Funding opportunities

Restoring Country
through the
Djidi djidi network

Bringing together Elders,
cultural leaders and
knowledge holders

The Djidi djidi network is a national, First Nations–led initiative bringing together Elders, cultural leaders, and knowledge holders from across Australia to shape the future of forest management. Grounded in Country, culture, and lived experience, the network provides a culturally safe space for sharing ecological knowledge, supporting leadership, and embedding First Nations governance in forest care.

This initiative honours Indigenous sovereignty, ensures the recognition of cultural intellectual property, and safeguards knowledge exchange through protocols developed by and for First Nations members.

Backed by an investment opportunity of $130,000, we seek values-aligned partners to support this unique cultural and ecological initiative.

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The opportunity

National scale with cultural depth: a cross-country initiative rooted in local knowledge and global relevance
First Nations–designed and led: cultural governance is embedded at every level of the network
Culturally safe knowledge sharing: a secure space for connection, support, and intergenerational exchange
Science and traditional knowledge integration: co-creation of forest care grounded in both cultural and ecological knowledge systems
ESG-aligned investment: strong alignment with reconciliation, transparency, and nature-positive leadership
Cost: $130,000

Activities include:

Establishing a national network: bringing together respected First Nations knowledge holders
Cultural knowledge exchange: supporting intergenerational learning and regional peer support
Forest governance frameworks: embedding cultural authority in forest restoration and fire planning
Youth and women’s inclusion: supporting leadership pathways for young people and women in caring for Country
Protection of Indigenous IP: upholding protocols that respect, recognise and secure cultural knowledge sovereignty

Why the Djidi djidi network matters

Forest ecosystems across Australia are at risk from fire, fragmentation, and a long history of exclusion of First Nations land care. Restoring these ecosystems demands more than technical solutions. It requires restoring relationships with Country, with culture and with one another.

The Djidi djidi network addresses these issues by creating a culturally governed space where First Nations leaders can guide forest stewardship, grounded in their own lores, languages, and land-based knowledge systems.

It supports sovereignty, protects cultural intellectual property, and honours the right of First Nations Peoples to care for Country in their way.

The start of the Djidi djidi network songline: by Uncle Gerry Laughton

Strategic investment value

AFS taxonomy mapping

Support Services for A2.9, A4.1, A5.1, A9.1 – direct implementation of eligible restoration and fire actions, in addition to enabling social safeguards and supporting co-benefits across multiple eligible nature repair categories

Project cost

$130,000

First Nations leadership

Direct investment in Indigenous-led cultural governance, knowledge protection, and decision-making

Nature and climate impact

Supports forest resilience through cultural fire, stewardship, and peer-designed restoration pathways

SDG alignment

Support for 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17

ESG-aligned delivery

Integrates E (climate, biodiversity), S (cultural leadership, youth), G (transparent governance)

Reputation and brand trust

Co-branded learning products and visual storytelling for SDG-aligned ESG reporting

What your investment enables

Establishment and coordination of a national First Nations network
Culturally governed forest care models and protocols
Capacity-building for Elders, women and young leaders
Protection and recognition of cultural knowledge and IP
Co-designed learning products for public and internal reporting
Direct support for forest restoration and fire planning
Measurable cultural, ecological, and social impact reporting

ESG and SDG alignment

Aligned SDGs

3 | Good health and well-being

Supports connection to Country and cultural identity

4 | Quality education

Enables intergenerational knowledge-sharing and lifelong learning

10 | Reduced inequalities

Embeds First Nations decision-making in national forest care

11 | Sustainable cities and communities

Strengthens regional networks and cultural continuity

12 | Responsible consumption and production

Aligns forest care with cultural and ecological responsibility

13 | Climate action

Supports knowledge-informed responses to fire and forest change

15 | Life on land

Advances culturally governed forest restoration

16 | Peace, justice and strong institutions

Peace, justice and strong institutions – Centres Indigenous governance and knowledge protection

17 | Partnerships for the goals

Fosters multi-sector investment in Indigenous-led solutions

TNFD and ISSB alignment

This initiative supports nature-related risk and impact disclosures through cultural governance and social indicators.

Partner with us

We welcome flexible investment partnerships – whether fully funding the Djidi djidi network, contributing partially, or collaborating with others. Our funding models are tailored to your ESG goals and reporting needs, with co-branded storytelling and transparent deliveries.

Strengthening efforts through alignment

At the Foundation, we see restoration not just as an ecological process but also as a cultural one. The Djidi djidi network embodies this principle by centring First Nations leadership, protecting cultural knowledge and intellectual property, and creating lasting systems change. Through values-aligned partnerships, we can shift the future of forest care in Australia, together.