National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared history and how we can work together for a better future. It’s a chance to respect and support First Nations peoples and their cultures.  

One important way we do this is by supporting Indigenous-led projects through the Disaster Ready Fund (DRF). These projects support First Nations peoples and communities by keeping culture strong and building stronger communities.  

Australia is seeing a change in weather, including hotter days, bigger bushfires and higher levels of rain and flooding. We know that First Nations peoples have a unique knowledge of Country. This knowledge helps communities prepare for dangerous weather and protect them from its impacts.  

Disaster ready funding for First Nations communities 

The Disaster Ready Fund (DRF) is providing up to one billion dollars to build disaster resilience. The DRF funds projects that protect communities from extreme weather.  

The projects can help: 

• make roads or airstrips better to mitigate against the impacts of flooding  
• build places to keep people safe on-Country if they have to leave their homes   
• help First Nations organisations work with communities to educate and develop emergency plans   
• help First Nations people care for their Country to protect cultural heritage  
• fund place-based First Nations controlled projects to keep people safe from dangerous weather.  

Under DRF Round Three projects led by First Nations organisations have a reduced co-contribution requirement of 10 per cent of the total project. 

Supporting First Nations peoples and communities

We are proud to support a number of First Nations projects under round one and two of the DRF  

Round One of the DRF has enabled First Nations projects including but not limited to:  

• The protection of Ngunnawal cultural sites in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, ACT. $280,000 Australian Government funding.
• Pre-construction work for a cyclone shelter in Palm Island, Queensland. Funding was awarded to undertake works including land surveys, geotechnical assessments, community engagement, architectural design and drawings, and cost estimates. $240,000 Australian Government funding.
• Drone Monitoring of at-Risk Coastal Areas using Aboriginal Drone Operators to support better planning against extreme weather in the southwest of Western Australia. $125,690 Australian Government funding.  
• Sustainable Disaster Relief Food Solutions in the Northern Territory to coordinate the distribution of food to communities in the event of a disaster. $1,150,000 Australian Government funding.  

Round Two of the DRF has enabled First Nations projects including but not limited to:  

• Aboriginal Communities Emergency Management Program (ACEMP), New South Wales. Expansion of a successful pilot that supports Discrete Aboriginal Communities to:

  - identify disaster risk,

  - create place-based Aboriginal Emergency Management Plans, and  

  - create risk reduction strategies. 

  $3,687,244 Australian Government funding.  

• Awakening Peramangk cultural practices through Kiri (fire) in South Australia. The project will deliver support for Peramangk people to return to managing Country. They will achieve this through unique and sensible approaches to bushfire hazard reduction. $2,399,633 Australian Government funding.  
• Reintroduction of Cultural Burning on Eyre Peninsula to Mitigate the Risk of Bushfire. The project showcases cultural burning as a strategy for reducing the risk of bushfires. It will help facilitate the exchange of cross-cultural knowledge between Wirangu and Nauo Native Title groups, emergency services, and relevant organisations. $66,919 Australian Government funding.  
• The Eastern Community Resilience Centre in Western Australia. The Centre will provide a central location for the provision of services for more than 24 Indigenous communities. These communities become isolated when the road between Derby and Fitzroy Crossing is closed. The Centre will consist of accommodation, storage, caretaker facilities, power and water supply. $5,373,800 Australian Government funding.  

Applications for Round Three of the DRF closed on 16 April 2025. First Nations peoples have invaluable knowledge and strong ties to the land, providing a unique ability to develop sustainable disaster solutions.