Community Grants and Funding Opportunities

Aurizon, working in conjunction with Good2Give, has established the Aurizon Community Giving Fund to provide cash grants for charitable initiatives and projects aimed to improve the health and wellbeing, community safety, the environment and education in local communities in which Aurizon operates and our employees reside.

The Aurizon Community Giving Fund is focused on the areas of health and wellbeing, community safety, the environment and education. All applications for an Aurizon Community Giving Fund grant must fit within at least one of these funding categories to be eligible for consideration.

• Health & Wellbeing
• Community Safety
• The Environment
• Education

Better Futures Grants provide $50,000 per year for two years to support organisations optimising opportunities for primary school aged children experiencing disadvantage to learn. 

The focus is on primary school aged children (5-12 years) experiencing education disadvantage: students from low socio-economic backgrounds, First Nations students, students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those living in regional and remote locations. 

Eligibility Criteria 

• Endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient Status Item 1 (DGR1).  
• Registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC).  
• Organisation has an annual gross revenue between $1M and $5M.  
• Can provide recent financial statements (organisations with annual revenue above $3M need to provide audited statements, signed by the auditor).   
• Proposed program is located in Australia.  

The Rheem Apprentice Plumber Grants will recognise applicants who embody qualities that make an exceptional plumber. An independent judging panel will be looking for applicants who are passionate about what they do, how they’ve overcome challenges in their career to get where they are now, and how they contribute to their local community.

This year there are 25 grants on offer, each valued at $3,000. Each grant includes $2,000 to go towards TAFE/RTO fees and textbooks, and a $1,000 tool voucher to help build your toolbox.

To be eligible, you must be an apprentice plumber or gas fitter in Australia, either current or starting in 2026*.

*Grant recipients from previous years are not eligible to enter. If you have previously entered but were unsuccessful, you are still eligible to enter in 2026.

Established to inspire teenagers affected by cancer to achieve their goals and ambitions, the Dare to Dream Scholarship scholarship helps teenagers build their future.

It is open to any teenager (aged 13-18 years old) in Australia who has cancer or has had cancer at any point in their life.

Teens can receive up to $5,000 to help them achieve a goal, including but not limited to:

• Tools and courses to develop creativity
• Music, audio, and visual equipment
• Computers and software
• Building fitness, sport or dance skills
• Tutors for big exams or school catch up
• Courses, coaching, classes, or university
• Pursuing a personal interest or social justice causes

100 Women is a collaborative giving circle gathering everyday people to create significant change for women and girls. We are passionate about amplifying giving power and celebrating the life-changing impact we can achieve together. We aim to fund multiple projects through our annual grant program.

They love to support projects that empower women and girls to reach their full potential and create positive change in their communities. Specifically, supporting initiatives that address one or more of their focus areas:

• Education, Skills & Confidence: Enable women and girls to gain the skills, confidence, and opportunities to pursue their goals
• Economic Empowerment: Women and girls achieve financial security, dignity and active participation in the economy
• Health & Wellbeing: Women and girls thrive and live healthy, connected and fulfilling lives
• Safety, Recovery & Long-Term Resilience: Women and girls are safe from coercive control and violence and have the resources to rebuild their lives with stability and resilience
• UN Sustainability Goal #5: Any of the targets to reach Gender Equality (UN Sustainable Development Goals)

100 Women values projects addressing multiple, interconnected needs, recognising that meaningful change often spans education, health, safety, and economic opportunity.

This program is designed to grow and support the live music ecosystem in NSW through investment in the operations of established music festivals, alleviating short-term financial challenges and improving business and job retention during the cost-of-living crisis.

Funding will be available for government-related and operational costs for contemporary music festivals with an event capacity of at least 15,000 and are currently experiencing financial challenges.

Applications will be accepted on an as needs basis while the funding program is open. The program will close when the budget is exhausted, or 30 April 2026, whichever comes first.

Successful applicants will receive two milestone payments:

* Payment One – 50% of approved funds within 30 days of the execution of the funding agreement and meeting any preconditions to payment

* Payment Two – upon completion of the milestones set out in the funding agreement and successful delivery of the festival, the lesser of:

• the amount required to reach break-even, or
• the remaining 50% of the grant amount.
• If festival ticket sales are higher than break even, the remaining funding will not be paid.

