Integrated Water Management Grant Program 2025-28 - Funding Stream 2 - Traditional Owner-Led Projects
Tender ID: 599215
Tender Details
Tender Description
Overview
The Integrated Water Management (IWM) Grant Program 2025–28 is designed to accelerate the adoption of integrated and sustainable water management practices across Victoria.- IWM Partnership Projects (metropolitan and regional)
- Traditional Owner-led IWM Projects
- Strategic Directed Investments.
- build cultural water knowledge and/or experience sharing cultural water knowledge in the context of IWM and caring for Country
- increase Traditional Owner capacity to engage in IWM
- contribute to achieving the strategic outcomes for IWM.
| EOI open date | 3 November 2025 |
| Application assessment and approval | Up to three months from receipt of EOI, subject to any clarifications |
| Notification of funding outcome | Within 7 days of assessment outcome approval |
| Funding agreements for successful applicants | Within one month from the date of notification of successful funding outcome |
Eligibility
Who is eligible to apply?
This stream is open to all Victorian Traditional Owner groups including Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs) and non-registered groups.
Consistent with DEECA’s Traditional Owner and Aboriginal Community Engagement Framework 2024:
- only RAPs can apply for projects on their formally recognised Country
- RAPs and non-RAPs can apply for projects on Country in which they have an interest and over which Traditional Owners are not formally recognised.
The funding applicants must:
- be an incorporated body, cooperative or association, or have an auspice/ organisation who can manage funding on their behalf
- be financially solvent.
What is eligible for funding?
To be eligible for funding, projects must meet all of the following criteria:
1. satisfy one or more purposes of Victoria’s Environmental Contribution levy, namely to:
- promote the sustainable management of water, or
- address adverse water-related environmental impacts
2. support Traditional Owner self-determination
3. support increased participation in IWM by Traditional Owners
4. be scheduled to begin in 2025/2026 or 2026/2027 financial years.
Applicants who are unsure whether their proposed project meets the eligibility requirements are encouraged to contact the DEECA IWM Project Officer relevant to their region.
How To Apply
1. Reach out to the relevant DEECA IWM Project Officer for your region and let them know of your intention to submit an EOI. The Project Officer is available throughout the application process to provide support and guidance.
2. Download a copy of the EOI form and associated templates.
3. Complete the EOI form, ensuring it is authorised by an appropriate delegate from your organisation(s).
4. OPTIONAL: Submit the draft EOI to your region’s DEECA IWM Project Officer via email for review and feedback.
5. Submit the finalised EOI to the IWM Program shared inbox at iwm.branch@deeca.vic.gov.au.
If you do not know the relevant DEECA IWM Project Officer for your region, please contact the IWM Program at iwm.branch@deeca.vic.gov.au and we will put them in touch with you.
Application Guidelines, EOI Form and Templates
- Application Guidelines - Traditional Owner-led IWM Projects (PDF, 1.0 MB)
- Application Guidelines - Traditional Owner-led IWM Projects - accessible (DOCX, 478.5 KB)
- EOI Form - Traditional Owner-led IWM Projects (DOCX, 128.9 KB)
- Application Budget Overview Template (Excel, 33.0 KB)
- Application Risks and Mitigations Template (Excel, 21.0 KB)
- Application Capital IWM Project Metrics Template (Excel, 32.6 KB)
- Application Letter of Endorsement and Partnership Template (DOCX, 44.2 KB)
- Frequently Asked Questions - IWM Grant Program 2025-2028 (PDF, 227.4 KB)
- Frequently Asked Questions - IWM Grant Program 2025-2028 - accessible (DOCX, 127.9 KB)