The Barossa Aboriginal Future Fund is supported by the Barossa Joint Venture partners Santos, SK and JERA.
Fund beneficiaries
The Barossa Aboriginal Future Fund (BAFF), supported by the Barossa Gas Project joint venture partners, has been established to share the benefits of the project with Northern Territory coastal Aboriginal people living in the coastal regions of;
- Darwin/Daly/Wagait
- Tiwi Islands
- West Arnhem
- East Arnhem
- Victoria River District
Purpose and objectives
Its purpose is to contribute positively to the NT Aboriginal coastal communities, with geographical connection to the Barossa Operations.
The fund aims to deliver intergenerational progress for Aboriginal Territorians and build a better future for the next generation.
The fund will invest over the long term in community and homeland infrastructure, cultural activities and services that improve health, education, housing, community resilience and economic outcomes for Aboriginal people in the coastal areas of Northern Territory. It would also invest in programs that enable Aboriginal people to maintain cultural practices and carry out cultural obligations, care for their country and build capacity to establish new pathways to skilled, well-paying, and secure jobs for Aboriginal Territorians.
Programs must have an enduring legacy by:
- Improving community infrastructure
- Improving services that improve health, education, housing, community resilience and economic outcomes
- Enabling communities to maintain cultural practices and carry out cultural obligations
- Enabling communities to care for their country
- Building capacity to establish pathways to skilled, well-paying, secure jobs and business development opportunities.
Our funding commitment
Santos and the Barossa Joint Venture partners contributed $10 million to get the BAFF established before first gas production.
The Barossa Joint Venture partners have committed to providing ongoing funding linked to Barossa production, of up to A$10 million per year.
How to apply
Community members living in the BAFF regions can nominate program ideas via a number of methods, including:
- via email to baff@santos.com
- calling (08) 8919 1900
- or via the communities Advisory Committee representative (once appointed)
Governance
The BAFF is set up as a trust with an incorporated trustee, funded by the Barossa joint venture. Each joint venture partner has a representative on the board of the trustee. A BAFF Advisory Committee will be established to provide input and recommendations on BAFF management and projects to the BAFF corporate trustee, as the decision-maker.
Advisory Committee Nominations
An Advisory Committee is being formed to support the BAFF Trustee and Manager on selection of programs and investments, and engagement with Aboriginal people from their region.
Expressions of Interest (EOI) from Aboriginal people to represent each of the below regions are now open:
- Darwin/Daly/Wagait
- Tiwi Islands
- West Arnhem Land
- East Arnhem Land
- Victoria River District
Advisory Committee required qualification and experience includes:
- knowledge about the specific needs and priorities of the relevant Region and ability to represent the views of the people in that Region;
- experience in being in a position of leadership within the First Nations community at grassroots level;
- respected community members who hold wisdom, knowledge, within their community/region;
- knowledge and lived experience of the existence of community dynamics within First Nations, including the ability to be respectful of community dynamics in varying situations;
- ability to represent the views and interests of the people in their region; and
- experience of First Nations lores, which may be called different things to different First Nations, and which may hold knowledge types that may vary between First Nations; and
- preferred or desired qualifications/experience for Advisory Committee Members include proven experience in advocating for the needs and interests of Aboriginal people in community within organisational or governmental decision-making processes e.g. Land Council member, regional council elected member.
Members of the Committee will be selected through an open expression of interest (EOI) process and appointed by the BAFF Trustee. The five Advisory Committee member positions have an expected commencement date of Q3 2025.
The position is a two-year term and remuneration is offered, as well as any essential training as required. Meetings will be held in person or by electronic means.
The Trustee will also appoint several other members to the Advisory Committee, including an independent Aboriginal representative (not from one of the five regions), a Federal and State Government representative and other representatives from the Barossa Gas Project JV partners, Santos Offshore Pty Ltd, SK E&S and JERA.
Please submit an EOI, including personal contact details, and any relevant experience and or a resume via email to baff@santos.com or call (08) 8919 1900 to discuss the opportunity further.
Contact us
For more information on the BAFF please contact: baff@santos.com or call (08) 8919 1900.