Please see the Eligibility section for a full breakdown of the types of festivals that can apply and the costs that are covered.

This funding aims to:

• improve short-term viability for festival operators in NSW
• support contemporary music festivals and operators vital to the NSW music landscape
• reduce burden and risk for organisers
• build confidence for audiences and the broader music industry.

Who can apply

A music festival that:

• is presented in NSW
• programs new and original contemporary music
• has music as the primary focus of the festival
• has approved event capacity of 15,000 and above per day
• has evidence of previously delivering festivals over 15,000 capacity
• is a paid and ticketed event
• has occurred in NSW at least five times over the last ten years
• is to be held within 3 months of application submission
• is Australian owned or has part international ownership
• can demonstrate/legally declare solvency
• does not have NSW Government Hallmark status

For the purpose of this program:

• a music festival is defined as an advertised event that calls itself a music festival, has music as its primary focus, consists of at least five performances, is marketed under a single banner with a collective running time of at least five hours, and can be single or consecutive multiple days
• a contemporary music festival refers to a festival that is predominantly programming artists and acts performing new and original music
• artforms not supported through this program are:
  • experimental music and sound art
  • contemporary classical, opera, choral and ensembles.

Lesbians Incorporated has established a community grants program to give out up to $5,000 in grants per successful application for 2026. 

To be eligible for funding, projects must demonstrate that they:

• meet an identified social, cultural, educational, health, welfare, recreational, personal development or legal need of the lesbian community;
• target discrimination against lesbians and/or aim to improve the civil rights and/or status of lesbians within the general community;
• aim to improve the access of lesbians to programs, services, activities and opportunities available to the general community;
• aim to increase the vocational training and/or employment opportunities of lesbians.

Projects may aim to benefit the lesbian community in general or one or more groups within the lesbian community. Groups may be racial, cultural, or geographic, or may have specific identified needs or shared interests and concerns. LInc considers the children of lesbians as part of the lesbian community.

Who May Apply?

Individual lesbians or lesbian-based/lesbian-friendly non-profit organisations from throughout Australia are eligible to apply for funds. LInc is an inclusive organisation and supports those who identify as women, wom*n, trans-femme and femme identifying, or non-binary and all are welcome to apply for a grant. Projects creating and supporting spaces for lesbians, dykes, gay, bisexual, gender diverse, asexual and queer women are encouraged.

Lesbians Inc, grants are not available to assist businesses. If you are a sole trader/business and have an idea for a project, you may apply as long as the project shows a clear benefit to the LGBTQ+ community. Applicants will need to demonstrate expertise or experience relevant to the project.

Eligible Projects

Eligible projects reflect the objectives of the Community Grants Program and fall within a category appropriate to the funding program. Categories are:

• Literary, visual or performing arts activities or functions
• Social functions
• Classes or workshops
• Production of information or resources for educational or promotional purposes
• Support groups or services
• Advisory services
• Sporting and recreational activities or functions
• Other appropriate activities or services approved by LInc

Per capita grants help cover school operating costs such as teaching materials, staff wages and new equipment for community language schools. The amount of the grant is based on the number of students who have enrolled in your community language school.

You may receive a per capita grant if your community language school:

• has been operating for more than 12 months
• is managed by an organisation which is a not-for-profit legal entity
• is located more than two kilometres away from any other community language school that teaches the same language
• normally has a minimum of 20 school-aged students enrolled. (Schools outside a metropolitan area with less than 20 students may be eligible for funding in some circumstances.)
• is open to school students from Kindergarten to Year 12, regardless of their language background
• has students who attend at least 70 per cent of lessons in Term 1
• holds classes outside school hours for at least 35 weeks of the year
• provides a minimum of two hours per week face-to-face language teaching based on a sound educational program.

You can use the grant for:

• teaching materials
• stationery, photocopying
• technology
• payments to teachers
• buying educational equipment
• expenses associated with the administration of the schools.

You cannot use the grant for capital purposes such as buildings, repairs, maintenance or renovations.

The Royal Freemasons Benevolent Institution (RFBI) Benevolence Grant Program supports community-led initiatives that help improve the health and well-being of older people, particularly in areas where RFBI operates. It will run from July 2026 to June 2030.

