Business Grants

The First Nations Community Wi-Fi Program is an open competitive grant opportunity that will fund projects to provide free community Wi-Fi solutions in eligible remote and very remote First Nations communities.  The program aims to improve and expand the level of digital inclusion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by providing accessible, place-based solutions that are tailored to the needs of individual communities now and into the future.  Accessibility, affordability and sustainability are key features of the program. 

The objective of the Grant Opportunity is to:

• deliver place-based Community Wi-Fi solutions in remote and very remote First Nations communities, by 30 June 2027, that respond to local priorities and community needs, and is reliable, sustainable, stable, accessible, and free for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in those communities.

The First Nations Community Wi-Fi program grant opportunity will be delivered through an open competitive grants process administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (the department) in accordance with the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles 2024 (CGRPs).

You must satisfy all the eligibility criteria and be deemed eligible by the department to then be invited to submit a full application.

To be eligible you must:

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN), or be able to provide evidence of exemption
• be registered for the purpose of GST, or be able to provide evidence of exemption
• have an account with an Australian financial institution
• be a legal entity with the capacity to enter into a legally binding agreement or contract
• be a legal entity, able to enter into a legally binding agreement

and be one of the following entity types:

• a licensed telecommunications carrier under the Telecommunications Act 1997
• owner or intended owner of the Proposed Solution infrastructure who holds or intends to hold a Nominated Carrier Declaration (NCD) under the Telecommunications Act 1997 in relation to the infrastructure to be build improved/upgraded
• a joint (consortia) application, with a lead organisation, where at least one organisation must be a licensed telecommunications carrier or infrastructure owner who holds or intends to hold an NCD in relation to the infrastructure to be built, improved or upgraded.

CRC Grants are part of the CRC Program. The CRC Program supports industry, research and the community in 2 ways:

• CRC Grants – support medium to long term industry-led collaborative research, for up to 10 years.
• CRC Projects (CRC-P) grants – support short term, industry-led collaborative research, for up to 3 years.

CRC Grants provide funding for collaborations to solve industry identified problems.

CRCs must:

• be a medium to long-term industry-led collaborative research program
• aim to solve industry identified problems and improve the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of Australian industries
• include an industry-focused education and training program, including a PhD program that builds capability and capacity
• increase research and development (R&D) capacity in small to medium enterprises (SMEs)
• encourage industry take up of research

There is no specified limit to funding for each CRC. However, the number of CRC Grants funded in each selection round depends on the applications received and available funding.

Applicants must at least match the amount of grant funding sought through cash and/or in-kind contributions.

Eligible activities must relate directly to the project and may include:

• new research
• proof of concept activities
• pre-commercialisation of research outcomes
• industry-focused education and training
• conferences, workshops and communications
• collaboration with international organisations providing national benefits to Australia

You can only spend grant funds on expenses outlined in your grant agreement. You can find more information on eligibility in the grant opportunity guidelines.

The On Farm Connectivity Program Round 2 (the program) will run over 1 year in 2024-25. This program forms part of the Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia (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 Approved Supplier.

The Australian Government announced $30 million for the On Farm Connectivity program in the October 2023 budget with $15 million available for Round 1 and Round 2 of the program. A further $3 million is now being provided for Round 2.

For Round 2 of this grant opportunity $18 million is available in 2024-25.

The grant (rebate) amount will be up to 50% of the cost of eligible equipment item/s listed at Appendix B of the grant opportunity guidelines.

• The minimum grant (rebate) amount is $1,000 (GST exclusive).
• The maximum grant (rebate) amount is $30,000 (GST exclusive).

As an Approved Supplier listed at Appendix A, you can claim up to the maximum rebate amount for each eligible Primary Producer with an Australian Business Number (ABN).

Eligibility:

You can apply if you:

• are an Approved Supplier in appendix A of the grant opportunity guidelines
• supply an eligible connectivity solution and the associated eligible equipment as listed in Appendix B of the grant opportunity guidelines to an eligible Primary Producer (as defined in Appendix C of the grant opportunity guidelines) and provide a quote itemising the equipment to be supplied
• be able to supply (including delivery and installation if applicable) the eligible connectivity solution and associated eligible equipment to the eligible Primary Producer within the 120 calendar day period of approval
• ensure the Primary Producer’s ABN has been registered for 12 months prior to application submission and be at different locations if submitting multiple applications.

