Business Grants

The Australian Government is inviting applications from Child Care Subsidy approved providers to set up new centre based day care and family day care services under this Grant Opportunity.  

The objectives of the grant opportunity are to:

• assist eligible providers to establish new early childhood services in disadvantaged regional and remote areas of Australia where there is an absence, or limited supply, of approved centre based day care (CBDC) or family day care (FDC) services (see Glossary)
• support new services to build capacity and operate sustainably under the ECEC system
• support new services to increase access to early childhood education and enable local workforce participation.

The intended outcomes of the grant opportunity are to:

• establish new early childhood services in disadvantaged regional or remote communities where there is a gap in the supply of approved services
• support newly established services in disadvantaged regional and remote communities to operate sustainably, engage local workforce, and address community level barriers to participation in early childhood education
• increase the number of children from disadvantaged regional and remote areas accessing early childhood education
• increase the availability of approved early childhood education in disadvantaged regional and remote communities with high unmet demand through capital works projects.

The Reviving International Tourism Grant Program (RITG) is designed to assist eligible small to medium enterprises (SMEs) that work directly within the Australian tourism export or travel wholesale industry sectors (inbound tour operator or outbound tour operator/travel wholesaler) to rebuild and strengthen international supply chains by undertaking demand driving activities such as attending expos, business development and marketing.

The key objectives of RITG are to:

• attract and drive visitation from key international markets to Australia, including to regional areas
• aid recovery of the tourism exporters (inbound tour operators) and travel wholesalers (outbound tour operators/travel wholesalers) most significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and
• support the diversification of inbound international tourism markets, both from existing and emerging markets.

Stream 1 of RITG (Reconnect with international markets) has grant funding of up to $6m to attend approved events (including trade missions, international expos and conventions) with the goal of helping eligible tourism exporters (inbound tour operators) and travel wholesalers (outbound tour operators/travel wholesalers) attract or reconnect with international markets.

This program will complement the Australian Made Battery Plan by establishing the Powering Australia Industry Growth Centre (PAIGC) which will support Australian businesses in developing and adopting new renewable technologies, including batteries.

The objective of the program is to establish the national PAIGC to:

• support businesses looking to locally manufacture renewable technologies and commercialise local ideas;
• encourage connection between critical minerals producers and renewables manufacturers;
• facilitate partnerships between governments, research institutions, and industry to drive the development and adoption of renewable technologies in Australia;
• support businesses in navigating battery regulatory barriers; and
• support First Nations businesses to contribute to the development of renewable technologies through engagement of a First Nations Business Advisor.

The intended outcomes of the program are to:

• grow Australia’s renewables technologies industry and establish Australia as a leader in renewables technologies by:
• increasing the development and adoption of renewable technologies and processes across Australian industries and firms;
• increasing domestic demand for renewable technologies;
• increasing Australia’s competitiveness in international renewable technologies markets;
• upskilling workers to service the renewable technologies industry;
• uplifting capabilities of businesses to overcome battery regulatory barriers; and
• developing domestic end-to-end battery and other renewables supply chains.
• increase First Nations business participation in the development of renewable technologies
• support Australia’s emission reduction targets by driving industry’s transition to clean energy through the adoption of new technologies
• support economic growth and job opportunities within the renewable technologies industry.

The grant amount will be up to 60 per cent of eligible expenditure up to a maximum of $14 million. You are responsible for the remaining eligible and ineligible project costs.

The Australian Government is subsidising 1,000 new jobs for Community Development Program participants in remote Australia to support economic development. 

Positions will be: 

• Subsidised up to the minimum wage of $19.49 (based on the 2019-2020 minimum wage).
• Subsidised up to 38 hours per week for up to 46 weeks per year, with the subsidy tapering in the second year to 50 per cent with additional retention bonuses.  

Positions must be: 

• New and ongoing 
• Full-time or Part-time
• At least 15 hours per week on average

The Defence Global Competitiveness Grants will help Australian SMEs to invest in projects that build export capability to build a stronger, more sustainable and globally competitive Australian defence industry. The Defence Export Strategy defines Australian defence exports as “any defence-specific or dual-use goods or services exported by Australian defence industry, including as part of a supply chain, that are intended for a defence or national security end-user”.

Funding is for up to 50% of eligible project costs.

Project activities can include:

• buying, leasing, constructing, installing or commissioning of capital equipment including specialist software to enhance cyber security.
• design, engineering and commissioning activities.
• workforce training and accreditations.

