Who we are and what we do.
About us
How it all started
The Ely Beneficiaries Trust was established to provide responsible and transparent stewardship of assets held for the benefit of individuals and families. From the beginning, the Trust has been guided by a commitment to fiduciary integrity, ethical governance, and respect for the intentions of those who created the trust.
As the Trust has grown, it has adapted to changing legal, financial, and beneficiary needs while maintaining a strong focus on long-term stability and accountability. Policies and governance practices have evolved to ensure prudent management, compliance, and protection of beneficiary interests.
At every stage of its development, the Trust’s primary responsibility has remained the same: to safeguard trust assets and serve beneficiaries with care, fairness, and professionalism. Today, the Ely Beneficiaries Trust continues to build on this foundation, supporting beneficiaries now and for generations to come.
What we do.
Income received by the Trust has historically come from bauxite mining operations conducted under formal agreements, as mining activity is finite, the Trust places strong emphasis on planning for the future.
Over time, the Trust has evolved from making mainly individual payments to adopting a broader strategy that includes a grants program for individuals, business and community:
Individual Support
The Individual Projects Fund (IPF) is established for the purpose of assisting members of the Aboriginal Community who are beneficiaries of the Ely Trust to meet unforeseen and or burdensome costs associated with their general wellbeing. It is designed to provide assistance to disadvantaged benificiaries and fill in ‘gaps’ left by other service providers.
Business and Economic Development
The Business Development Fund (BDF) is established for the purpose of assisting members of the Aboriginal Community who are beneficiaries of the Ely Trust to establish and develop business opportunities that will provide ongoing benefits and opportunities to the Aboriginal Community. Grants from the BDF are limited to projects and business for sustainable development and not for individual consumption of the Trust Beneficiaries.
Community and Culture
The Community Projects Fund (CPF) is established to assist the Trust in investing in community projects which improve capacity, liveability and connectin within the Aboriginal communities. The fund is set up to assist in the improvement in community wellbeing.
Long-term investments
The Trust uses qualified, professionally registered providers to invest and manage its assets.