Australian charities and not-for-profit organisations that can enter into a legal agreement and hold an Australian bank account are welcome to apply. Those not eligible for a grant include individuals, unincorporated groups, government agencies and overseas organisations.

Funding can be used for operational or service‑delivery costs that directly support the project, including staff time.

RFBI can fund up to 80% of project costs. Applicants are asked to contribute at least 20% through either financial or in-kind support. This helps strengthen the long-term sustainability of projects.

Co-funding supports shared ownership and helps ensure projects have a strong foundation beyond the grant period. The program focuses on charities and not-for-profits that are best placed to deliver community-level outcomes, complementing existing government funding pathways.

Skip Ahead is a joint initiative of Screen Australia and YouTube Australia. Since 2014, over the course of nine funding rounds, Skip Ahead has supported 47 YouTube content creators and their projects to develop their skills and support them to work towards sustainable careers.

Skip Ahead is open to both documentary and scripted narrative projects from Australian content creators where the producers and creators of the content maintain and retain control of self-distributing the work and taking it to audience on YouTube or YouTube Kids. 

Skip Ahead aims to:

• support a new generation of online/direct-to-audience storytellers and IP creators to expand their vision and ambition;

• cultivate original Australian documentary or scripted narrative content made specifically for local and global online audiences; and,

• ensure the storytellers and stories being told reflect the diversity of people and experiences from around Australia, and promoting their importance - culturally, creatively and economically.

Eligible Entities

Applicants can apply as a company or in certain circumstances, an individual* (either alone or as part of a team). To be eligible, the applicant must: 

• be an incorporated company carrying on business in Australia, with its central management and control in Australia;

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN);

• be registered for the purposes of GST if required by law;

• control the rights necessary to carry out the project, meaning that it must have clear chain of title and must generally be party to any underlying rights agreements;

• maintain and retain control of self-distributing the project and taking it to audience on YouTube or YouTube Kids; and

• be the original content creator or team responsible for one of the following:

• a current YouTube channel with at least 25,000 subscribers; OR

• a maximum of two current YouTube channels with a combined subscriber base of 40,000; OR

• a YouTube video which has achieved a minimum of 1 million views on a Youtube channel which has a subscriber base of at least 10,000.

Applicants must meet at least one of the requirements listed above to be eligible. 

*Applications will be accepted from eligible individuals (sole traders) that are Australian citizens or permanent residents (holding a permanent visa), who are over the age of 18 and have an ABN. However, if successful, the applicant must incorporate as a company before contracting with Screen Australia for production funding. 

Genuine collaborations between a YouTube content creator(s) and established producers, production companies and/or entertainment properties are encouraged and may strengthen an application.

Project Eligibility

The project that is the subject of the application must:

• be for a scripted narrative project of any genre or documentary;

• be intended to be uploaded to YouTube and/or YouTube Kids;

• not be a ‘How to...’ or lifestyle program (including travel and cooking) or reality;

• not have entered pre-production or production prior to the conclusion of the workshop dates; and,

• not be an advertorial or intended primarily as advertising or marketing material.

The ETREA Foundation is committed to making a positive difference in our world. They exist to provide financial support that bridges the gap between self-empowerment ideals and existing community support. The projects, initiatives and activities funded by the ETREA Foundation create outcomes to empower humanity through emotional health. They enable people to become equipped in order to strive towards their goals and achieve their inner potential. Their aim is to encourage, support and cultivate the essence of personal empowerment and life-balance.

Is your project the right fit?
Make sure you/your organisation and your project align to the ETREA Foundation:

• Located and facilitated within Australia
• Aligned with ETREA Foundation purpose, values and guiding principles
• Addresses the emotional and mental trauma of project participants
• Participants are given a ‘hand-up’ not a ‘hand-out’.

