Community Grants and Funding Opportunities

A Mental Health Month project or event is a great way to encourage awareness of mental health, and social and emotional wellbeing in your community. It can decrease stigma, and empower people to seek help, for themselves or others.

Each year, Wayahead extends over 30 small grants of either $500 or $1000 to community groups and organisations across NSW, facilitating the initiation of Mental Health Month projects or events.

Please be advised that grant applications must align their event dates with Mental Health Month (October), enhancing the significance and impact of the program.

Grant Categories

• General Grant
  The General Grant category encourages individuals, groups or organisations to propose projects or events that promote mental health awareness and dialogue. It supports initiatives aligned with the current years theme, providing funding and partnering with Wayahead to enhance their impact within communities.
• Youth Grant
  The Youth Grant category invites young people, individuals, youth-focused groups or organisations to propose projects or events promoting mental health awareness among peers during Mental Health Month. Recipients align with the current years theme and partner with Wayahead to amplify the impact of their initiatives within communities.
• CALD Grant
  The Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Grant category encourages individuals, groups or organisations addressing CALD communities to propose projects or events promoting mental health awareness and support. Recipients align their initiatives with the current years theme and partner with Wayahead to enhance the impact of their events.
• LGBTQIA+ Grant
  The LGBTQIA+ Grant category welcomes individuals, groups or organisations focusing on LGBTQIA+ to propose projects or events promoting mental health awareness and support within the community. Recipients align their initiatives with the current years theme and partner with Wayahead to enhance the impact of their efforts.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Grant
  The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Grant category welcomes individuals, groups or organisations focusing on Indigenous communities to propose projects or events promoting mental health awareness and support. Recipients align their initiatives with the current years theme and partner with Wayahead to support the impact of their efforts within these communities.

Sporting Schools offers grant opportunities for primary schools, and targeted grant opportunities for secondary schools in relation to year 7 and 8 students. Grants support the delivery of sport-based programs to help students build the confidence and capability to be active for life. Sporting Schools has partnered with more than 35 national sporting organisations (NSOs) and national sporting organisations for people with disability (NSODs) to facilitate delivery of Sporting Schools programs.

The objectives of Sporting Schools are to:

• engage primary school students in free, high-quality sport programs at school
• engage secondary school students (Years 7-8) in free, high-quality sport programs at school, particularly inactive students, girls, and students attending schools in disadvantaged areas
• establish partnerships between sporting organisations and schools to promote involvement in sport outside of school
• develop the capability of schools and teachers to provide students with positive sport experiences
• build the capability of coaches and the sport workforce
• support life-long involvement in sport and physical activity to enhance health and wellbeing.

In the spirit of their guiding philosophy of Kyosei – living and working together for the common good – over the last 20 years, Canon Oceania has supported over 130 schools, not-for-profits and community groups with more than $648,000 in monetary and product support.

This year, the Canon Oceania Grants Program returns to support four more worthy organisations to further their impact.

Community Grant valued at AU $5,000
Open to any group or organisation that has a positive impact on communities, cultural and societal causes. The winner will receive $2,500 cash, and Canon Product valued up to $2,500.

Education Grant valued at AU $5,000
Open to any project run by a primary, secondary, or tertiary school/educational institution. The winner will receive $2,500 cash, and Canon Product valued up to $2,500.

Environment Grant valued at AU $5,000
Open to any group or organisation that supports and protects the environmental sustainability of the community. The winner will receive $2,500 cash, and Canon Product valued up to $2,500.

First Nations Grant valued at AU $5,000
Open to any group or organisation that will have a positive impact for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and/or community. The winner will receive $2,500 cash, and Canon Product valued up to $2,500.

Protostars is a micro-grant program for young people with passion projects. The Blackbird Foundation offers young people under 25 from AU/NZ $1000 to work on their passion projects, as well as join a program and a community of next-gen worldbuilders, creatives, visionaries and innovators to create your passion projects, and raise each other’s ambitions.