Only if the Primary Producer meets the eligibility criteria, and:

• are a registered business and have an ABN that has been active for the previous 12 months
• have an annual average gross income (i.e. total revenue before expenses and tax) from primary production of between $40,000 and $4 million. Annual average income is calculated as the average of the previous 3 full financial years’ income for each ABN
• are not a hobby farmer
• operate an eligible primary production activity listed at Appendix D of the grant opportunity guidelines.

This opportunity is part of the Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia (Better Connectivity Plan) which is providing more than $1.1 billion to rural and regional communities. Through the October 2022 Budget, the Government provided $656 million for the Better Connectivity Plan to improve mobile and broadband connectivity and resilience in rural and regional Australia.

Up to $55 million (GST exclusive) is available for Round 8 to fund deployment of new or upgraded mobile phone infrastructure that will provide resilient mobile coverage in regional and remote areas prone to Natural Disasters, to assist during times of emergency.  

This grant will deliver resilient new and improved mobile coverage and competition in areas prone to Natural Disasters, including bushfires, cyclones and floods, by co-funding with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)  and Mobile Network Infrastructure Providers (MNIPs) to deliver new or upgraded telecommunications infrastructure.

The grant opportunity will be administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA).

Infrastructure funded must deliver the mobile coverage outcomes to regional and remote communities for an operational period of 10 years.

To assist collaboration between local communities and the telecommunications industry, the Government has launched an online project noticeboard which enables local governments and state, territory and federal parliamentarians to identify potential projects or locations which would benefit from new and improved coverage. Industry applicants are encouraged to consider the proposed projects and locations on the Project Noticeboard when developing their applications.

Eligibility:

Applicants must:

·         have an Australian Business Number (ABN)

·         be one of the following entity types:

• a National Mobile Network Operator (MNO); or
• a  Mobile Network Infrastructure Provider (MNIP).

The BioSF is a competitive technology development and commercialisation program to meet the needs of industries and firms with potential to commercialise innovations aligned with the NSW 20-Year R&D Roadmap priority industries or technologies.

The objectives of the BioSF are to:

• improve commercialisation opportunities for NSW-based start-ups and businesses
• provide financial support to progress the development of new and innovative devices and systems across the branches of the biological sciences (biotechnology and life sciences), including biomanufacturing, genetic engineering, synthetic biology and agrifood
• realise benefits from innovation in NSW.

The intended outcomes of the BioSF are to:

• help promising start-ups develop their technologies, to the point they attract future funding and investment
• support the growth of innovative global companies headquartered in NSW
• deliver social, economic, and/or environmental benefits in NSW.

The BioSF targets companies with innovative products/systems within the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) range of 3 – 7 and aims to help them move along the TRL scale, commercialise their idea and enable them to attract large-scale private investment.

To be eligible for the Program applicants must:

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• be registered for the purposes of GST
• be headquartered in NSW
• be one of the following:
  • a company incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (including a company limited by guarantee)
  • an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and /or Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth)
  • an individual or partnership who agrees to form a company under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) so that the Department can enter into a legally binding Deed of Agreement
  • a NSW public research organisation or not-for-profit organisation applying through its appropriate technology transfer office or the Chief Executive Officer (or equivalent) of the organisation that will become a separate entity before entering into a legally binding Deed of Agreement with the NSW Government
• hold the intellectual property or the rights to commercialise the device/ system/innovation
• apply for one project per funding round.

The Community Energy Upgrades Fund Round 2 will provide matched funding of up to $2.5 million of eligible expenditure for energy efficiency and electrification upgrades for local governments to deliver reduced energy bills and emissions from local government-owned and/or operated facilities. The program will also support the Commonwealth led National Energy Performance Strategy (NEPS).

