Budget 2025-26

will extend coordination and governance arrangements in 2025-26, strengthening formal partnerships and shared decision-making to support the continuation of community-led initiatives to deliver a safer future for Central Australia.

over six years in the Northern Territory Remote Aboriginal Investment (NTRAI). A landmark Partnership Agreement between the Australian Government, the Northern Territory Government and Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory will oversee delivery of the NTRAI. This commitment will enhance the delivery of critical services in remote First Nations communities in the Northern Territory, including policing, women’s safety, education, interpreter services and secure over 570 jobs, including more than 278 for First Nations Territorians.

over 2 years will be provided by the Australian Government, matched by the South Australian Government with $6 million over 3 years from 2024-25 through a Federation Funding Agreement for the Port Augusta Partnership, each, providing a total of $12 million to support the community of Port Augusta. 

over four years from 2025-26 for a subsidy scheme to increase access to around 30 low-cost products in up to 152 remote stores. The subsidy scheme will be administered by Outback Stores Pty Ltd to support cost of living relief in remote First Nations communities.

over three years from 2025-26 to build a First Nations nutrition workforce through upskilling local First Nations staff in around 100 remote stores. This workforce will support community members to consider healthy food options and promote good nutrition.

over five years from 2024-2025 to extend and strengthen the Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP). This will provide more opportunities for First Nations businesses and ensure economic benefits of the IPP are genuinely flowing to First Nations people as intended.

over three years from 2025-26 to increase the participation rate of First Nations women in business through a place-based business mentoring and coaching program, codesigned and delivered by First Nations businesses and organisations with Indigenous Business Australia. 

over 3 years from 2024-25 to support the transition between Community Development Program (CDP) arrangements and the new remote employment service for a 4-month period to 
31 October 2025.

over four years to enhance investment in social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) and mental health, including:

• establishing a flexible funding pool to enable short term, place-based SEWB supports for First Nations families and communities to manage significant trauma
• First Nations-led SEWB assessment tools and processes;
• supporting the higher education fees of up to 150 First Nations psychology students to increase the availability of culturally safe and appropriately qualified First Nations psychologists.

over four years from 2025–26 (and $2.0 million per year ongoing) will be provided to remove the cap on the number of medical Commonwealth Supported Places for First Nations students from 2026.

The Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme will be extended for an additional two years to 30 June 2028, for Stolen Generations survivors who were removed from their families or communities in the Northern Territory or Australian Capital Territory before self-government, and the Jervis Bay Territory.

over three years from 2025-26 to deliver improved detection, monitoring and management of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in First Nations communities.

over four years to establish or upgrade up to 12 community laundries in remote First Nations communities across northern and Central Australia.

in 2025-26 for a one-year extension of the Deadly Choices program, which focuses on increasing the uptake of 715 Health Assessments by First Nations people. 

over five years from 2025-26 in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to deliver culturally appropriate aged care assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

is being redirected to Indigenous Business Australia’s Indigenous Home Ownership Program to increase opportunities for First Nations people to buy their own home and build intergeneration
wealth.

will be quarantined for single carer workers as part of the Single Carers Home Finance package. This investment will prioritise First Nations women and families to access more affordable, sustainable and culturally secure housing through home ownership.

(subject to co-contribution from the Queensland Government) over five years (to 30 June 2030) for urgent community infrastructure works in the Torres Strait. 

over 5 years from 2025-26, subject to joint investment with the Queensland Government, for climate resilience in the Torres Strait Islands.

(Stage 3) initiative will increase coastal protection for Torres Strait Islander communities exposed to climate impacts of coastal flooding and erosion. 

The Murray-Darling Basin Indigenous River Rangers Program will be extended for an additional two years from 2026 to 2028. This extension will support environment and cultural outcomes while enhancing leadership, employment and economic opportunities for First Nations people in water and land management sectors and related fields.  

will provided over three years under the Saving Australia's Bushland Program to further expand Indigenous
Protected Areas (IPA).

over four years from 2025-26 (and $14.1 million per year ongoing) to renew lease arrangements with the Traditional Owners of the jointly managed Booderee, Kakadu, and Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa
National Parks.

will be invested in the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) for the continued digitisation of at-risk audio and video collections. This work will be undertaken in partnership with First Nations broadcasters and community organisations.

over three years to extend support for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Language Policy Partnership from
2025 to 2028.

over two years to continue delivery of critical prevention, early intervention and response services to address family, domestic and sexual violence in high need First Nations communities. This investment will provide an extension for successful activities originally funded under the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children (2010-2022) and continued through commitments made through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan 2023-25 under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-32).  

in funding for to the Making Up Lost Time in Literacy (MultiLit) program in 2025-2026, supporting primary age students to catch up in reading and
early literacy.

over two years will be donated to the Clontarf Foundation from 2025-26. The Clontarf Foundation supports up to 12,500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young boys and men through providing in-school support and before and after school activities, to assist in improving student engagement.