The grants are available to anyone aged 18-25 based in Australia or Aotearoa and who are working on a passion project.

There are three intakes per year. In 2026 the application intake periods will be:

• (Season 12) 15 January to 1 March
• (Season 13) 30 April to 14 June
• (Season 14) 1 August to 21 September

This grant opportunity (GO) will drive improved health outcomes for people in Australia, living with, or at risk of, chronic conditions by supporting early detection, prevention and effective management. Guided by the National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions 2026-2035 (Framework) the Program will support a strategic and competitive investment approach that ensures transparency, fairness and alignment with Government priorities.

The objectives of the GO are:

• Health Promotion and Education
• Embedding Prevention and Early Detection
• System integrated, multidisciplinary and person centred continuity of care
• Managing Multimorbidity
• Enhanced and targeted support for health equity.

Funding will be awarded to initiatives that demonstrate measurable impact and contribute to long-term, sustainable improvements in chronic conditions health outcomes based on the following Tiers, with Tier 1 being prioritised:

Tier 1: National Collaborative Activities - Funding supports large-scale activities with national scope that address multiple chronic conditions and/or risk factors and meet at least two Program objectives/focus areas listed at section 2.1 in the Framework. These initiatives should foster cross-sector collaboration, encouraging partnerships between health organisations, community groups, research institutions, and other relevant stakeholders. Tier 1 projects should use a unified approach, addressing related conditions or common risk factors regardless of specific diagnoses.

Tier 2: Targeted Activities - Funding is designed to support short term activities that contribute to at least one of the Program’s objectives. These activities may focus on a single chronic condition or risk factor allowing for targeted interventions including pilot projects and time limited trials.

The Ian Potter Foundation seeks to identify and support those organisations which have well thought out projects that seek to help vulnerable members of the community to overcome the challenging circumstances in which they find themselves.

The Community Wellbeing program seeks to fund initiatives delivered by organisations supporting people with disabilities, or otherwise marginalised individuals primarily with the objective to secure employment pathways.

Funding Objective

• To improve circumstances for disadvantaged members of the community, this program area funds initiatives delivered by organisations supporting people with disabilities, or otherwise marginalised individuals primarily with the objective to secure employment pathways.

Application Process (2-stage)

Grant requests for this program area are considered via a two-stage Expression of Interest process. 

Motorsport Australia has established a funding allocation framework to support growth and development of 
Motorsport Australia Affiliated Car Clubs and Motorsport as a whole.

Funds will be allocated to projects that fit within one of the following funding areas:

• Funding Area 1: Safety and Operational Equipment 
• Funding Area 2: Volunteer Upskilling and Club Capacity Building
• Funding Area 3: Participation Programs

Clubs are encouraged to undertake projects that support diversity, equity & inclusion in motorsport and supports the inclusion of population cohorts with existing low levels of participation in sport and physical activity. e.g. people with a disability, women and girls, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people, Culturally and Racially Marginalised (CARM) communities, LGBTIQ+ and older people.

The Emerging Artist Grants program offers grants of up to $15,000 to assist talented emerging and early-career artists in taking up professional development opportunities, usually overseas.

Professional development opportunities allow emerging artists to gain experience, develop networks and learn skills from the world's best. The Trust believes these experiences are invaluable for individual artists and the ongoing development of Australia's vibrant arts sector.

The Trust's Emerging Artist Grants program funds nationally and supports individual artists practising across the spectrum of the arts, from visual arts to community radio, design to literature, conservation of cultural heritage to circus arts.

The Trust primarily supports structured professional development and networking opportunities such as residencies, internships, mentorships, workshops, and conferences.

The Local History Grant Program is a Create NSW funded program, administered by the RAHS on behalf of the NSW Government. This program was formerly known as the Cultural Grants.