The objectives of the program are to support:

• the Government’s broader efforts to reduce emissions and improve energy performance, and contribute to Australia meeting its emission reduction targets of 43 percent by 2030, Net-Zero emissions by 2050, and 82% renewable electricity generation by 2030
• local governments to decarbonise their operations and reduce energy bills through energy efficiency and load flexibility upgrades, and electrification of their existing facilities
• the improvement in energy performance necessary to more easily utilise renewable electricity and improve system reliability.

The intended outcomes of the program are:

• reduced energy bills and emissions from local government-owned and/or operated facilities
• installed energy efficiency, load flexibility and electrification technology that is commercially available
• improved capability of local governments and the wider community to implement energy upgrades and electrification projects in their existing facilities
• increased capacity of domestic supply chains and labour force to support significant future investment in energy efficiency upgrades
• improved workforce skills in delivering and operating energy transition projects.

The program will deliver $100 million over 2 funding rounds and will run over 4 years from 2024-2025 to 2027-28.

You can apply if you:

• have an Australian business number (ABN)

And are one of the following entities:

• a local government body
• a joint local government body (as defined in section 14 of the guidelines).

The 2024-25 National Energy Bill Relief payment helps NSW small businesses pay their electricity bills. 

Eligible NSW small businesses who are embedded network (on-supply) customers can apply for a National Energy Bill Relief payment of up to $325 in financial year 2024-25 via this portal.  

Eligible small businesses who are retail customers will receive their Bill Relief payment automatically via their energy bills. Contact your energy retailer for more information.

The payment is delivered by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water on behalf of the Commonwealth Government.

The Regional Filming Fund offsets costs associated with shooting in regional areas of NSW. Regional NSW is defined as all areas in NSW outside the Sydney Metro area.

The objectives of the program are to:

• Increase economic activity in regional NSW, by encouraging NSW screen productions to film outside of metropolitan areas
• Enable regional NSW to benefit from the growth of film and television production in the State

Applicants must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

The production must film on location in Regional NSW for a minimum of five shooting days
in a single Local Government Area (LGA)
Please find the LGA map here.

• At least one of the Key Creatives must be NSW-based
• The production company must be registered in NSW and have its principal place of business in NSW unless the production has an eligible NSW Spend of at least $5 million
• The production must film on location in Regional NSW for a minimum of five shooting days
• At least 50% of the total budget must be expended in NSW
• Productions must be fully financed at the time of application, with the exception of contributions being sought from Screen NSW and other state, federal or international agencies (Note: they will only consider an application where those agencies have confirmed their contribution or if the application has been submitted to a funding round running concurrently with the Screen NSW round.)
• Productions that have been shortlisted for Screen Australia’s Documentary Production
• Producer Program or Multi-Platform Drama Fund may apply
• Feature films must have distribution in place
• Television drama, narrative comedy and factual/documentary programs must have a financial commitment from a broadcaster, subscription service or distributor.

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

• School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships – $10,000 one off payment to support school-based apprenticeships and traineeships.
• Post School Element – up to $30,000 (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) requirements from the year 2022 to the present day.
• Aboriginal Adult Apprenticeships and Traineeships (AAAT) – up to $40,000 to support the creation of employment of an apprenticeship or traineeship. Learners must be a minimum 21 years of age to be eligible.
• Permanent Ongoing Employment – up to $40,000 to support the creation of permanent employment.

The purpose of this grant opportunity is to provide funding for projects that improve the management, delivery or use of Medicare pathology services.

This grant opportunity will invest in projects that support the pathology sector and relevant interested parties to collaborate on innovative approaches to improve pathology related practices, including those that improve the economic efficiency, sustainability and quality delivery of the MBS pathology items, amongst requesters/referrers, providers, and consumers of pathology services.

The objectives of the grant opportunity are:

• Quality Pathology Practice: To support professional practice standards that meet consumer, and referral needs and provide evidence-based, best practice, quality-assured services that are safe, efficient, and cost effective and improve the economic efficiency, sustainability and quality delivery of the MBS pathology items
• Quality Referrals (Requesting/Ordering): To support referral practices that: are informed and facilitated by best practice professional relationships and protocols between referrers and providers; are informed by evidence; maximise health benefits; and inform and engage consumers and improve the economic efficiency, sustainability and quality delivery of the MBS pathology items, and
• Quality Consumer Services: To develop and improve consumer-focused, accessible, and coordinated services that promote informed choice, meet consumer needs, and improve the economic efficiency, sustainability and quality delivery of the MBS pathology items.

