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The NSW Government is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and this will require supporting industry to decarbonise. Critical to enabling this is the Net Zero Plan Stage 1: 2020-2030 (the Net Zero Plan). The Net Zero plan will fast-track emissions reductions over the next decade to combat climate change, grow the economy, create jobs and attract investment.

In its 2023 budget, the NSW Government announced $480 million in funding to boost the net zero manufacturing initiative (the Initiative), which is a key part of the Net Zero Plan. The Initiative builds on from the work of the Net Zero Industry and Innovation Program (NZIIP) released in 2021 which includes Clean Technology Innovation (CTI) as one of 3 key focus areas.

Clean Technology Innovation has allocated $2.5 million in this round for technical and commercial viability studies of a project or product to make informed decisions before progressing with technology trials.

Moree Plains Shire Council is seeking to support start-ups and existing small businesses within the Shire under the Small Business Fund Program. Eligible small businesses which employ up to 20 employees will be able to apply for a one-off maximum payment of up to $5,000. The funds can be used for various business development purposes as outlined in the guidelines, from signage/façade improvements to marketing initiatives.

Who Can Apply?

1. The business must be located within Moree Shire Plains Shire with a registered ABN (or ACN) and has traded for at least 6 months.
2. An applicant must be over the age of 18.
3. The applicant must be a business and not a not-for-profit organisation. Not-for-profit organisations are encouraged to apply for financial assistance under Council’s Public Donations Fund.

Are you working in the aged care sector and have a problem in your workplace? Do you need support to find a solution? The free Innovator Training Program is designed to provide you or your team with tools and skills to use available knowledge and evidence to solve a problem in your workplace.

By joining the Innovator Training Program (ITP), ‘Innovators’ will receive dedicated training to implement changes based on available research evidence, and shape a solution that is appropriate for local settings and organisations.

The training program provides individuals or teams with the skills and knowledge to:

• Understand the components of a problem
• Find best-practice evidence to solve the problem
• Manage change and innovation within the workplace
• Measure if the change has made a difference.

Funding is available for businesses preparing to commercially manufacture low carbon products in NSW. This stream will fund specific development activities that enable a financial investment decision to establish a manufacturing facility.

The low carbon product manufacturing - project development stream is part of the net zero manufacturing initiative and will invest in project development activities to help businesses reach a financial investment decision for a new facility that manufactures low carbon products.

The initiative plays a pivotal role in achieving NSW's commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 through the following 4 objectives:

• drive economic growth across NSW - increase economic activities by providing funding for new or expanded low carbon manufacturing facilities.
• increase investment and employment in new low carbon industries - attract more investors to engage in the low carbon manufacturing sectors, leading to more job opportunities. 
• support a diverse, self-sufficient, resilient and competitive low carbon manufacturing sector - foster a dynamic and robust economic landscape, reduce dependency on a single sector, and promote the export of low carbon products and technologies.
• establish new industrial facilities and advanced manufacturing capabilities to help decarbonise NSW’s economy - facilitate the establishment and development of low carbon manufacturing with advanced capabilities, contributing to the overall reduction of NSW's economy's carbon footprint.

The Inclusive Employment Grant (IEG) is a two-year grant of $50,000 to support community organisations
and social enterprises that:

• create meaningful Award Wage Jobs and/or Training Opportunities for individuals and communities facing complex barriers to mainstream work or Self-Employment for people in our priority groups

AND

• are currently earning revenue through trading of goods and services and want to strengthen their business model and build greater financial resilience and sustainability in delivering their social mission

Grant partners will also receive non-financial support including:

• being matched with a Westpac Community Ambassador to help access a broad range of networking, leadership, business strategy, governance and financial capability programs
• opportunities to build their capacity to measure and report on a range of key employment, capability and financial sustainability outcomes as part of an impact study on the IEG program

Westpac Foundation prioritises organisations that create Award Wage Jobs and/or Training Opportunities for people facing complex barriers to mainstream work or Self-Employment, that benefit one or more of the following listed priority groups:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds
• Culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds including refugee and asylum seekers
• Women experiencing disadvantage
• Young people (greater than 15 years of age)
• People that are homeless or at risk of homelessness
• People who have experienced family and/or domestic violence
• People living with a disability (including carers)
• People living with a mental health issue (including carers)
• People who have been incarcerated or have had contact with the criminal justice system
• Long term unemployed and experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage
• Living in rural and remote areas

Also prioritised are social enterprises and job-focused community organisations that are building skills and career pathways in jobs-rich growth sectors such as the technology care, and green economy.

