Community Grants and Funding Opportunities

When fishing in NSW waters, both freshwater and saltwater, recreational fishers are required to pay the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee. All money raised by the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee is placed into the Recreational Fishing Trusts and spent on improving recreational fishing in NSW.

Anyone can apply for funding from the Recreational Fishing Trusts, including fishing clubs and organisations, universities, councils, community groups, individuals and so on. Joint applications are also encouraged.

In the past, the Trusts have provided funding for a wide range of projects, including:

• recreational fishing education such as fishing workshops and clinics including teaching kids and adults how to fish and fishing for therapy, Fishcare volunteers, schools education, fishing advisory, increasing participation in recreational fishing & other fishing club events to promote fishing
• fishing access and facilities - fishing amenities such as platforms, cleaning tables, kayak launching platforms, access upgrades, fishing safety infrastructure, fishing line bins & other angler facilities, enhancement of fishing access, recreational fishing havens
• recreational fishing enhancement - fish aggregating devices, artificial reefs, fish stocking
• research on fish and recreational fishing - fishing surveys, biology of popular recreational species, angler catch projects, effectiveness of stocking
• aquatic habitat rehabilitation and protection - grants to remove barriers to fish migration, replanting & protecting river bank vegetation, restoring water flows, etc.
• enforcement of fishing rules - fisheries officers

Matching funding is not a requirement, however, other contributions towards the project will improve the value for money of the project. Include details of other contributions to the project including any voluntary labour and project management time as an ‘in-kind’ contribution (this includes hands on volunteer work, project management, administration, reporting, donations etc.).

When fishing in NSW waters, both freshwater and saltwater, recreational fishers are required to pay the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee. All money raised by the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee is placed into the Recreational Fishing Trusts and spent on improving recreational fishing in NSW.

Anyone can apply for funding from the Recreational Fishing Trusts, including fishing clubs and organisations, universities, councils, community groups, individuals and so on. Joint applications are also encouraged.

In the past, the Trusts have provided funding for a wide range of projects, including:

• recreational fishing education such as fishing workshops and clinics including teaching kids and adults how to fish and fishing for therapy, Fishcare volunteers, schools education, fishing advisory, increasing participation in recreational fishing & other fishing club events to promote fishing
• fishing access and facilities - fishing amenities such as platforms, cleaning tables, kayak launching platforms, access upgrades, fishing safety infrastructure, fishing line bins & other angler facilities, enhancement of fishing access, recreational fishing havens
• recreational fishing enhancement - fish aggregating devices, artificial reefs, fish stocking
• research on fish and recreational fishing - fishing surveys, biology of popular recreational species, angler catch projects, effectiveness of stocking
• aquatic habitat rehabilitation and protection - grants to remove barriers to fish migration, replanting & protecting river bank vegetation, restoring water flows, etc.
• enforcement of fishing rules - fisheries officers

Matching funding is not a requirement, however, other contributions towards the project will improve the value for money of the project. Include details of other contributions to the project including any voluntary labour and project management time as an ‘in-kind’ contribution (this includes hands on volunteer work, project management, administration, reporting, donations etc.).

The Aboriginal Fishing Trust Fund (AFTF) provides grants and loans for the enhancement, maintenance and protection of Aboriginal cultural fishing as well as for Aboriginal communities to develop businesses associated with fisheries resources throughout NSW.

The AFTF looks to fund a wide range of projects across both coastal and inland regions in NSW, which promote Aboriginal cultural fishing or provide fishing related economic opportunities for Aboriginal people.

To be eligible applicants must be:

• An Aboriginal person, or
• An Aboriginal entity, which includes a family/clan or community organisation, or an Aboriginal owned and run business, or
• Someone acting on behalf of an Aboriginal entity.

The AFTF is looking to fund a wide range of projects including (but not limited to) the following:

• Cultural fishing workshops
• Cultural fishing access
• Signage covering local cultural fishing connection
• Stocking of culturally significant fish species
• Fish habitat / invasive species management
• Business administration and technical training
• Broader capacity building
• Commercial fishing operations
• Aquaculture ventures
• Charter fishing, cultural tourism or the post-harvest sector investment
• Research into cultural harvest or impacts on cultural fishing/resources

This program provides financial assistance for coaches, officials and competitors aged 12-18 participating in state, national or international championships.

Between $500 and $750 is available towards the cost of attending their championships as follows:.

• Base Grant: $500
• Applicants travelling 800km - 1999km to their nominated championships: + $100
• Applicants travelling internationally or greater than 2000km to their nominated championships: + $200
• Applicants residing in a rural electorate: + $50

The Start Strong Capital Works Grants Program improves access to preschool by creating additional community preschool places in areas of need and demand across the state.