Projects should be relevant to understanding the history of New South Wales and its people and places. Grants of up to $6,000 ex GST support the work of historical research and publications undertaken by local historical societies and similar bodies across New South Wales. Please ensure that the project has the support of your organisation before submitting an application. Projects should generally be able to be completed by December 2027. We aim to notify the successful applicants by September 2026.

Eligibility

This program aims to encourage involvement in and completion of historical projects that are of significance to the community.

Who is eligible to apply for the Create NSW Local History Grant Program?

• RAHS Affiliated Societies
• Local community or regional groups of New South Wales
• Organisations incorporated on a non-profit basis, with a commitment to one or more aspects of history
• Individuals working alone are not eligible to apply and personal ABNs are not accepted. However, individuals may partner with eligible community organisations to apply.
• Local government bodies or tertiary institutions partnering with community groups to produce community-based projects may apply.
• Culturally and linguistically diverse groups or researchers working in these fields are encouraged to apply for support for projects leading to the publication of community history.

What sort of projects may be funded?

• Prepublication Research
• Publication of Books: Books or e-books of historical research on an aspect of local history or specialist historical interest
• Publication of education kits/resources
• Publication of tourist brochure/walking maps
• Oral history – interviews
• Oral history – transcriptions/making oral histories publicly accessible by print or online
• Conservation of historical resources
• Management plans for collections of historical research
• Digitisation of records 

The Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) Prepare & Recover program supports communities in remote, rural and regional communities across Australia to implement initiatives that prevent and prepare for future climate related impacts, or recover from existing disasters in the medium to long-term timeframe, generally one to ten years after the disaster.

The program recognise that remote, rural and regional communities across Australia are vulnerable to climate change and disasters, experience capacity challenges in responding to and preparing for disasters where often existing disadvantage is exacerbated.

Grants up to $25,000 are available for a broad range of initiatives that focus on community-led resilience building in recovery or preparedness to strengthen the capacity and  capability of local people and systems, especially to manage the impact of future disasters. 

Projects that focus on strengthening local inclusion, networks, communication, information sharing, self-organising systems, local decision making, resourcing, tools and support will be prioritised.

Demonstration of project need must reference a specific climate impact or event, either historic or likely to occur in the future.

The Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) Small & Vital stream gives small remote, rural and regional communities across Australia the opportunity to access funds for a broad range of initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities.

Grants up to $10,000 are available for a broad range of grassroots, community-led initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities that strengthen local people, places and climate solutions, with a preference for smaller communities (populations under 15,000).

FRRR’s Small & Vital program supports thriving, resilient, and sustainable remote, rural and regional communities across Australia. In particular, priority will be given to projects that:

• Support communities to implement generational transition;
• Invest in outback, remote, and less resourced communities;
• Build capacity and resourcing for a just and equitable energy transition;
• Support First Nations-led initiatives that strengthen culture, country, economic participation, and reconciliation.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and assessed quarterly.

The NSW National Carers Week Grants program provides one‑off grants between $1,000 and $2,000 to eligible organisations across NSW. Funding supports community activities and events that recognise and celebrate carers and create opportunities for connection during National Carers Week. The Program aims to increase community awareness of carers, highlight their contribution, and support more carers to feel valued and connected within their local communities. 

The objectives of the NSW National Carers Week Grants program are to:

• Provide carers with a diverse range of opportunities for connection through National Carers Week activities or events.
• Enhance the recognition of carers in communities across NSW during National Carers Week.

Under this program, eligible organisations are:

• Incorporated organisations registered and approved as a not-for-profit body by NSW Fair Trading
• Not-for profit companies limited by guarantee, operating in NSW
• Public companies limited by guarantee, operating in NSW
• State Government Other Incorporated Entity with Deductable Gift Recipient (DGR) status including Local Area Health Districts and the Justice Health and Forensic Health Network
• Local government organisations
• Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) – these Applicants will be required to provide documentation to support their ACCO status
• Indigenous Corporations registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC)
• Local Aboriginal Land Councils registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC)
• Trusts registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
• NSW non-government organisations established under their own Act of Parliament
• Religious organisations operating in NSW.