The objective of the program is to incentivise voluntary uptake of ADS-B equipment in Australian– registered aircraft operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) to improve safety and efficiency for Australian airspace users.

The intended outcome of the program is improved safety and efficiency of Australian airspace, through extension of ADS-B technology to the Australian VFR aircraft fleet to provide:

• better situational awareness for pilots through improved electronic visibility of nearby airborne VFR aircraft
• enhanced search and rescue capabilities through improved air traffic information
• air traffic controllers with additional and accurate automated aircraft position information of VFR aircraft
  

The program funds two classes of eligible ADS-B equipment (see Appendix A):

• installed ADS-B equipment that air traffic controllers can use for aircraft separation purposes (referred to as ADS-B), or
• portable ADS-B equipment for local electronic traffic information purposes (referred to as ADS-B EC).

The grant amount will be up to 50 per cent of eligible project expenditure (grant percentage). The maximum grant amount is $5,000 per eligible aircraft. Only one grant per aircraft and per device is permitted. You can apply for multiple grants if you own more than one eligible aircraft. A grant may be made for each eligible aircraft for an ADS-B or an ADS-B EC, but not both

The On Farm Connectivity Program (the program) will run over 2 years from 2023-24 to 2024-25. The program is an election commitment announced as part of Labor’s Plan for a Better Future. This program forms part of the Better Connectivity for Rural and Regional Australia Plan (Better Connectivity Plan) and assists primary producers to take advantage of digital agribusiness solutions to boost productivity and improve safety.

The objectives of the program are:

• extend digital connectivity and take advantage of advanced farming technology
• enhance a primary producers’ capacity to implement digital agribusiness solutions through improved connectivity
• capitalise on the agricultural sector’s potential for increased productivity and growth
• support access to new communications equipment by offsetting some of the cost.

The intended outcomes of the program are:

• increased investment in equipment to support operations of the agricultural sector
• increased efficiency, competitiveness, productivity and profitability of the agricultural sector
• improved safety on farm
• increased use of advanced farming technology
• improved knowledge of advanced farming technology and digital literacy.

Eligible Primary Producers can only access the program (and rebate) through an Eligible Equipment Supplier.

The Cooperative Research Centres Program (the program) supports industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers and the community. The program is a proven model for linking researchers with industry to focus on research and development towards use and commercialisation.

The program consists of two elements:

• CRC Grants to support medium to long term, industry-led collaborations; and
• CRC-P Grants to support short term, industry-led collaborative research

Round 16 is open to applications for short-term industry-led collaborative research in all industry sectors, with a focus on Government priorities including the circular economy, the National Reconstruction Fund priority areas and the Science and Research Priorities.

Apply now for a metering plan implementation grant and receive up to $100,000 to cover up to 50% of the costs of installing an energy metering and monitoring system. 

The objectives of this funding are to:

• improve energy performance in NSW businesses.
• enable businesses to identify, prepare and verify energy and emissions reduction projects.
• provide robust data to site managers to make informed investment decisions that help achieve net zero emissions objectives.
• demonstrate the link between energy metering and monitoring systems and energy and cost savings.

The Support Plantation Establishment Program will run over 4 years from 2023–24 to 2026–27. The funding will support the establishment of new long-rotation softwood and hardwood plantation forests and assist the sector to respond to the projected growth in demand for domestically sourced timber resources. Through focusing on long-rotation plantation forests the program’s key intended outcomes are to increase domestic timber supply, particularly construction and manufacturing timber resources, and to contribute to Australia’s carbon emissions reduction commitments.

The Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Grant (EDAEG) adopts a number of strategies to develop and support Aboriginal people through the creation of training and employment opportunities. Promoting diversity, innovation and service responsiveness in the NSW workforce, the Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Grant subsidises the salary, development and support costs of Aboriginal employees in public service agencies and local government authorities.

Grant Elements

• Permanent Ongoing Employment – $20,000 up to $40,000 to support the creation of permanent employment.
• Temporary (Term Employment) Secondment – $20,000 up to $40,000 (dependant on the term of position) to support a temporary position of up to 12 months that offers significant skill development for a permanent employee.
• School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships – $10,000 one off payment to support school-based apprenticeships and traineeships.
• Post School Element - $10,000 up to $20,000 (Part - Time or Full- Time Employment Status) to support the continuation of employment for a learner who successfully completed a High School Certificate (HSC, Year 12) in the previous calendar year.

