Applying for support through the Indigenous Native Food Program

The Indigenous Native Food Program (INFP) is a new pilot program.

If you think you meet the eligibility criteria listed below, you can register your interest by completing the INFP application form (PDF, 62KB) and emailing it to QldFood@daf.qld.gov.au.

Successful INFP applicants will progress to a full application process with funding bodies.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for the program, organisations must:

  • be an Indigenous business*
  • have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • be registered for GST (at time of application)
  • be head-quartered in Queensland
  • have no more than 50 full-time equivalent staff
  • have a product-development project which is supported by a business plan and is capable of being completed within 12 months
  • include native food with the intention to rapidly scale.

*For the purposes of this program, an Indigenous business is defined as a business that is at least 50% or more owned by an Aboriginal person and/or a Torres Strait Islander person. It may be a company, incorporated association or trust. A social enterprise or registered charity may also be an Indigenous business if it is operating a business. This definition is in accordance with the Queensland Indigenous Procurement Policy.

How your INFP application will be assessed

A panel of assessors will assess all applications against the criteria in a merit-based approach. Only eligible applications will be considered for support.

The assessment process

Applicant organisations may be contacted at any stage of the assessment process to clarify any information provided or to request further information to ensure due diligence and a correct assessment.

There is no guarantee of approval at any stage in the process.

Applicant organisations will be notified via email of the outcome of their applications.

The decision to award support is at the discretion of the Queensland Government and all decisions are final. There is no appeals process for unsuccessful applicants.

Assessment criteria

We will assess your INFP application according to the following criteria.

  1. Innovation

    You should demonstrate that your product, process or service is:
    • clearly innovative or supports innovative business activities
    • based on native food. Note: culturally relevant foods to the business will be desirable.
  2. Market potential

    You should demonstrate that:
    • you have a sound understanding of potential markets for your product. The product should address an identified and significant market/commercial need and there should be a clear demand from customers.
    • you can demonstrate the differentiation and/or competitive advantage of your product.
    • your product has the potential to support or create jobs or is scalable to support job creation.

    Any letters of support from customers/potential customers will be favourably considered under this assessment criterion.

  3. Product development and market readiness

    You should demonstrate that at the time of your application the product requires support to progress to the next stage of development to either:
    • take the product to market
    • or
    • secure private investment and/or follow-on support to take the product to market.
  4. Project planning, feasibility, timeframes and budget feasibility and management capability

    You can provide a business plan to demonstrate that:
    • the proposed project is well planned and achievable with key activities, outcomes, expenditure and timeframes identified
    • you have identified how, and to what extent, the proposed project will generate revenue and/or increase sales
    • you:
      • own, or have the rights to commercialise the product
      • have appropriate measures in place to protect any intellectual property relating to the product, process or service.
    • key project risks have been identified and risk mitigation plans are in place.
  5. Benefits to Queensland and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

    You should demonstrate how the proposed project:
    • will directly improve economic opportunities for Indigenous people and communities
    • will provide benefit to Queensland (outside of the benefit to the applicant organisation)
    • will contribute to increased employment, both during the project execution and in the longer-term
    • has the potential to positively impact a Queensland industry
    • provide benefit to Queensland regions (outside of Brisbane city).

Also consider...

  • Last reviewed: 16 Sep 2020
  • Last updated: 9 Mar 2023