SA Government offers grants for ACCOs to strengthen the sector

A new state government grants program will build the capacity of South Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) delivering important services to Aboriginal people and communities in SA, including early childhood education and care (ECEC) options.

The South Australian ACCO Fund 23-24 is a Closing the Gap initiative established in partnership with the South Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation Network (SAACCON).

ACCOs will be able to apply for grants of up to $150,000 across five funding rounds in 2023-24, totalling $2.7 million. It’s the first time that grants such as this have been offered in helping to build the Aboriginal community-controlled sector.

“I encourage all ACCOs to apply for the new grants as part of Closing the Gap initiatives and in particular those services who are providing support to clients in achieving changes around the Closing the Gap priorities,” said Lead Convenor of SAACCON Scott Wilson.

“SAACCON, and its partners in the South Australian Government, look forward to helping to provide this funding for new and innovative projects that achieve lasting gains in reducing and closing the gap in a range of sectors such as health, early education, domestic and family violence and in other areas that are desperately needed,” he added.

Building the Aboriginal community-controlled sector is one of four key priority reforms of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. Applications for the first round will be open for six weeks, from 11 April to 18 May 2023.

The first round is aimed at Closing the Gap projects in Adelaide’s western suburbs with priority given to ACCOs that operate in the local government areas of Port Adelaide Enfield, Charles Sturt and West Torrens. ACCOs can apply for multiple grants in each round, with a cap of $200,000 in maximum funding per ACCO, per round.

For more information about the grants program, visit www.agd.sa.gov.au/aboriginal-affairs-and-reconciliation/closing-the-gap