Pirku-Itya (Reconciliation Partnerships Program)
Pirku-Itya (Reconciliation Partnerships Program)
Applications for our 2025-26 Pirku-Itya (Reconciliation Partnerships Program) will open on 26 May 2025 and close 20 July 2025.
Pirku-Itya is a Kaurna word meaning ‘for community’ and our partnership program is focused on grassroots community events and projects run by not for profit organisations that contribute to reconciliation in South Australia.
To be eligible, your projects and events need to support stronger communities through reconciliation-based activities and have a clear link to water use and our vision of delivering trusted water services for a sustainable and healthy South Australia.
We are looking for groups who are promoting the health and wellbeing of active, thriving communities through a cooler or greener environment, or are showcasing proactive environmental leadership.
This program runs annually following the financial calendar year. Pirku-itya is available for organisations to apply for sponsorship of up to $10,000 per partnership.
Use of Kaurna language in this program has been provided and approved by Jack Buckskin - Chair of the Kaurna Language Committee
Applicants must demonstrate:
- they are a not-for-profit South Australian organisation that is Aboriginal owned and/or operated, or they have Aboriginal community relationships through involvement and outcomes that have a direct and positive impact for Aboriginal people
- a clear link to reconciliation in action
- how the sponsorship will create reconciliation opportunities in your community or your sphere of influence, and support communities to design and implement reconciliation-based activities
- alignment with our vision: delivering trusted water services for a sustainable and healthy South Australia.
Please note: projects that span multiple years, or require recurrent funding are unable to be supported through this program.
What your organisation will need to cover
- administration costs (including wages)
- sitting fees
- travel/or other costs associated with applying for this program.
To help you prepare, the information required in your application includes:
- Details about your organisation or your work in the community (up to 250 words)
- Name of the event or project you are seeking support for
- Amount you wish to apply for (up to $10,000)
- Please describe your event or project (up to 250 words) Please include objectives, background information, location, and duration.
- How will your project contribute to reconciliation outcomes? (up to 250 words)
- Please describe how your project will link to ONE of the following (up to 250 words):
- A clear link to our vision of delivering trusted water services for a sustainable and healthy South Australia.
- The promotion of the health and wellbeing of active, thriving communities through a cooler or greener environment.
Proactive environmental leadership – demonstrating or supporting climate change action with a reduce and reuse mindset or climate change resilience.- Who will benefit from, or take part in, your event or project (up to 250 words)?
- Please outline how SA Water staff can be involved in your event or project (up to 250 words)
- Please describe any marketing and promotional activities that you will undertake to support your event or project and how SA Water will be recognised (up to 250 words)
- Do you agree to completing a formal evaluation of the partnership within six weeks of the completion of your event or project?
- I understand if my application is shortlisted I will need to supply a work plan, an organisational capability statement or list of key personnel to provide assurance of successful project delivery.
- enter into an agreement which includes a work plan and describes how and when the funding will be used and how the project will be implemented
- complete the project activities as agreed in the work plan
- ensure activities are conducted in accordance with sound environmental and safety practices, and do not impact on environmental and cultural values
- ensure legally binding agreements are in place for all partnerships
- proactively engage SA Water in activities and events where appropriate
- submit photos, progress reports and be available for media interviews as requested
- complete the evaluation form at the end of the program or event
You will need to:
We do not accept applications for sponsorships that support:
- individuals
- any project, program or event related to gambling
- events that promote the consumption of alcohol as its core activity (such as wine festivals)
- organisations we are already engaged in a formal arrangement with, such as a Memorandum of Understanding or contractual agreement
- projects, programs or events where there is a real or perceived conflict of interest with an existing partnership, business or sponsorship activity.
We are not able to make charitable donations or support projects that span multiple years or require recurrent funding.
All partnered programs and events will be required to provide a self-evaluation upon completion of the event or initiative. If participating organisations are unable to deliver the agreed benefits or the evaluation is not provided within the required timeframe, the organisation may not be considered for future partnership opportunities. Legally binding agreements are in place for all Reconciliation Partnerships
If you have any questions or require more information on Pirku-Itya, please contact us at rappartnerships@sawater.com.au
Previous applicants include:
| Blackwood Reconciliation Group | Park regeneration Upgrade of the current watering system at Colebrook Reconciliation Park, Eden Hills (previously Colebrook Training home) - Aboriginal meeting place. |
| Adelaide Contemporary Experimental | Exhibition - Lartelare by the Kaurna Women's Art Collective This project will bring women together to share and preserve Aboriginal story-telling including a hang of the Kaurna Women's Art Collective’s ongoing mapping of the Port Adelaide river system, embodying the stories and cultural mapping showcasing its history through Kaurna story telling. |
Nukunu Wapma Thura (Aboriginal Corporation) | Nukunu Water Mains Supply Develop and implement cultural and controlled burning with the support of trained Nukunu fire practitioners, in collaboration with the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board, local councils, and emergency services agencies. |
| Poonindie Anglican Church | Restorative garden and yarning circle Creation of a sacred garden using native plants and a truth telling yarning circle and fire pit at the old Poonindie mission and church. To be completed in consultation with the local indigenous elders. |
| Tenison Woods College, Mount Gambier | 'Regenerating The Kakadu of The South' With Boandik Elders, students will investigate sustainable water and landscape management- including current issues, history of water management (Indigenous and colonial) as well as future strategies to protect and preserve resources in the local area and form stronger connection through caring for country. |
| Dunjiba Community Council | Dunjiba Food hub and cafe garden - Oodnadatta Establishing a community cafe and store as well as a greenhouse and shade house to include wicking beds for water saving vegetable production. |
| MOD Museum | A Field Trip To Yundi Nature Conservancy Research at the Yundi Nature Conservancy to build the knowledge of STEM approaches and practices to eco-system restoration that draw on both Aboriginal and scientific knowledge systems. They will practically engage in ecology and agricultural science, alongside Ngarrindjeri understandings of caring for Country, through actively volunteering in the Yundi swamp lands. |