During the assessment process, checks will be conducted to confirm the eligibility of organisations. Registers such as the ACNC, ASIC, ABN Lookup, ORIC and the NSW Office of Fair Trading Register will be considered. 

The Community War Memorials Fund (CWMF) provides funding to support the conservation of community war memorials across NSW.

The purpose of the CWMF is to help conserve, repair and protect war memorials across NSW to support community commemoration, by funding projects that follow best practice conservation principles and processes. The CWMF is targeted at organisations who are responsible for the management of war memorials in NSW.

Who can apply

An organisation can apply to the CWMF if:

1. It is one of the applicant types listed below

2a. It is the owner of the war memorial, or

2b. It has received the endorsement of the owner of the war memorial to undertake the project and apply to the CWMF.

For the purposes of the CWMF, the owner of the war memorial is the entity who owns or manages the land on which the war memorial is located, or the building in which it is housed, also known as the landowner.

Eligible applicant types

• Incorporated not-for-profit community organisations
• NSW local councils operating under the Local Government Act 1993
• Incorporated organisations that are registered and approved as not-for-profit bodies by NSW Fair Trading
• Not-for profit companies limited by guarantee, registered in NSW (must have ACNC registration and/or DGR status)
• Indigenous Corporations (must be registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations)
• NSW Local Aboriginal Land Councils
• Religious organisations operating in NSW
• NSW non-government organisations established under their own Act of Parliament
• NSW Government agencies who own or are responsible for a war memorial, including government schools, are eligible to apply to the CWMF
• Non-Council Crown Land Managers (Category 1 or 2)

Types of projects funded under this grant

Applications to the CWMF must align with and be submitted under one of the below categories:

• Category A: Reports and Assessments - Engaging heritage or other relevant specialists (such as engineers) to produce reports relating to the repair, protection, and/or conservation of existing war memorials and/or their precincts.
• Category B: Physical works - Engaging heritage or other relevant specialists (such as stonemasons and joiners) to undertake physical works relating to the repair, protection, and/or conservation of existing war memorials AND / OR other physical works relating to the memorial’s immediate precinct to promote its conservation, safe and accessible use, and community access for commemorative purposes.

Notes:

• The CWMF supports projects for existing war memorials. Applications cannot be submitted for the construction of new war memorials.
• Category A applicants cannot apply for Category B works in the same round for the same war memorial. This is because applicants planning physical works to war memorials are expected to have already obtained relevant heritage advice for their project, such as the kinds listed under Category A.
• Category B applicants are expected to obtain relevant heritage advice for their project before applying to the CWMF.

AbbVie provide financial support for projects that promote excellence in patient care, support disease awareness and provide education to healthcare professionals. In addition they also provide funding to support charities and their fundraising activities in the community.

AbbVie will ONLY consider requests for financial support for initiatives that include:

• healthcare education events or initiatives such as conferences, symposia or one-off meetings
• disease awareness activities
• production of education materials including print and digital content
• fundraising activities 
• donations to charities or not-for-profit organisations.

AbbVie will not fund requests for

• sporting clubs
• any profit-making entities - all organisations must be not-for profit or charities
• equipment that may be used for personal and professional reasons such as mobile phones or laptops
• funding of start-ups or operating costs of entities
• staff salaries and benefits
• Healthcare professional honorariums or travel costs. HCPs must apply directly to AbbVie for support through the individual funding process
• capital, infrastructure or operating expenses such as office equipment, furniture, or facilities modifications.
• events that are lavish or associated with sporting or recreational activities such as golf days, football matches or musical events.
• underwriting a commercial business or generate income for a practice or institution.

The Support at Home Pooled Funding Trial (the trial) is part of the Support at Home program. The trial will test whether pooling a portion of participants’ budgets in a group setting can improve service delivery and support older people to access more services through creating economies of scale. 