Eligible not-for-profit organisations can apply for grant funding to build, renovate or extend their facilities to deliver a community preschool, respond to a crisis situation, or to purchase a vehicle for a mobile preschool.

The Start Strong Capital Works Grants Program has been revised to improve the suitability and accessibility of the program for the community preschool sector. This includes four distinct grant categories with continuous, extended or multiple rounds, making it easier for community preschool providers to access the right funding option when it is needed.

The Crisis Fund supports the maintenance and creation of community preschool places where there is an urgent need for capital works in at least one of the following circumstances:

• An existing service is facing closure or relocation due to exceptional or unforeseen circumstances, for example, compulsory acquisition of premises.
• An existing service is impacted by a natural disaster or state of emergency and is required to undertake urgent structural remediation work.
• An eligible organisation wants to operate a centre-based community preschool in a remote or very remote area (as per the ARIA index) where access to preschool education is limited or non-existent.

Requests for this grant are received all year round or until funds are exhausted.

The Local Para Champions program provides financial assistance for coaches, officials and competitors aged 12-24 participating in state, national or international championships for athletes with a disability.

If successful, applicants will receive $750-$1000 towards the cost of attending their championships

    Base Grant: $750
    Applicants travelling 800km - 1999km to their nominated championships: + $100
    Applicants travelling internationally or greater than 2000km to their nominated championships: + $200
    Applicants residing in a rural electorate: + $50

Under two funding pathways, Pathway 1 and Pathway 2, the Local & Regional Risk Reduction stream aims to deliver direct risk reduction and risk mitigation solutions, build capabilities in disaster risk reduction, and promote collaboration between local communities, councils and other stakeholders.

Pathway 1 offers funding of $50,000 to $300,000, for projects run by a single entity with a focus on implementing smaller scale, place-based solutions to prevent new, reduce existing and manage residual disaster risk.

Pathway 2 offers funding of $300,000 to $1.5 million, for projects delivered by a consortium of organisations or partnerships with a focus on strategic initiatives that create long-term regional benefit and build risk reduction capability building efforts across communities or regions.

Eligible organisations can only submit one application per pathway.

Applicants eligible for funding in Pathway 1 are:

• Local councils
• Charitable and incorporated not-for profit organisations, including culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) non-governmental organisations; and peak bodies and industry groups (if applicable)
• Local Aboriginal Land Councils
• Unincorporated community groups under the auspices of an organisation eligible to apply in its own right.

Applicants eligible for funding in Pathway 2 are:

• Joint organisations of Councils (JOs)
• Regional organisations of Councils (ROCs)
• Consortia and partnerships with Local Aboriginal Land Councils or non-governmental organisations
• Consortia and partnerships with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) non-governmental organisations, communities, or groups
• Consortia and partnerships where the lead applicant is an eligible entity included in the list of eligible organisations under Pathway 1. Non-lead partners can include the private sector, social enterprises and B-Corporations, universities and academic institutions.

The Future Young Leaders Program is designed to build the capacity of emerging thought leaders while providing the opportunity to share their stories, passions and research for agriculture.

The program will see see Future Young Leaders selected, with one voted in through a Peoples Choice voting period. All seven Future Young Leaders will have the opportunity to work with an industry professional as their mentor, refining their idea and presentation in the lead up to the evokeAG. 2023 event.

The cohort will receive one delegate ticket to attend the event as an evokeAG. Future Young Leader where they will have the opportunity to network with industry professionals, and showcase their idea in front of an audience on the main stage. This will be followed by an exclusive ‘Future Young Leaders Evening’ aimed at facilitating conversations and connections between their cohort, Partners and key stakeholders.

This year potential leaders must address the following scenario in their application: “You are standing on the main stage at evokeAG. 2023 in Adelaide in front of 1,500 agrifood innovation enthusiasts from around the globe – what do you want to say to them to capture their attention and create impact?”. This response will help to shape successful applicants showcase presentation.

This grant program provides funding to not-for-profit organisations for funding to support community-led, local projects that connect individuals and communities to improve mental health and mental wellbeing.

Eligible projects are where:

• the primary purpose of the project is to improve mental health and mental wellbeing outcomes of a community.
• the project will help people meaningfully connect in their local community for improved mental health and mental wellbeing outcomes.
• the project is a locally-led and locally-delivered project that aims to improve mental health and mental wellbeing outcomes of a community.

Some projects which are unsuccessful in obtaining the full grant of up to $10,000 may be considered for a smaller grant of $2,000. Applicants will be asked in the application process if they would like to be considered for this.

This Small Grants program supports projects proposed by individuals and or organisations and or communities who would otherwise be limited by the constraints of other funding programs. The project needs to directly or indirectly assist, involve and benefit LGBTQIA+ people and promote positive social outcomes and mental health in the community.

