It has supported three Territory programs with several more in the works.

The Aboriginal health practitioner training program supports young Indigenous Territorians to gain their Certificate IV Aboriginal Health Practitioner accreditation through Danila Dilba Health Services.

The qualification provides a direct pathway to employment with Danila Dilba and helps deliver culturally safe and trusted health services.

Three health practitioners have gained their certificates under the program and seven more are in training.

The program is life-changing.

While growing up in Darwin, one Danila Dilba graduate, Kamika, saw how culturally informed care helps families feel safe, respected and understood.

“The best part of our mob looking after our mob is that when I walk in, I know they are going to understand,” she says.

“Support from the Santos Foundation has made it possible for me to do this training and follow this path, strengthening the way we care for our community.”

In partnership with Group Training NT, the Santos Foundation’s apprenticeship program offers apprenticeships that lead to job-ready qualifications.

Twenty one apprentices have taken part in the program, which is creating opportunities for young people in the Darwin region.

The foundation is partnering with Aboriginal Investment Group and the Barossa Aboriginal Future Fund to support the delivery of reliable, free and safe hygiene services, such as laundries, to Aboriginal communities, contributing directly to aiding healthier futures for Indigenous people.

The Barossa Aboriginal Future Fund, known as the BAFF, is a voluntary fund established by Santos and the Barossa Gas Project joint venture partners Prism Australia and JERA Australia, with the aim to deliver intergenerational progress for Aboriginal Territorians and build a better future for the next generation.

The investment in the community laundries, which is just one of a number of investments it has made in resilience-boosting infrastructure across coastal Aboriginal communities, will also provide continued operational support to an existing laundry service in Casuarina, Darwin.

A fourth Santos Foundation-supported program – domestic, family and sexual violence prevention – is expected to start soon.

The foundation is mainly funded by Santos, which operates the Barossa gas project about 280 kilometres north of Darwin and DLNG processing plant at Wickham Point on the outskirts of Darwin. Other donors to the foundation include the Federal Government.

Total funding in 2025 was more than $21 million.

Santos Foundation Chair and Santos Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Gallagher says the foundation, which was founded in PNG and began life as the Oil Search Foundation, has a proud history of investing in partnerships and initiatives that have delivered better health, education, social and economic outcomes for communities in the regions where Santos operates.

“I am delighted we have extended the work of the Santos Foundation to help close the gap for Aboriginal Territorians here at home,” he says.

“Through the Barossa Aboriginal Future Fund and the Santos Foundation, Santos’ commitment to the Northern Territory goes well beyond our major projects.

“We are investing in long-term, community-led outcomes – from health and education to jobs, culture and economic opportunity – to help build stronger, more resilient communities across the Territory.”

Santos Foundation Chief Executive Officer Jodie Hatherly says collaboration with local partners in the Territory has been key to delivering programs that respond to community priorities.

“We’re proud to work with partners who share our goal of creating more opportunities for Aboriginal Territorians and supporting communities to thrive,” she says.

“The most effective solutions are those shaped by the communities they serve. Through trusted partnerships, we’re helping unlock local potential and create lasting opportunities that will benefit generations to come.

“Together, we’re creating pathways to better health, skills and employment, helping communities build the futures they want for themselves and future generations.” TQ

To learn more about the Santos Foundation, visit santosfoundation.org