The trial involves Support at Home participants accessing services on a more flexible or as-needed basis, similar to that of a subscription model. For example, residents of a retirement village may choose to subscribe to access 24/7 nursing support, rather than arranging individual nursing services separately. Participants from a particular cultural or linguistically diverse group could coordinate some of their funding to access group social support and activities, or other niche service offerings, in their primary language.

This grant opportunity invites Support at Home providers to apply to participate in the trial. It will award funding to successful grant applicants to compensate them for the additional administrative costs incurred by managing and delivering the trial. This funding will be paid in addition to the subsidy that providers are eligible for under the Aged Care Act 2024.

Eligibility:

This program is for registered providers that deliver Support at Home services.

Eligible providers must meet ALL the following eligibility criteria at the time of application:

1. be delivering Support at Home services to Support at Home participants
2. be registered under the Aged Care Act 2024 in one or more of the following categories:
   • Home and community services
   • Advisory and support services
   • Personal and care support in the home or community
   • Nursing and transition care
3. have an Australian Business Number (ABN) that matches the entity’s registration under the Aged Care Act 2024 with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, be registered for GST purposes, and hold an account with an Australian financial institution
4. be one of the following entity types:
   • Indigenous Corporation (registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and /or Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006)
   • company
   • corporate Commonwealth Entity
   • non-Corporate Commonwealth Statutory Authority 
   • corporate State or Territory Entity 
   • non-corporate State or Territory Entity 
   • non-corporate State or Territory Statutory Authority
   • local Government
   • cooperative
   • incorporated Association
   • statutory Entity 
   • partnership
   • unincorporated Association
   • sole trader.

If you are applying as a Trustee on behalf of a Trust, the Trustee must have an eligible entity type as listed above.

Additional eligibility requirements are available at Section 4.1.1 of the Grant Opportunity Guidelines.

Healing at Home on Country provides Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and for-profit Aboriginal businesses an opportunity to support culturally safe pathways for Aboriginal Adults returning home to their families and communities.

This grant provides a platform to be innovative, think outside the square and tailor a program to meet the needs of your communities.

Project objectives/targeted outcome 1

Delivering tailored, culturally safe and ACCO led health and wellbeing services that assist Aboriginal people in custody in addressing the underlying factors contributing to offending behaviour. Detail: 

• Client’s case plans incorporate culturally appropriate referral pathways for clients re-integrating back into community.
• Strengthened relationship between Community Corrections and their local ACCO’s.

Project objectives/targeted outcome 2

Resourcing the ACCO sector to increase the availability of Aboriginal delivered post-release, transitional and supported accommodation and cultural mentoring services for Aboriginal adults leaving custody.

Detail:

• ACCO’s have programs and services available for clients to address their holistic care.

Project objectives/targeted outcome 3

Strengthening the opportunities for Aboriginal people, organisations and communities to practice self-determination in determining the solutions to reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system.

Detail:

• ACCOs submit their application for the grant by outlining their project plan based on community needs.

 Project objectives/targeted outcome 4

Increase co-design and collaboration with local Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.

Detail: 

• Improved relationships between CSNSW and ACCO’s in conjunction with improved cultural competence and confidence in CSNSW staff, promotes collaboration in developing purpose-built programs for mutual clients. 

Project objectives/targeted outcome 5

Aboriginal parolees have a voice and input in their Risk Mitigation and Case Plan for post release planning.

Detail: 

• Aboriginal clients having person centred and culturally responsive case plans.
• Aboriginal clients actively engaging in interventions outlined in case plan steps.
• Aboriginal clients contributing to the development of their case plans and being able to select what services they wish to engage with.

Project objectives/targeted outcome 6

Aboriginal parolees have cultural programs/activities in their case plan to promote self-determination identity and belonging for connection to Family, Community & Culture

Detail: 

• Community Corrections improving the way they engage and provide services to Aboriginal people in their care. 