There will be three small grant rounds in 2022, with the following closing dates:

• Round 1 closes Monday March 7th, 2022
• Round 2 closes Monday July 11th, 2022
• Round 3 closes Monday November 14th, 2022

They welcome applications that are particularly creative and innovative, and those that are put forward by individuals, communities and organisations that have not received small grant funding in the previous 2 years. They regard favourably projects that work as partnerships between individuals and organisations.

This grant supports youth aged between 15 and 23 years old who are deaf or hard of hearing to achieve a personal goal or project.

The stories of grant recipients will inspire other deaf or hard of hearing youth to achieve their full potential.

The successful applicants’ projects should illustrate opportunities for personal development and benefits for the Deaf, hard of hearing, or wider Australian community.

Projects can be based on:

• Personal development
• Deaf community and Culture
• Leadership Challenges
• Education
• Representing local, state or national teams
• Life Experience

The Koala Conservation and Protection – Community Grants: Round 1 grant opportunity (the program) will run over 2 years from 2022-23 to 2023-24. This program will invest up to $5 million and includes opportunities for co-contributions, boosting the total value of assistance delivered. The program will provide grants of up to $200,000 for small-scale community projects and local activities that support the recovery and protection of the listed Koala (combined populations of Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory).

The intention is to run a second round of community grants beginning in 2023-24.

The objective of this program is to support community-led conservation and recovery efforts to improve the trajectory of the listed Koala (combined populations of Queensland, NSW and the ACT).

The intended outcomes of the program are to:

• improve the extent, quality and connectivity of the nationally listed Koala’s habitat and reduce local threats
• increase understanding and management of disease and injury affecting Koala health and lift capability in on-ground care, treatment and triage of Koalas, and
• improve data and knowledge of Koala populations and health across their range, to support effective decision making and conservation action.

These grants are aimed at encouraging young people to get gardening, growing edible plants and learning healthy eating habits or creating a healthy class room environment with indoor plants.

Getting kids out into the garden helps to create healthy minds and healthy bodies so they can thrive. Teachers, coaches and community leaders alike are encouraged to apply to create a garden space where kids can learn healthy habits and improve their physical and mental well-being.

Schools, preschools and community groups are invited to apply for one of 10 garden grants valued at $1,000 each.

Yates are also giving one school/community group the opportunity to double their grant and receive $2,000 for a school garden. 

Any school (primary, secondary or pre-school), kindergarten, childcare centre, or youth/community group (e.g., Scouts, sports clubs etc.) seeking to educate young Australians about gardening and healthy living can apply.

FRRR and our donor partners collaborate with ABC Heywire to help communities take action on the ideas generated by young Australians who attend the annual Heywire Regional Youth Summit.

Funding is available for communities across Australia to adopt, adapt and act on one of the ideas developed by these Australians at the Heywire Youth Ideas Lab.

The six ideas for 2022 are:

• The Allies Project -  How might we celebrate the strength of regional LGBTQIA+ people and educate rural communities on the importance of being an ally?
• Hands on Learning - How might we support young people to learn in ways that work for them?
• Take Care - How might we promote healthier communities in regional Australia?
• SPIN: Supporting People In Need - How might we improve morale in regional communities?
• Triple H: Humanity Helping Homelessness - How might we reduce homelessness and support people who are experiencing it?
• Fusion Festival - How might we raise cultural awareness and stop racism in regional communities?

The projects can be adapted for your community, but must also do one of the following:

1. Build community resilience
2. Develop organisational resilience and capacity
3. Enhance environmental sustainability
4. Foster cultural vibrancy
5. Encourage lifelong education & training
6. Strengthen the local economy
7. Improve community health & social wellbeing

Projects must be undertaken between November 2022 to December 2023.

Projects must take place in regional Australia, as defined by ABC Heywire – they must be outside of Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

Projects must address a local issue.

The Heart Foundation has up to ten $10,000 grants for new, innovative projects that get more people moving in schools, universities or local community groups.

This grant is intended to provide funding to kick-start a project or to provide seed funding in support of a larger project. Should the project be for the latter, supporting documentation will need to be provided to confirm funding has already been sought to fulfil the project implementation.

They are encouraging community groups, councils, schools (preschools, primary and secondary), tertiary institutions (universities, TAFEs, colleges), and other organisations to come up with an innovative idea to encourage physical activity in a chosen group or community

The Heart Foundation strongly encourages innovative projects that specifically support people not meeting Australia’s Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines, people at risk of chronic disease, and people living in communities with high levels of physical inactivity, including rural and remote regions. This includes people identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and people with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

The objective of the Clubgrants Category 3 Infrastructure Grants program is to fund the costs of construction, alteration, renovation, completion and fit-out of buildings and community infrastructure to deliver outcomes for disadvantaged NSW communities including regional, remote and drought-affected areas, culturally and linguistically diverse, disability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and communities affected by bushfires.

