Aboriginal Business Development Program

The Aboriginal Business Development program helps to support the start-up and development of Northern Territory (NT) Aboriginal businesses, especially those that address community needs through:

• supporting Aboriginal business development, growth and sustainability
• increasing the number of Aboriginal owned and operated businesses
• increasing the knowledge and skills of emerging Aboriginal business owners and employees
• creating new employment, economic opportunities and or benefits for Aboriginal people.

Available funding

Aboriginal business enterprises may be eligible for funding up to $30,000 (ex GST) - once every 3 years.

Funding can be used to:

• purchase assets for the business
• receive professional advisory services and support
• undertake accredited and non-accredited training for owners and staff.

Who can apply

To be eligible to apply, you must:

• meet the NTG definition of an Aboriginal Business Enterprise
• meet the NTG definition of a Territory Enterprise
• have an annual turnover of less than $10 million
• hold a valid Australian Business Number (ABN) for at least 3 months
• have an active GrantsNT organisation and individual profile.

You may be ineligible to apply, if:

• you are operating as a casual, hobby or temporary business
• you have outstanding NT Government grant acquittals or unmet obligations from previous grants
• applicants, owners or directors are insolvent or have an undischarged bankruptcy
• you have received funding from this program in the last 36 months.

Key dates

The number of rounds is dependent on allocated funding.

If funding is exhausted, no further rounds will be held in the financial year.

Before you apply

Before you apply you should do the following:

• read the program guidelines PDF (783.5 KB)
• confirm your eligibility by completing the eligibility checklist
  • eligibility checklist PDF (291.9 KB)
  • eligibility checklist DOCX (61.0 KB)
• set up a GrantsNT profile, if you do not already have one, you must have an individual and an organisation profile.
• ensure you have all relevant documents by completing an application checklist.
  • application checklist PDF (454.3 KB)
  • application checklist DOCX (63.0 KB)

The following example template could help with your application:

• budget template XLSX (12.7 KB).

How to apply

Go to GrantsNT to submit your application.

You must include all required documents.

You can save your application to complete later.

Get help

Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations officers and program partners are available to:

• support you through the application process
• help you understand the program guidelines
• provide feedback before submitting an application.

Contact a DTBAR small business champion.

Contact a program partner:

BECNT Darwin Office
Reception Level 4
66 Smith Street
Darwin NT 0800

P: 08 8944 2950
enquiries@becnt.com.au

BECNT Alice Springs Office
CADO Building
55 Todd Mall
Alice Springs NT 0870

P: 08 8944 2950
enquiries@becnt.com.au

If you are interested in becoming a program partner email your expression of interest to business.strategy@nt.gov.au.

More information

For more information about the program email businessinfo@nt.gov.au or contact a small business champion.