Northern Territory football program receives $1.5m boost
A program to promote the benefits of Australian Football in helping improve health, fitness and social cohesion in remote communities in the Northern Territory is one of 22 projects receiving funding under the latest round of grants from the Aboriginals Benefit Account (ABA), worth more than $16 million.
The Australian Football League Northern Territory (AFLNT) will receive $1.5 million to deliver its “Strength and Unity Through Football” program to five new locations in the Northern Territory.
The Minister for Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin said the new program will capitalise on the huge local interest in football.
“AFLNT development managers will be based in each of the five communities and will deliver a variety of football programs to drive improvements in areas such as health and fitness, school attendance and employment,” Ms Macklin said.
“The programs will build on the success of existing AFLNT programs at Wadeye and Galiwin’ku and on Groote Eylandt, which are also delivered with funding support from the Australian Government.
“We know that these programs are a great way for Indigenous girls and boys to be able to participate in a sport that they love, while also gaining positive skills and practical outcomes.”
Northern Territory Senator Trish Crossin said the Clontarf Foundation had also received a $1 million grant to expand its programs.
“The Clontarf Foundation currently operates Football Academies in Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Jabiru, Gunbalanya and on the Tiwi Islands,” Senator Crossin said.
“This funding will be used to establish new academies in the Northern Territory and provide ongoing support for existing academies to continue the important work of improving the discipline, life skills and self esteem of young Aboriginal men.”
The Member for Lingiari Warren Snowdon also welcomed substantial funding of nearly $2.9 million to be provided for the control of dogs in remote communities.
“ABA grants are awarded to projects to open up new opportunities for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory by providing funding to get new initiatives off the ground and backing established ventures to expand and develop,” Mr Snowdon said.
Other major grants include:
- $1,877,040 for the Central Australian Aboriginal Music Association to develop a three-year regional music development program. Music Industry Rangers will be trained to manage music events and education programs in their own communities, leading to Indigenous people being skilled in all aspects of the music industry.
- $2,094,000 for the Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation to re-establish a gravel and sand quarry on the Gove Peninsula, and to develop a concrete batching plant on site.
- $2,072,040 for Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation to purchase equipment and machinery for its road crew, which maintains more than 100km of access roads to 32 remote homelands in Arnhem Land.
- Over $3 million to support various projects across the Laynhapuy homelands.
“The decisions announced today have benefitted from the advice provided by the ABA Advisory Committee which has identified priority projects which will help improve the lives of Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory,” Ms Macklin said.
“I want to thank all members of the Committee for their commitment and in particular acknowledge the leadership of the Chair, Mrs Pat Brahim.”
The ABA was established under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (the ALRA Act).
The account is funded by payments from the Commonwealth Government equivalent to the value of royalties paid by mining interests on Aboriginal land in the Northern Territory. The account must be allocated for the benefit of Aboriginals living in the Northern Territory.
Aboriginals Benefit Account approved projects
| Organisation | Project | Funding approved |
|---|---|---|
| Central Australian Aboriginal Music Association | Regional Music Development program | $1,877,040 |
| Laynhapuy Homelands Association | Relocation Garrthalala airstrip and power station | $480,000 |
| Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation | Concrete batching, gr avel and sand quarry crushing plant | $2,094,000 |
| Ngukurr Progress Aboriginal Corporation | Two Haulotte telescopic material handlers | $359,240 |
| Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation | Additional funding – headquarters complex | $300,000 |
| Artback NT | Indigenous traditional dance project | $114,500 |
| Merrepen Arts Aboriginal Corporation | 2011 Merrepen Arts and Sports Festival | $96,500 |
| NT Stolen Generation | Commuter bus | $66,928 |
| Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation | Road plant equipment | $2,072,040 |
| Laynhapuy Homelands Association | Construct mothers’ and children’s ablution facilities at 14 homelands | $993,384 |
| Laynhapuy Homelands Association | Yirralka Sea Rangers boat ramp engineering assessment | $27,500 |
| Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation | Land management employment development | $134,000 |
| Desart Incorporated | Troop Carrier – Ikuntji Art Centre | $80,000 |
| Aboriginal Carbon Fund Ltd | Development of business plan | $20,000 |
| Ngurratjuta/Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation | Commuter bus and development of website to support the Ngurratjuta Art Centre | $100,000 |
| Anangu Uwankaraku Punu Aboriginal Corporation t/as Maruku Arts | Artists Tjuta Nintiringkulpaii – Learning Our Craft To Stay Strong | $383,784 |
| Riding for the Disabled – Alice Springs | Riding School Without Barriers program | $97,000 |
| Clontarf Foundation | Establish academies | $1,000,000 |
| Alpirakina Store Aboriginal Corporation | New manager’s residence, Yuelumu Store – additional funding | $153,261 |
| Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities | Remote Indigenous Communities Animal Management Worker program (NT) | $2,899,386 |
| Australian Football League NT | Strength and Unity Through Football program | $1,500,000 |
| Laynhapuy Homelands Association | Garrthalala, Dhalinybuy, Yilpara, Wandawuy Homelands – sports and recreation ovals | $1,588,100 |