Reconciliation SA Education Grants Program

Expressions of Interest are OPEN!

Since 2021, the Reconciliation SA Education Grants Program has supported teams and communities across South Australia to mature, deepen and strengthen their ongoing commitments to reconciliation.

To date, over 170 grants have been awarded across South Australia, with another 30 x $2,000 Reconciliation SA Education Grants opening for applications Monday 2^nd November 2026.

Reconciliation SA encourages education settings - from early learning through to secondary school - to continue to grow in their reconciliation journeys; through meaningful listening, learning and celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, ways of knowing, being and doing.

The Education Grants Program endorses alignment with the 5 dimensions of Reconciliation: race relations; equality and equity; institutional integrity; unity; and historical acceptance. It nurtures the implementation of place-based reflections - to form the intention, design and action - of their sponsored activity and/or learnings towards sustainable, meaningful transformation and change.

The Education Grants Program preferences initiatives, programs, projects and activities that appropriately, sustainably and transparently engage and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, organisations and businesses.

Together, we fully acknowledge our individual and collective responsibility to current and future generations. We look forward to growing together to mature, strengthen and deepen our reconciliation journeys; ensuring all learning environments and school communities are culturally safe, respectful and inclusive places for young people, educators, teams, families and/or carers.

Reconciliation SA sincerely thanks our ongoing partners - Catholic Education South Australia; Community Children's Centres SA; The Association of Independent Schools of South Australia; and the Department for Education - for their sponsorship and support of the program.

Key Dates

All Expressions of Interest open - Monday 2^nd November 2026

Expressions of Interest closing:

• Department for Education - EOIs close 10am, Monday 23^rd November 2026
• Catholic Education South Australia - EOIs close 5pm, Friday 4^th December 2026
• The Association of Independent Schools of South Australia - EOIs close 5pm, Friday 11^th December 2026
• Community Children's Centres SA - EOIs close 5pm, Friday 11^th December 2026

Confirmations of selection:

• Department for Education - all confirmations, including payments to selected recipients, will be completed by Wednesday 2^nd December 2026.
• Catholic Education South Australia, The Association of Independent Schools of South Australia and Community Children's Centres SA - all confirmations, including payments to selected recipients, will be completed by 1^st March 2027.

Note - the duration of the proposal is led by the applicant and can occur throughout the calendar year of 2027.

Selection Criteria

All eligible applicants must:

• nominate their organisational sponsor appropriately,
• be based in South Australia, and
• complete the application process fully to be considered for selection.

The selection panel will look favourably on applications that illustrate:

• Sustainable, achievable, gradual, meaningful ongoing steps and actions - that support growing maturity - in their ongoing commitment to reconciliation.
• Support for the ongoing place-based commitment to reconciliation in - creating, building, deepening and/or strengthening - culturally safe, respectful and inclusive environments for all peoples in their school community.
• Aspirational, achievable and actionable goals, initiatives, programs and/or projects that clearly and respectfully engage with and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culture(s) and communities.
• How this sponsorship supports their long-term and sustained commitment to reconciliation, e.g. the five dimensions of reconciliation, staged project/program design towards future goals, and specificity in the intention and impact of how the sponsorship actively supports education, action and change meaningfully.
• Highly regarded proposals will include respectful engagement and appropriate remuneration of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples and/or businesses that contribute to the sponsored project and/or program.
• Highly regarded proposals will engage purposefully across the school/centre community.
• Highly regarded proposals will indicate and reference their published Reconciliation Action Plan and/or the Narragunnawali framework, resources and learnings that have formed the intention, design and action of their sponsored activity and/or learnings.
• Capital works and/or the installation of required structures will be considered on an individual basis, with the expectation of confirmed surrounding funding and project support to ensure completion (e.g. flag poles).

Selected Education Grant recipients will be required to fulfil a reporting process and acknowledge the sponsoring organisation and Reconciliation SA throughout any promotion and/or celebration of the project and/or program. Reconciliation SA will provide a short template for reporting and support to staff and teams throughout their experience in the Education Grants Program.

Apply Now

Select your sponsoring organisation below to complete the Reconciliation SA Education Grants Program application.

Click here for Department for Education Application Click here for Catholic Education South Australia Click here for The Association of Independent Schools of South Australia Click here for Community Children's Centres SA

For enquiries contact Samantha Faehrmann, Reconciliation SA Education Programs Manager - education@reconciliationsa.org.au

• Developing a Reconciliation Action Plan on the Narragunnawali platform 
• Understanding your responsibilities to the Australian Curriculum
• Understand the professional teaching standards
• Understand your responsibilities in the Early Years Learning Framework and My Time Our Place   

To find out more about Reconciliation in Education, head to the Narragunnawali website.

Yathu-Apinthi (Education) Membership

Yathu-apinthi is designed to support educators, teachers, and leaders like you in engaging in our reconciliation community and providing you with valuable resources to educate our next generation about reconciliation.

Yathu-apinthi includes

• Invitations to community of practice sessions: Join like-minded educators in dynamic discussions and knowledge sharing sessions
• Access to drop-in advice sessions: Get personalised advice and guidance from our education team on your site Reconciliation Action plan or implementing reconciliation initiatives
• Access to members only Education E-Resource Library: Explore a wealth of educational materials to enhance your teaching on reconciliation.

Unlock the power of Reconciliation in Education: Reconciliation is a critical step towards building a more inclusive and harmonious future. By becoming a Yathu-apinthi member, you not only support our vital work but gain access to an invaluable network of educators and resources.

Why Yathu-apinthi?

• Empower your teaching: Equip yourself with knowledge and tools to teach reconciliation effectively
• Connect and collaborate: Engage with a community of passionate educators and experts
• Shape the future: Play a role in shaping a more reconciled and inclusive society

Join today! For just $350 a year for schools and early learning sites, you can become a Yathu-apinthi member and embark on a journey of discovery, collaboration and positive change.