To be eligible you must 

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN) 
• are registered for the purposes of GST 
• are a permanent resident of Australia 
• have an account with an Australian financial institution,  

and 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
• Corporate State or Territory Entity
• Cooperative 
• Incorporated Association, or 
• Partnership. 

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

Applications from consortia are acceptable, providing there is a lead organisation that is solely accountable to the Commonwealth for the delivery of grant activities and is an eligible entity as per the list above. Only the lead organisation can submit the application form and enter into a grant agreement with the Commonwealth.

This quick response funding program is designed for domestic and international touring and travel activity for NSW contemporary music artists, acts and music industry professionals.

Funding can support domestic and international travel and accommodation costs for:

Artists and Acts

• tours by artists and acts performing new and original contemporary music
• performance at significant contemporary music industry events by artists and acts performing new and original contemporary music
• professional development opportunities including attendance at events, workshops, camps, mentorships and residencies.

Funding can support up to six people per touring party. This includes the artists and a maximum of two people with roles that support the artists to undertake the tour. These support roles include:     

• one operational crew member (e.g. tour manager or key technical production crew)      
• one support person for people with disability, family or cultural needs.

Sound NSW may consider supporting travel and accommodation costs for more than six people for larger groups or those with additional support needs. Please speak to Sound NSW staff for further advice.

Music Industry Professionals

• music industry professionals working in contemporary music to attend professional development opportunities, significant music industry events and/or identified business opportunities.

This program is open all year for applications, with monthly assessment meetings. Applications submitted by 12pm on the last Friday of each month (excluding December) will be grouped together for assessment. Applicants will be notified of the decision within 4 weeks of this date. 

Please see the frequently asked questions for a list of submission dates and activity start dates here.

Sound NSW may consider supporting applications outside this schedule for exceptional international opportunities (excluding tours). Please speak to Sound NSW staff for further advice.

This funding aims to:      

• increase performance opportunities for NSW artists     
• support NSW artists and industry professionals to have a national and global presence     
• strengthen the live music ecosystem     
• grow music audiences for NSW artists. 

The Graphite Research and Development (R&D) Grant provides Australian small to medium enterprises (SMEs) with funding and access to CSIRO experts on collaborative R&D projects.

These projects will focus on developing innovative technologies and processes essential for natural graphite production, particularly for battery applications.

This initiative will support development of a sustainable graphite industry in Australia, which is essential to meeting the growing global demand for battery anode materials. Australia is positioned to become a key supplier to the USA and other global markets by capitalising on its natural graphite deposits. This program supports R&D in areas like alternative feedstocks, efficient recycling methods, and purification techniques, contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable graphite production process.

Eligible SMEs can combine this grant with the CSIRO Kick-Start Program to unlock up to an additional $50,000 to conduct a collaborative research project with CSIRO.

To be eligible for this grant opportunity, you must:

• Be incorporated in Australia and have an Australian Business Number (ABN) and Australian Company Number (ACN)
• Be registered for GST
• Employ fewer than 200 people

The purpose of this grant is to provide Australian Government funding to support a wage increase for all eligible ECEC workers from December 2024.

Eligible ECEC workers include:

• workers covered by the Children’s Services Award 2010 and working in a Child Care Subsidy (CCS) approved Centre-Based Day Care (CBDC) or Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) service;
• workers covered by the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 and working in a CCS approved CBDC or OSHC service; and
• workers who are undertaking duties covered by the Children’s Services Award 2010 or Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 and working in a CCS approved CBDC or OSHC service but are not covered by these awards (including workers covered by a state industrial instrument, or working in a setting covered by a different award), and these duties constitute the majority of that workers role. 

Trainees who are undertaking a registered traineeship and whose pay and conditions are not covered by the Children’s Services Award 2010 or the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 are not included as eligible ECEC workers. 

To be eligible you must be a legal entity that provides CBDC or OSHC services (a Provider). One Provider may apply in relation to one or multiple service locations (Services) that the Provider owns and operates.