Types of projects they fund

• Facilitating a project (e.g. workshop, mentoring, small group therapy, personal development course)
• Development of a workshop, personal development course, therapy group, mentoring

Eligible grant activities
To be eligible your grant project or activity must include or address most of the following:

• Work with individuals or groups
• Have the purpose of providing personal guidance, growth and self-understanding
• Address core internal beliefs and thoughts, emotions and behaviours that have caused emotional distress or poor emotional health.
• Provide practical mental skills and strategies
• Aim to break negative cycles of disempowerment
• Activities directly related to the project and can include:
  • Mentoring
  • Small group workshops / seminars
  • Education / information to develop participants knowledge
  • Development of collaborative plans for the individual
  • Coaching
  • Counselling
  • Retreats
  • Other activities that enable the participant to achieve understanding of mental and emotional causes

Types of projects they DON’T fund
The application for your project will be ineligible if it is for or part of any of the following:

• Associated, affiliated, run, part of or otherwise linked to a religion
• Associated with gambling, unethical behaviours, are harmful to people including Indigenous people, or are harmful to the environment
• Individual persons
• Overseas resident/organisation
• Fundraising
• Development of a website
• Purchase of equipment, food, clothing, etc
• Training for individuals, volunteers 5
• Marketing or Research

The NSW Government has established the ARC - Community Participation Stream 2, with funding of up to $25 million available to increase liveability and social cohesion of communities through greater participation in community activities.

The objective of the Community Participation Stream is to increase liveability and social cohesion of communities through greater participation in community activities that contribute to the wellbeing, social or economic participation of residents.

Eligible projects that can be supported by a Community Participation grant will increase participation in the type of community activities that contribute to the wellbeing, social or economic participation of residents, to achieve the program objective at 1.3. and can include:

• new and improved infrastructure and/or activation of under-used assets
• new or expanded services or programs, that increase access to, or improve the diversity of community activities and cohorts that can participate
• addressing barriers to participation, improving the amenity of activities with facilities, childcare (creche), increased safety, supervision and/or transport.

Projects must be able to meet the project delivery timeframe listed in the Key Information.

The Lendlease Foundation Community Grants Program is an initiative to aid not-for-profit community organisations and charities. Each year a theme is chosen which aligns with the Lendlease Sustainability Framework focus areas.

Organisations that wish to apply must address a community need aligned with the chosen theme. In 2026 this will be applications from organisations that provide skilling, training, education, and employment to people with disabilities.

Successful applicants are selected using the following criteria:

• Organisation must be Not-for-profit with Deductable Gift Recipient (DGR) Item 1 status or Tax Concession Charity (TCC) by the Australian Tax Office and/or registered with the ACNC.
• Registered ABN (not individual or sole trader)
• Management committee with at least three unrelated members aged 18 years or over
• Organisation must provide skilling, training, education and/or employment to people with a disability
• Organisation cannot already be a Lendlease Foundation Shared Value Partner
• Additional points will be given if the organisation can provide ongoing volunteer opportunities
• Additional points will be given if the organisation has a relationship with a Lendlease site, business or employee who actively volunteers.
• No conflicts of interest between your organisation and Lendlease.
• Applications will need to provide information on what difference the grant will make to the organisation and the people/community it supports, with emphasis on the broad reach and longevity of the programs.

The 2026 grants are targeting small to medium enterprises with employees of up to 300 people and annual turnover of up to $100M.

Applications will be assessed for eligibility by the Community Enterprise Foundation and final recommendations for funding will be made by Lendlease.

Building Digital Skills grants help organisations deliver free Be Connected digital literacy programs to older Australians in their community.

Building Digital Skills grants of up to $20,500 help organisations to support older Australians aged 50+ through free digital mentoring sessions. A range of resources and support materials are available to help organisations to deliver this program, including the learning courses available on the Be Connected learning site.

The REAL Program builds on the Time to Work Employment Service and aims to improve outcomes for First Nations people exiting the justice system by providing support to reestablish themselves in the community. The Program offers pre-release, and post-release supports to help people to reintegrate into their communities and engage with employment, education and training. In addition, the Program will facilitate connection to culture, Country and language, where appropriate.

The Program responds to extensive consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, communities and evidence on how to improve support in the transition from the justice system to employment. Phase 1 of the Program commenced earlier this year in a cross section of facilities.

To be eligible, you must be one of the following entity types:

• Company
• Cooperative
• Corporate Commonwealth Entity
• Corporate State or Territory Entity
• Incorporated Association
• Indigenous Corporation
• Local Government
• Non-corporate Commonwealth Statutory Authority
• Non-corporate State or Territory Entity
• Non-corporate State or Territory Statutory Authority
• Partnership
• Sole Trader
• Statutory Entity.

