garinga djimbayang grants

Through a competitive grant application process, the garinga djimbayang Grant Program supported the following partnerships between TAFEs and Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs) in Victoria to embed Aboriginal traditional knowledge and practices in elements of accredited agriculture training.

Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) and TAFE Gippsland worked together on the Growing Traditional Foods on Gunaikurnai Country project to integrate Indigenous cultural knowledge and practices into accredited agriculture training, focusing on units of the Certificate II in Horticulture.

The South West Victoria’s Future Land Guardians Project was delivered by South West TAFE, Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation and Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, with additional support from Worn Gundidj and Winda Mara Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, focused on bringing in elements of Traditional Owner knowledge as part of the Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management.

Projects were completed in September 2026.

Eligibility

In the application and assessment phase, project applicants were required to demonstrate that they could tailor and deliver training for a unit of competency or selected units of competency, skill set or course, meeting these project criteria:

• Projects demonstrate how cultural safety for First Nations students will be improved.
• Projects ensure First Nations students can be attracted and retained in the courses.
• Projects outline how place-based and knowledge about Country will be embedded in selected curriculum content.
• Projects must be delivered in Victoria and demonstrate a benefit to Victoria to be eligible.
• Projects demonstrate a genuine partnership between a TAFE and RAP.

For reference, a full list of criteria applicants and participants aligned their project activity to is outlined in the garinga djimbayang guidelines.

Guidelines

• garinga djimbayang Grant Program guidelines [PDF File - 4.7 MB]
• garinga djimbayang Grant Program guidelines [MS Word Document - 130.3 KB]

Timeline

Funding

The garinga djimbayang Grant Program was funded through the $50 million Agricultural College Modernisation Program (ACMP), administered by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) on behalf of the Victorian Government. There is no further funding available through the ACMP.

Contact

For information about garinga djimbayang email the Agriculture Victoria team at skillsandsafety@agriculture.vic.gov.au