The Community Infrastructure Stream supports community infrastructure such as a multipurpose community hub or a service for an eligible community group.

Eligible entities:

• Not-for-profit organisations that will be responsible for operating and/or maintaining the infrastructure.
• Schools - applicants must consider if and how the infrastructure project is accessible to the public outside school hours.
• Local councils - applicants are required to cash-match the funding amount requested.

Projects can contribute to, but are not limited to, one or more of the following; Construction, alteration, renovation, completion and fit-out of buildings and community infrastructure in the community infrastructure category.

The objective of the Clubgrants Category 3 Infrastructure Grants program is to fund the costs of construction, alteration, renovation, completion and fit-out of buildings and community infrastructure to deliver outcomes for disadvantaged NSW communities including regional, remote and drought-affected areas, culturally and linguistically diverse, disability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and communities affected by bushfires. 

Eligible applicants:

• Not-for-profit organisations that will be responsible for operating and/or maintaining the infrastructure.
• Schools - applicants must consider if and how the infrastructure project is accessible to the public outside school hours.
• Local councils - applicants are required to cash-match the funding amount requested.

The Arts and Culture Stream support arts and culture infrastructure such as museums, art galleries or cultural centres.

You can apply for funding under this stream if your project supports infrastructure such as:

• Cultural maintenance (e.g. Aboriginal keeping place, language centres)
• Film (e.g. cinema, production studios)
• Performing arts (e.g. theatre, performing arts centre, rehearsal and studios)
• Music (e.g. conservatorium, concert hall)
• Historical, nature or science collections (e.g. museum, war memorial, botanic gardens)
• Visual arts and craft (e.g. exhibition or gallery space)
• Literature and writing (e.g. library, writer’s centre)
• Community (e.g. multipurpose hall)

The objective of the Clubgrants Category 3 Infrastructure Grants program is to fund the costs of construction, alteration, renovation, completion and fit-out of buildings and community infrastructure to deliver outcomes for disadvantaged NSW communities including regional, remote and drought-affected areas, culturally and linguistically diverse, disability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and communities affected by bushfires. 

Eligible applicants:

• Not-for-profit organisations that will be responsible for operating and/or maintaining the infrastructure.
• Schools - applicants must consider if and how the infrastructure project is accessible to the public outside school hours.
• Local councils - applicants are required to cash-match the funding amount requested.

The Sport and Recreation Stream supports sport and recreation infrastructure such as sports centres, playgrounds and swimming pools.

You can apply for funding under this stream if your project supports infrastructure such as:

• Indoor organised sports centre (e.g. indoor cricket, basketball)
• Leisure centre (e.g. martial arts dojo, gymnastics centre)
• Outdoor organised sports facility (e.g. football field, netball courts)
• Recreation space (e.g. playground, skate-park)
• Large-scale purpose-built facility (e.g. stadium, velodrome, motorsports facility)
• Water sports (e.g swimming pool).
• Not-for-profit organisations that will be responsible for operating and/or maintaining the infrastructure.
• Schools - applicants must consider if and how the infrastructure project is accessible to the public outside school hours.
• Local councils - applicants are required to cash-match the funding amount requested.

The objective of the Clubgrants Category 3 Infrastructure Grants program is to fund the costs of construction, alteration, renovation, completion and fit-out of buildings and community infrastructure to deliver outcomes for disadvantaged NSW communities including regional, remote and drought-affected areas, culturally and linguistically diverse, disability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and communities affected by bushfires. 

Eligible applicants:

• Not-for-profit organisations that will be responsible for operating and/or maintaining the infrastructure.
• Schools - applicants must consider if and how the infrastructure project is accessible to the public outside school hours.
• Local councils - applicants are required to cash-match the funding amount requested.

The Disaster Readiness Stream supports disaster readiness infrastructure such as evacuation centres, capital equipment or a multipurpose community facility.

You can apply for funding under this stream if your project supports infrastructure such as:

• Capital equipment
• Evacuation centre
• Management centre
• Training centre
• Intervention style disaster readiness
• Multi-purpose community facility
• Drought related infrastructure

The NSW Government established the Community War Memorials Fund to help conserve, repair and protect war memorials across NSW. Since the establishment of the program in 2008, grants have been provided for a wide range of projects including conservation assessments, honour roll repair, war memorial cleaning and conservation work, arborist advice for war memorial trees, security measures for memorials, repairs to war memorial halls and improvements to the accessibility of memorials.

Two application rounds are run each year. The rounds open on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day.