After returning more than 25,000 square kilometres of land to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in 2025, the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation continues to champion First Nations' rights to self-determination.
The corporation also continued to work with Indigenous communities and Traditional Owners to develop infrastructure for ranger programs, renewable energy and agricultural initiatives.
Since its inception in 1995, the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) has used its funding to return 291 properties to First Nations peoples and grant 251 properties.
The ILSC has also assisted First Nations communities in managing their assets by investing in 1,179 management projects.
Chief executive Joe Morrison said he was proud of the work the corporation undertook in 2025.
"The year has served as a platform for truth-telling and represented a beacon of hope for First Nations peoples to continue to advocate for their self-determination and successes," he said.
"Since 1995, the ILSC has worked tirelessly to drive its vision of a prosperous and sustainable future for Australia's first peoples.
"Our partners have diverse and rapidly growing aspirations, this is reflected in the projects we support. "Seeing and hearing the inspiring outcomes of these projects is the reason for the ILSC's existence. "
Several ILSC's project partners thanked the corporation for funding several infrastructure initiatives across Central, Western, and Eastern Australia in 2025.
"ILSC funding was instrumental in securing the land for our purpose-built kindergarten and enabling the expansion of services to the community," said Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative chief executive Dallas Widdicombe. "If we can create connections with young people at an early age... it will support better health and wellbeing outcomes."
The Yued Aboriginal Corporation moved into new premises at 19 Dandaragan Street, Moora, in December, with a 50 per cent contribution from the ILSC.
Representing the interests of Yued Traditional Owners of 26,000 square kilometres of Boodja, Yued Aboriginal Corporation is set on a target to become a significant landholder and investor in the coastal and Central Midlands.
"The local Yued community have been very clear in their desire for this acquisition, said Yued Elder, Colin Headland.
"We're grateful for the support from the ILSC and pleased that this is an asset owned by Yued Aboriginal Corporation."
Mithaka Traditional Owner Joshua Gorringe said funding from the ILSC helped secure a new permanent ranger base in far south-west Queensland, ensuring the protection of more than 55,000 square kilometres of Country.
The grant of more than $560,000 for the purchase of essential ranger equipment and construction of the base to better manage Mithaka Country.
"The Betoota Base Station will help support our bi-annual youth camps and give our Elders a comfortable base for an evening," said Mithaka Traditional Owner, Joshua Gorringe.
"The funding provided by the ILSC has helped us reach one of our many goals for Mithaka Country; we could not have completed this without their help."
Alongside the continued rollout of the National Indigenous Land and Sea Strategy 2023-2028 and the launch of the '30 Years of Change' ILSC podcast, another 2025 highlight was the release of the annual Returning and Managing Country publication, which details dozens of stories of change. This edition celebrated 30 years of the ILSC.