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 Employment – $30,000 up to $40,000 (dependant on level of position) to support permanent employment.
• Temporary Secondment – $20,000 up to $40,000 (dependant on level 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.

The objective of the program is to help primary producers and primary production enterprises impacted by the February and March 2022 NSW Severe Weather and Flooding events to rebuild and recover in the medium to longer term with the aim of supporting job security, future resilience and enabling future production.

The Critical Producer Grant is available to primary producers and primary production enterprises in targeted industries impacted by and operating in Local Government Areas declared under the February and March 2022 NSW Severe Weather and Flooding.

Primary producers and primary production enterprises who have been approved for the full value of the $75,000 Special Disaster Grantlaunch in the agriculture, horticulture and aquaculture industry sectors are considered eligible for additional recovery support through the Critical Producer Grant. Forestry support is available for private native forestry leaseholders and timber plantation owners.

Targeted Industries

• Agriculture – dairy, extensive livestock (sheep and cattle), intensive livestock (pork and poultry), apiculture and broadacre cropping
• Aquaculture – oysters, mussels and fisheries
• Horticulture – turf, vegetables, berries, cut flowers and plant nurseries, perennial tree crops (nut crops, tea tree etc)
• Forestry – private native forests and timber plantations.

Support available per sector

• Dairy – up to $100,000 per applicant
• Extensive livestock – up to $75,000 per applicant
• Intensive livestock – up to $50,000 per applicant
• Apiculture – up to $50,000 per applicant
• Broadacre cropping – up to $75,000 per applicant
• Aquaculture – up to $30,000 per applicant
• Fisheries – up to $30,000 per applicant
• Turf – up to $75,000 per applicant
• Vegetables, berries, cut flowers and plant nurseries – up to $30,000 per applicant
• Perennial tree crops – up to $75,000 per applicant
• Private native forests – up to $10,000 per applicant.

Primary producers recovering from the devastating impacts of floods can receive vital support, with Category D Special Disaster Grants of up to $75,000 now available.

Flood affected primary producers are encouraged to apply for the grant to support recovery and get back operating as soon as possible.

Once approved, primary producers may be eligible for a $25,000 up-front payment, with a further $50,000 in financial assistance available thereafter upon submission of valid tax invoices.

If you're a small business or a not-for-profit organisation in NSW and you've been directly impacted by storms and floods from 4 August 2022 or 14 September 2022 onwards, you may be eligible for a storm and flood disaster recovery small business grant.

This disaster recovery grant of up to $50,000 is to help pay for the costs of clean-up and reinstatement of a small business or not-for-profit organisation’s operations.

Under the NSW Electric Vehicle Strategy, this investment will expand existing public fast charging across the state. This involves co-funding private industry to build and operate charging stations every 100km along major NSW highways, and every 5km along commuter corridors in metropolitan NSW.

With an expected increase in EV ownership across the state, your site could benefit by getting a head start on the market and appeal to EV drivers. Businesses, commercial property owners and managers, local councils as well as site operators and owners across NSW will have the chance to be part of the world-class charging network.

Expressions of interest (EOI) are now open for site hosts. The NSW Government are particularly interested in receiving EOIs for sites identified as optimal zones on the NSW EV fast charging master plan map. However, still complete an EOI even if your site(s) is not in one of the identified optimal zones. After you have submitted an EOI, your contact information will be made privately available to EV fast charging grant applicants. If you have registered your site in an earlier round it will remain on the list so there is no need to resubmit an EOI.

Over the next 4 years there may be multiple funding rounds to support the construction of EV fast charging stations.

Once funding rounds begin, charging providers that are applying for funding may contact you directly – using the details provided by you in your EOI – to discuss the opportunity to install and operate charging infrastructure on your site. Your information will only be provided to interested charging providers, and it will not be publicly available.

The Reviving International Tourism Grant Program (RITG) is designed to assist eligible small to medium enterprises (SMEs) that work directly within the Australian tourism export or travel wholesale industry sectors (inbound tour operators or outbound tour operators/travel wholesalers) to rebuild and strengthen international supply chains by undertaking demand driving activities such as attending expos, business development and marketing.

The key objectives of RITG are to:

• attract and drive visitation from key international markets to Australia, including to regional areas
• aid recovery of the tourism exporters (inbound tour operators) and travel wholesalers (outbound tour operators/travel wholesalers) most significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and
• support the diversification of inbound international tourism markets, both from existing and emerging markets.
• RITG aligns with Priority 6 of the THRIVE 2030 strategy – Build markets and attract visitors and Priority 4 - Embrace leading-edge business practices.