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

The program will provide:

• better situational awareness for pilots through improved electronic visibility of nearby airborne VFR and IFR 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:

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

To apply you must:

• be the registered owner of a crewed aircraft operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) or Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and shown in an approved registration database including:
• the CASA Australian aircraft register for VH aircraft (e.g. fixed wing, helicopter, balloon, glider) registration database managed by CASA
• an approved Australian Sport Aviation organisation:
  • Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus)
  • Australian Sport Rotorcraft Association (ASRA)
  • Sports Aviation Federation of Australia (SAFA).
• purchase and/or install in your registered aircraft:
  • a device which provides ADS-B-OUT functionality or an ADS-B EC device but not both, after 20 December 2021, or
  • a device which provides ADS-B-IN functionality or a device which provides ADS-B-IN and OUT functionality, after 31 May 2024.

If a grant was paid in respect of your aircraft under ADS-B Round 1 you are eligible to apply under the following conditions:

• the equipment adds ADS-B IN functionality that was not previously available, or
• you are upgrading from an EC device to installed equipment.

Reopening of the Bin Trim Equipment Rebates Program for eligible NSW businesses, councils, and organisations. $6 million has been allocated to continue the initiative for three years until 30 June 2027, or until all funding is used.

Rebates up to $50,000 are being offered to cover up to 50% of the cost of small-scale, on-site equipment or technology that avoids, reduces, reuses, or recycles waste. The initiative is aimed at supporting businesses to transition to a circular economy.

Some examples of equipment and technologies that may be funded include but are not limited to:

• balers
• briquette presses
• bulk bag stands and bulk bags
• cardboard perforator
• commercial worm farms
• compactors
• glass crushers
• granulators
• organics rapid decomposition units (where output is sent to a licenced composting facility)
• plastic injection moulders
• shredders
• smart scales and other food waste monitoring equipment
• source separation bins, wheelie bins, skip bins and other bin equipment – with bin signs and stickers
• trolleys to transport waste and maximise waste separation and diversion.

Businesses applying for the Rebates Program must:

• have a commercial and industrial (C&I) waste service at a site in NSW
• have a valid ABN and employ one or more full time employees in NSW, and
• send C&I waste to landfill in NSW.

Businesses can include entities that are registered charities, not-for-profits, public entities (including schools and hospitals), and government organisations.

The objective of the grant opportunity is to provide co-funding for dealerships and repairers to install EV chargers.

The intended outcomes of the grant opportunity are to:

• increase in the number of EV charging stations throughout the country including remote and regional areas
• increase the number of EVs on the roads.

You can apply if you:

• have an Australian business number (ABN)
• have an account with an Australian financial institution
• are an entity, incorporated in Australia.

You must also be one of the following:

• a licenced motor dealer/trader
• a service centre associated with a licenced motor dealer/trader
• an automotive repair business, compliant with Australian Standards 5732:202 2 (EV operations – maintenance and repair) and which has at least one current member of staff suitable qualified to undertake work on EVs.

To be eligible for a rebate, you must have purchased and installed at least one eligible smart EV charger(s) at an eligible site (listed in section 4.2 of the grant opportunity Guidelines) on or after 26 March 2024.

Eligible smart EV chargers include:

• AC plugs with 7 kW charging speed (single phase)
• AC plugs with 11-22 kW charging speed
• DC plugs with 50 kW or less charging speed.

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

Trial a young person to find out if they're the right fit for your business and get $1000 to help cover the costs of the trial. During the trial, you don't pay the young person. Instead, the Australian Government gives them $200 a fortnight on top of their income support and covers their insurance.

Businesses can also receive up to $10,000 (GST inclusive) through a Youth Bonus wage subsidy if they hire an eligible young person between 15 and 24 years of age.

The young person must:

• be a fully eligible participant, commenced with a jobactive or Transition to Work provider
• have received employment services from a provider (jobactive, Transition to Work, Disability Employment Services or Community Development Programme provider) continuously for the last six months
• have mutual obligation requirements at the time they commence in the wage subsidised job
• not been in a pre-existing employment relation with you in the previous six months
• not be an immediate family member.