area Allowance if both of the following apply:
- you get one of our payments
- you live in a remote area.
- Centrepay helps pay bills and expenses as regular deductions from your Centrelink payments. This can make it easier for you to budget
Click here to view further information & other Australian Government support services
Victim Assist Queensland
Victim Assist Queensland provides financial assistance to victims of violence that happened in Queensland. Learn more about how to make a claim and how to claim urgent expenses.
This program aims to assist Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander screen content makers in travelling to key international and Australian events.
Funding that can be requested, supported by a budget, are up to:
- $6,000 for international travel
- $3,000 for travel within Australia
Applications must be submitted at least five weeks before the event.
Learn about business grants in Queensland. Read how to find grants, and prepare and write your grant application.
The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) is delivered as a partnership between the Queensland Government and eligible local Councils across the state through Arts Queensland.
RADF promotes the role and value of arts, culture and heritage as key drivers of diverse and inclusive communities and strong regions. RADF invests in local arts and cultural priorities, as determined by local communities.
RADF is a flexible fund, enabling local Councils to tailor RADF programs to suit the needs of their community.
- Round one - opens 1 March - closes 4 pm AEST 31 July (for projects/activities commencing after 30 September).
- Round two - opens 1 August - closes 4 pm AEST 31 December (for projects/activities commencing after 1 March).
If you, or someone you know, are feeling worried or no good, we encourage you to connect with 13YARN on 13 92 76 (24 hours/7 days) and talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter. This is your story; your journey and we will take the time to listen. No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. We’re here for you.
About 13YARN
13YARN is the first national service of its kind for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people in crisis. We offer a confidential one-on-one over the phone yarning opportunity and support with a trained Lifeline Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping.
SwimStart provides $150 vouchers for eligible zero to 4 year olds to participate in registered learn to swim programs.
When a round is open, parents, carers or guardians can apply for a voucher valued up to $150 for their child, which can be used towards swimming lessons with a registered SwimStart activity provider. There is a limit of 1 voucher per child per financial year.
Key dates
- 28 July 2025 Round 3 opens for voucher applications
- 12 June 2026 Applications close 5pm (AEST)
- 19 June 2026 Vouchers expire for parents/guardians
- 26 June 2026 Final date for activity providers to redeem vouchers
Now open! Grants of up to $75k on offer for short-term, community-led projects aimed at prevention and early intervention programs for young people.
Visit https://desbt.qld.gov.au/youth-justice/partnerships/grants/community-crime-action
What are Family Wellbeing Services?
Community organisations that you trust, are here to help you build on your family's strengths.
Mums, dads and families can reach out to receive personalised support to help you and your family to achieve the goals you set.
All Family Wellbeing Services are delivered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled organisations ensuring the support available is culturally safe and appropriate.
Eligible business size: Small businesses with less than 20 employees (headcount)
Status: Open
Opening date Stage 1: Registration of Interest (ROI) opened at 9am, Wednesday 29 May 2024
Closing date Stage 1: Registration of Interest (ROI) closes at 5pm, Tuesday 11 June 2024
Application process
- Stage 1: Registration of Interest (ROI)
- Stage 2: Full Application (selected ROI applicants only)
Grant type: Competitive – not all applications will be funded
Available funding: $5,000 (excluding GST) per grant
Co-contribution: None
Project length: Maximum 6 months
Payment Upfront: payment on approval
Key documents - Round 5 documents:
Application guidelines
Terms and conditions
Frequently asked questions
Registration of Interest form sample
For more information and to apply, click here.
The program is administered by the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT).
The Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) is pleased to announce the launch of the second round of the First Nations Director Scholarship Program, which is aimed at developing a cohort of First Nations directors to contribute to both First Nation and non-Indigenous boards across Australia.
Funded by the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), this program will see 135 governance scholarships delivered over a three-year period. In its first year, 34 scholarship places were awarded to deserving individuals around the country.
To deliver the second round of the program, the AICD is partnering with the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute (AIGI) and The Observership Program. It will provide up to 56 full-fee scholarships to directors and leaders reporting to the boards of First Nation and non-Indigenous organisations. Applicants who provide evidence of being on the board or committee of an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) will be considered more favourably for this program.
Scholarship timeline
Applications open: Monday 1 July 2024
Applications close: Sunday 25 August 2024 at 11:59pm AWST
Applicants notified of outcome: By the end of November 2024
Scholarship commences: January 2025
To be eligible to apply you must:
- be a person of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, and
- be accepted as such by the community in which you live;
- be currently sitting as a director on a board OR currently sitting on a committee with aspiration to becoming a director;
- be supported by a senior government officer, company director/CEO or First Nations Leader as having potential/prospect to transition to a senior leadership position, and provide a completed Support Form;
- be aged 18 years old or over;
- be an Australian Citizen or permanent resident;
- never have been disqualified from being a director of a corporation or organisation;
- agree to the Scholarship timings and commitments including course attendance; and
- meet the pre-requisites required for your preferred course/program.