If you are applying as a Trustee on behalf of a Trust, the Trustee must be one of the eligible entity types as listed above.

The Community Heritage Grants (CHG) program supports community organisations to look after Australian cultural heritage collections. Since 1994, this program has provided more than $8.9 million dollars in funding to over 1650 projects across Australia.

CHG is open to non-profit, incorporated organisations. The program has a strong focus on supporting local groups with limited funding who would benefit from access to professional cultural heritage expertise. Applications from Indigenous and multicultural organisations are encouraged.

The annual round offers cash grants of up to $20,000. The first two stages support organisations to work with heritage practitioners to:

• Explain the meaning and value of their collections (a significance assessment)
• Outline the condition of their collections and create a plan to manage it (a preservation needs assessment)

In the third and final stage, organisations can apply for funding to:

• Undertake conservation and collection management activities as recommended in the preservation needs assessment

Funding is also available for:

• Collection management training projects

The community native fish stocking grants program provides two dollars in funds for every one dollar in funds offered by community groups to stock native fish (Australian Bass, Murray Cod, Golden Perch) into rivers and dams across NSW.  The objectives of the program are to support local communities in the stocking of high value native fish to protect and enhance our valuable state-wide recreational fisheries. The program also supports the development of regional aquaculture ventures which produce high quality fish stock for release into public waters to benefit recreational fishers.

Who can apply

• Non-government and not-for-profit groups undertaking approved fish stocking activities in NSW public waters (a group includes a fishing club or other community service organisation).
• Individuals involved in community fish stocking programs to benefit recreational fisheries.
• NSW councils and local government agencies.
• HQAS accredited fish hatcheries (to supply fish for the program). 

The Qantas Regional Grants program offers $2 million in support to Australian-based communities and projects that are looking to benefit our country's regional areas.

The Qantas Regional Grants judging panel will determine the successful applicants each year. The panel will examine all eligible entries and select applicants that they determine best meet all the criteria below.

1. The extent to which the applicant directly services a regional community need and demonstrates a measurable socioeconomic impact.
2. The extent to which the applicant can maximise local community benefits in regional Australia with the Qantas Regional Grants Program funding.
3. The extent to which the project or activity will celebrate and highlight the work of the applicant and help boost the profile and strength of the applicant for the future.
4. The ability of the applicant to demonstrate innovation in their project strategy, goals and mission, and how these align to improving their service offering and increasing regional impact.

This initiative provides free and independent financial counselling to eligible farmers, fishers, foresters and small-related enterprises who are experiencing, or at risk, of financial hardship.

This program is ongoing and is subject to regular and open approaches to market. Funding rounds and approaches have been continually reviewed and adjusted over the years to improve the performance of the program and drive efficiencies to support structural adjustment in the agricultural sector in times of financial hardship.

The objective of the program is to support structural adjustment through transitioning clients out of immediate financial crisis or concerns, assessing business viability to make informed decisions about the future of the business and improving financial wellbeing and resilience through building clients’ financial knowledge and skills, and by referring clients to other professional services.

The ultimate outcome is financially capable agricultural, fishing and forestry businesses that are profitable, financially self-reliant and resilient. Grantees drive these changes through case management and effective and efficient client engagement.

A key performance indicator for the program is that a minimum of 80% of clients receiving services are case-managed and on exiting the service have come to a better understanding of their financial position and have met their goals to make an informed decision outlined in the program outcomes and objectives listed in the program logic.

To be eligible, you must be one of the following entity types:

• Company
• Cooperative
• Incorporated Association
• Indigenous Corporation.

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

To be eligible you must be a legal entity with an Australian Business Number (ABN), have or are able to create an account with an Australian financial institution and be capable of entering into a legally binding and enforceable grant agreement with the Commonwealth.

The Regional Community Bands Program supports the work of community bands in regional NSW through an annual program providing small grants to support their activities.

Through on-demand, quick response funding, the program will address challenges in sustaining community bands in regional NSW due to limited access to funding, dispersed populations from which to draw membership and travel required for members to participate.

The intended outcomes of the Program are:

• Increased access to music activities and education in regional communities
• A stable or increased number of active regional community bands across NSW
• Increased community connections in regional communities
• Increased youth engagement and participation in regional NSW community bands.