 Project objectives/targeted outcome 7

Aboriginal parolees are empowered by local Aboriginal mentors to build connection and well-being for successful reintegration back into Family & Community.

Detail: 

• Aboriginal parolees are supported by Aboriginal mentors after successful completion of their parole orders.
• Aboriginal parolees are connected to cultural activities and events in community to promote a sense of identity, belonging, connection and pride.

Project objectives/targeted outcome 8

Reduce re-offending and increase successful completions of parole for Aboriginal people in our care.

Detail:

• Evaluation measures need to be both qualitative and quantitative and reflect improvement in the engagement and number of Aboriginal parolees successfully completing their parole period.

The Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme (RHWIS) aims to attract, recruit, and retain health workers in eligible positions at health services across rural and remote NSW.

The incentive scheme applies to health workers in eligible positions in NSW. So, whether you’re a nurse, midwife, paramedicine, medicine, allied health, administration, or in support and shared services, you could have an incentivised job at a public hospital or health facility.

In addition to standard employment entitlements, an incentive package of up to $20,000 in value depending on the location and the position.

An incentive package may include financial and non-financial incentives such as:

• a rural or regional health allowance
• accommodation assistance and help with relocation costs
• family travel assistance
• additional personal leave
• family travel assistance
• contributions to ongoing professional development

The P&C Transition Grant Program is designed to support approved OOSH services that have transitioned to P&C ownership as a result of the recent Provider Category Review.

The objectives of the P&C Transition Grant are to:

1. Support approved parent-run OOSH services that are transitioning to P&C ownership.
2. Support P&Cs who are taking on responsibility for transitioning OOSH services.
3. Ensure continuing access for NSW Government primary school students to approved OOSH services impacted by the recent Provider Category Review.

 Who can apply:

• Applicants must be an approved OOSH provider.
• The application must benefit an approved OOSH service operating in NSW. One application is allowable per service location.
• The approved OOSH service must have transitioned to P&C ownership as a result of the recent Provider Category Review.
• The approved OOSH provider must have transitioned to P&C as a result of the recent Provider Category Review.
• Applications must be submitted by an authorised officer; a person legally able to enter into agreements on behalf of the approved service provider.

The Steve Waugh Foundation supports children and young adults aged 0-25 years who have a rare disease with a prevalence of at least 2:100,000.

The Foundation will consider funding -

• Equipment
• Mobility Aids
• Communication Devices
• Therapy
• Treatment
• Some minor house renovations
• Items that improve the quality of life for the applicant and their family

To be eligible to apply:   

• You must be an Australian Citizen or an Australian permanent resident of at least five years to gain assistance from the Foundation and;
• Have a recognised rare disease as identified on ORPHANET: www.orpha.net, or if not recognised your medical specialist must confirm the disease is rare
• Have an Australian Medicare card
• Have already made an application for government funding assistance for the requested item, eg the NDIS
• The rare disease has been formally and officially diagnosed by a Paediatrician or other Medical Specialist
• You have and can provide evidence of the diagnosis of the rare disease signed off by a Paediatrician or other medical specialist
• You have and can provide medical, health and other documentation or support material required as part of your application

Note: Applications submitted outside these dates can be carried forward for review in the following Grant Round but are unable to be assessed outside these dates. The Online Application and all required supporting documentation must be submitted on time to complete the Grant Application.

In 2026, the Audience Development Fund (ADF) has been broadened to accept applications from NSW public museums and Aboriginal Cultural centres, as well as galleries.

The ADF offers assistance in targeting and developing new audiences. It encourages organisations to create innovative public programs that engage with collections, visual arts practice, and communities. The fund is designed to support organisations to develop and trial new models for engaging audiences that will increase immediate and future attendance, access and participation.

Funds can be used for costs that support the development and implementation of public or educational programs, provide seed funding to trial new models for public engagement and/or build new partnerships for audience development.