Small businesses with an aggregated annual turnover of less than $50 million will be allowed an additional 20% tax deduction for external training courses delivered to employees by registered training providers.

The expenditure must be:

• for the provision of training to employees of your business, either in-person in Australia, or online
• charged, directly or indirectly, by a registered external training provider that is not you or an associate of yours
• already deductible for your business under taxation law
• incurred within a specified period (between 7:30 pm AEDT or by legal time in the ACT on 29 March 2022 and 30 June 2024).

The bonus deduction is available for expenditure for the provision of training to one or more employees of your business. The training provider must meet certain registration criteria for the bonus deduction.

Small businesses with an aggregated annual turnover of less than $50 million will be allowed an additional 20% tax deduction to support their digital operations and digitise their operations.

The boost applies to eligible expenditure incurred between 7:30 pm AEDT on 29 March 2022 and 30 June 2023. The boost is for business expenses and depreciating assets and is capped at $100,000 of expenditure per income year. You can receive a maximum bonus deduction of $20,000 per income year.

To access the small business technology investment boost, your business needs to meet the standard aggregated annual turnover rules (with an increased $50 million threshold).

The expenditure must:

• already be deductible for your business under taxation law
• be incurred between 7:30 pm AEDT 29 March 2022 and 30 June 2023.

If the expenditure is on a depreciating asset, the asset must be first used or installed ready for use for a taxable purpose by 30 June 2023.

Eligible expenditure may include, but is not limited to, business expenditure on:

• digital enabling items – computer and telecommunications hardware and equipment, software, internet costs, systems and services that form and facilitate the use of computer networks
• digital media and marketing – audio and visual content that can be created, accessed, stored or viewed on digital devices, including web page design
• e-commerce – goods or services supporting digitally ordered or platform-enabled online transactions, portable payment devices, digital inventory management, subscriptions to cloud-based services and advice on digital operations or digitising operations, such as advice about digital tools to support business continuity and growth
• cyber security – cyber security systems, backup management and monitoring services.

From 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2024, the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System will provide broad support to the economy through wage subsidies for eligible employers in priority occupations. Priority occupations are those listed on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List.

The objective of the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program is to contribute a highly skilled and relevant Australian workforce that supports economic sustainability and competitiveness.

This is achieved by encouraging:

• genuine opportunities for skills-based training and development of employees; and
• people to enter into skills-based training through an Australian Apprenticeship.

The Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program contains a range of payments. Eligibility criteria apply to all Australian Government Australian Apprenticeships Incentives payments. Further information regarding eligibility can be obtained from your Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) provider.

Support through the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program is also provided to employers of Australian Apprentices working towards a Priority Occupation. The eligible Priority Occupations are Aged Care, Child Care, Disability Care Workers and Enrolled Nurses.

There are a range of financial and non-financial supports available, including:

• Commencement payments
• Retention payment
• Recommencement payment
• Completion payment
• Wage subsidy
• Identified skill shortage payment
• Assistance for apprentices with a disability

The Kickstarter Challenge gives five finalists the opportunity to take centre stage and pitch their new business idea for the chance to secure a share of $60,000 in equity-free funding. Finalists will also score a paid trip to the nation’s capital and support for the journey ahead with mentoring sessions, media training and more.

2024 categories

• Health, Wellbeing and The Care Economy
• Climate Change and Sustainability
• Community Impact
• Fintech or Ecommerce
• Popular Vote

The total value of the equity-free cash prize money is $60,000 AUD which will be shared amongst the Competition Finalists as follows:
(a) The Competition winner (Winner) will receive $30,000 AUD;
(b) Each finalist (Finalist) will receive $7,500 AUD.
(c) One (1) return flight to the Grand Final in Canberra (if they reside outside the ACT);
(d) Accommodation for the duration of the Grand Final;
(e) Media and PR training and social media support in the lead-up to the Grand Final;
(f) Grand Final presentation support from professional graphic designers;
(g) Mentorship opportunities;
(h) A chance to meet key decision-makers to help develop their business idea; and
(i) The opportunity to feature on an episode of Secrets of a Self Starter podcast.