As parents, caregivers, and family members, our greatest desire is to ensure the well-being of our children. As teachers, coaches, employers, and mentors, we play a vital role in shaping young minds and setting a clear standard for what is and isn’t acceptable.
To address the critical topic of respect, it’s essential for us to start with the right knowledge and tools. Below are valuable resources provided by Australian Government that will help you understand current experiences of disrespect, reflect on your own actions as a role model, and engage in proactive, positive conversations about respect.
Check them out here: https://www.respect.gov.au/first-nations-resources
The Queensland Tourism Industry Council has partnered with the Queensland Government to provide small-medium sized tourism businesses with a rebate of up to $2,500 to enhance their digital capabilities.
The rebate forms part of the Queensland Government’s $4.5m investment in Tourism Business Digital Adaption Program and will support up to 1,600 tourism operators to adopt digital technologies to enhance visitor experiences.
The rebates will enable tourism businesses access to annual subscriptions for digital products, and will be supported by free online digital adaption webinars and resources.
Read more about the program and apply today.
Struggling with workforce recruitment, retention, or training? The free QTIC Industry Workforce Advisor program is here to help. Receive tailored solutions and support to prepare your business for the upcoming peak seasons.
From gaining access to HR support grants for small businesses to receiving assistance with recruitment strategies and connecting with quality training programs. Our Industry Workforce Advisor will sit down with you one-on-one and guide you through the steps needed to build a skilled and engaged personnel.
From gaining access to HR support grants for small businesses to receiving assistance with recruitment strategies and connecting with quality training programs. Our Industry Workforce Advisor will sit down with you one-on-one and guide you through the steps needed to build a skilled and engaged personnel.
Essentials to strengthen your small business
Supporting small business learning needs
The ATO provide a Tax Time Tool Kit to assist small businesses in preparing their tax returns, which includes a directory of links to find information, tools, calculators and other support and resources. Resources will be available early July on the ATO website here.
FREE community accessible SmartySearch grant searching database, generally over 5500 grants at any one time. Visit https://www.bundaberg.qld.gov.au/community/grants-financial-assistance-1/10
Applications for Flexible Funding Grants are now open to eligible applicants as a result of the following 2023–2024 disaster events:
- Southern Queensland Bushfires 8 September – 7 November 2023
- Northern Queensland Bushfires 18 October – 8 December 2023
- Tropical Cyclone Jasper, Associated Rainfall and Flooding 13 – 28 December 2023
- South Queensland Severe Storms and Rainfall 24 December 2023 – 3 January 2024
Eligible organisations are invited to submit proposals to deliver the following initiatives:
- Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness and Planning will contribute to ensuring an inclusive all-hazards approach to enabling emergency preparedness for vulnerable people to build readiness and resilience. Funding has been provided to deliver this initiative in 17 impacted LGAs.
- The Disaster Preparedness and Business Continuity Planning initiative will focus on community organisations and neighbourhood centres being prepared with a plan to support business continuity across organisational functions and core service delivery. Funding has been provided to deliver this initiative in 17 impacted LGAs.
- Social Services Capacity Building initiative will assist organisations to build human capabilities in disaster specific service coordination, service navigation and case management, including for people evacuated from their communities. Funding for this initiative has been provided for the 12 LGAs impacted by TC Jasper and South Queensland Severe Storms and Rainfall.
Applications must address how the proposed project or projects will align with the initiative by providing evidence-based responses to the assessment criteria in the guidelines.
The following grant caps apply to each disaster event:
- Southern Queensland Bushfires - $427,500
- Northern Queensland Bushfires - $142,500
- Tropical Cyclone Jasper Associated Rainfall and Flooding - $3.8M
- South Queensland Severe Storms and Rainfall - $2.375M
Eligible applicants may lodge multiple grant applications or lodge an application as a consortium to deliver the project.
Access to the complete program information including guidelines, FAQ’s and the application process via SmartyGrants portal can be found here Home Page - Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety
Applications will close promptly at 11:59 PM on Wednesday, 1ST October 2025.
Information Session (optional)
Now that the FFG round is open and guidelines have been published, Community Recovery will be holding an online information session for interested organisations to attend, with details below. Any presentation shared at the information session will be published on the department’s Smarty Grants website, and FAQs will be updated in the days following the session.
Date: Wednesday 17 September 2025 at 10:00am
Venue: Microsoft Teams
Key topics: Overview of Supplier Guidelines including expenditure eligibility criteria
Walkthrough of Application Form
Opportunity for Q & ARSVP: By 9am Wednesday 17 September 2025
Should you require any assistance during the application process, please contact crbffg@chde.qld.gov.au. If applicable, kindly quote your submission number to facilitate a timely response.
Are you an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander athlete, or part of a sporting organisation looking for financial support? Funding is available to help you train, compete, or run programs in your community.
Learn more and apply for grants here:
Sporting programs financial help
Stay active, stay strong, and reach your goals!
Programs for our mob
Dedicated programs to help PCCC People through Education, Employment, Elders assistance, White Goods and Remembering our loved ones.
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