Eleven key environmental projects are set to share in $2 million in funding as part of the Queensland Government’s new Reef Assist Traditional Owner Grant Program.
The grant program supports Traditional Owner organisations – along with natural resource management partners – to lead local, on-Country projects that improve the health of the Great Barrier Reef and build long-term capacity for Indigenous-led environmental management.
Minister for Tourism and the Environment, Andrew Powell said the program was a bold new step in empowering First Nations communities and safeguarding the future of the Great Barrier Reef.
“The grants mark an exciting expansion of the successful Reef Assist Program, which has been delivering hands-on environmental projects and creating regional jobs across the Reef catchments,” Minister Powell said.
“This program assists in preserving one of the world’s most precious ecosystems, while also creating pathways for jobs, skills, and future project delivery.
“There is no-one more passionate about preserving and restoring the Great Barrier Reef than Queenslanders.”
Grants of up to $200,000 per project were available to eligible applicants across Great Barrier catchments.
Chairperson of the Dulabed and Malanbarra Yidinji Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, Kaylene Malthouse said the $195,000 received for a pilot Junior Ranger Program would allow Dulabed and Malanbarra Yidinji People to enhance their work on Country, caring for the Reef the way Traditional Owners have for generations.
“It’s not just about protecting the environment; it’s about creating jobs, building skills, and empowering our young people to be the next generation of land and sea managers,” Ms Malthouse said.
“We’re proud to share our knowledge and take real action to keep the Reef strong for everyone, now and into the future.
“Having the Queensland Government support Traditional Owner-led projects shows real respect for our role as custodians of land and sea,” she said.
Details of the successful applicants and their projects, which span the Great Barrier Reef catchments and include protecting islands, lagoons, and wetlands; undertaking habitat restoration, and training young rangers, are available here.
