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PBCs are able to receive funding, called ‘Basic Support funding’ from the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA).

This support funding is to help PBCs to meet their corporate and operational obligations. Funding is limited to basic administration and compliance. 

Since 2021, NIAA has placed the allocation of funds with Native Title Representative Bodies and Services Providers to distribute to individual PBCs, within their 'service area'.

Prior to allocating an amount for Basic Support for each PBC, Central Desert will look at each PBC’s spending and fixed costs over the past few years to ensure a proper consideration when distributing the funding for the upcoming financial year.

PBCs set their own budgets, determine how their funds are used, and choose their own service providers. They may engage Central Desert (see our Corporate Governance Services), another provider, or deliver services internally. This model supports self-determination and promotes informed choice in governance.

The PBC Basic funding allocation is transferred to the PBC’s bank account. The PBC will use that funding in line with its Central Desert-approved budget for basic governance and administration.

Typically, the approved budget for expending the PBC Basic funding includes charges for:

  • Audit
  • Accounting
  • IT costs
  • Insurances
  • General Meetings
  • Directors Meetings
  • Tax agent fees
  • Secretarial Support
Central Desert will continue to inform the NIAA that the Basic Support falls well short of what is required by PBC’s to run their corporations.