Stream 2 – Digital uplift - has grant funding up to $3m to undertake digital uplift activities including website overhaul/audit, online booking capability, integration and automation of systems, production of brochures, social media modernisation and accessibility upgrades.

Up to $10,000 per employee for the costs of relocating staff from metropolitan centres around Australia to Regional NSW. For example, a business can receive pre-approval for relocation of 50 employees with a grant of up to $500,000.

A Skills Package for accredited training and industry related disciplines is also offered.  This includes:

• An account manager to support workforce development strategic needs assessment.

• Development of bespoke training solutions for the investor workforce and SME supply chain.

• Subsidy assistance.

Traineeships are a proven pathway to well-paid jobs in a diverse range of careers. In NSW, traineeships are also fee free.

There are more than 390 traineeship courses funded in NSW, in a range of industries including early childhood, health and allied services, business, IT, hospitality and warehouse operations.

Fee free traineeships are available to NSW trainees – including school-based trainees whose training:

• is funded under the NSW Government’s Smart and Skilled Program
• commenced on or after 1 January 2020.

If you have previously commenced your Smart and Skilled traineeship training before 1 January 2020 and are returning to a traineeship after 1 January 2020, you will be eligible for fee free for the remainder of your training if your traineeship course or your employer has changed.

Each student is limited to a maximum of commencing three fee free traineeships under this initiative.

Rural GPs providing unsupervised anaesthetics, obstetrics, surgery and/or emergency medicine may be eligible for the Rural Procedural Grants Program (RPGP) to help maintain and update your skills.

The Rural Procedural Grants Program (RPGP) provides financial assistance to GPs who provide procedural and/or emergency medicine services in unsupervised settings in rural and remote areas. This government funding supports GPs with access to relevant educational activities to maintain or update their procedural and/or emergency medicine skills.

Procedural GPs can receive up to $20,000 per financial year, and GPs providing hospital-based emergency services can receive up to $6000 per financial year. Additional funding of $6000 per financial year is available for eligible GPs providing emergency mental health services.

The purpose of the 2023 COVID-19 Aged Care Support Program grant opportunity is to support providers to transition towards managing the costs of COVID-19 outbreaks as part of their business-as-usual arrangements. The Program will reimburse approved aged care providers to maintain preparedness for, and respond to, outbreaks in the 2023 calendar
year for eligible expenditure incurred in managing direct impacts of COVID-19 up to a maximum grant value per  operational place for residential aged care providers or number of home care packages for home care providers.

The objective of the program is to support the provision of safe and quality care for older Australians in their choice of
care through regulatory activities, collaboration with the aged care sector and consumers, as well as capacity building and awareness raising activities.

The intended outcomes of the program are:

• consumers of Aged Care Services directly impacted by COVID-19, experience safe and quality care; and
• the financial costs of managing direct impacts of COVID-19 are reduced for eligible Aged Care services

For the Reimbursement Stream, the government will reimburse up to a capped amount based on the number of operational places for residential aged care providers or number of home care packages for home care providers.

This includes:

• • Residential Aged Care and NATSIFACP services, the maximum grant value has two components: a base funding allocation of $20,000 plus a funding allocation of $2,000 for each operational place.
• • Home Care services, the maximum grant value has a single component: a funding allocation of $650 per client.

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

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

You can only apply for concessional this loan if your small business is currently or has been supplying goods or services relating to primary production to farm businesses in an affected area. This loan is not available to farm businesses.

The loan is for ten years and has no fees, 2 years interest free, 3 years interest only and 5 years principal and interest.

It may be used for:

• refinance your debt
• pay suppliers
• pay for operating expenses
• pay salaries, wages and rent

The Impact Investment Ready Growth Grant provides impact businesses and mission-driven organisations with grants of up to $140,000 for business, financial, legal and other capacity building support from providers to secure investment.

Growth Grants were created in recognition of the potential for impact investing to change the way Australia addresses social issues and the important role that access to capital can play in delivering better outcomes for people and communities. They support enterprises that are high growth, can deliver positive social outcomes and have the potential to secure capital investment.

The Newsagents Assistance Fund assists eligible agents to update their NSW Lotteries retail image and fit-out to align with the NSW Lotteries brand.

The Newsagents Assistance Fund is available to NSW Lotteries Agents that were active on 30 January 2015