Community Grants and Funding Opportunities

The Community Safety Investment Fund will provide opportunities for community organisations to design and deliver locally focused, community led solutions to prevent or respond to youth offending, strengthen families and improve community safety.

Programs and initiatives will contribute to the achievement of objectives:

• Deliver holistic responses that address the underlying needs and risks that contribute to young people’s involvement with the justice system and improve their outcomes.
• Deliver culturally responsive initiatives that build long-term resilience and protective factors, increase connection to culture and improving social and emotional wellbeing for young people and families.
• Deliver programs and initiatives that empower young people and their families to achieve change in the young person's behaviour and safety.
• Support young people and families to re-engage with education, training, or employment.
• Increase community safety through tailored initiatives for high-risk youth.
• Whole of community initiatives that engage young people in pro-social activities
• We are particularly interested in grant applications that align with and help achieve the NSW Government’s Closing the Gap priorities, including: Target 11: to reduce the overrepresentation of Aboriginal young people in the criminal justice system, so that by 2031, the rate of Aboriginal young people (10-17 years) in detention is reduced by 30 per cent.

The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund supports leading Australian creative organisations and key industry stakeholders with grants to create and deliver exceptional opportunities for Australian writers, journalists, editors, publishers, English and literacy teachers, and visual artists, and especially for those from First Nations and diverse backgrounds.

The Cultural Fund’s priorities are:

• Commissions and paid opportunities for writers and visual artists through audience development projects
• Targeted leadership and sector development projects for the writing, publishing and visual arts sectors
• To complement Reading Australia, we are interested in supporting targeted writers-in-schools programs for Australian writers whose work is featured on Reading Australia or is used in the classroom

The Cultural Fund will consider applications for the following projects:

Audience Development

• Audience and reader development projects
• Payments to creative writers published in literary magazines and journals
• Reviews of new Australian books in national publications
• Projects connecting teachers with Australian Literature
• Writers/artists-in-residence/schools/universities
• Literacy-based projects for children involving professional writers
• Significant national writers’ awards for payments to writers (excluding prizes offered by publishers and literary journals)
• Publishing commissions to write new work by First Nations and culturally diverse authors
• Commissions for visual artists to create new work and whose work will be exhibited in galleries or institutions in Australia

Sector Development

• Publishing industry – leadership initiatives and opportunities for First Nations and diverse editors, publishers and journalists
• Visual arts sector – leadership and policy development and opportunities for First Nations and diverse curators at galleries and cultural institutions

This excludes visual arts publishing, mentorships and professional development.

Who can apply

• Legally constituted Australian organisations and incorporated associations may apply
• If applying as a University, only one application from the University may be submitted per round. You must confirm this before applying.
• Applicants may submit only one application per round to the Cultural Fund
• Applicants must have acquitted any overdue Cultural Fund grants to be eligible to apply for further funding

This Program forms part of Transport for NSW’s multi-year collaboration with the Office of Sport under the Safer Cities Program which is aimed at increasing women, girls and gender diverse people’s active and meaningful participation in running.

The key objectives of the program are to:

• Improve perceptions of safety for women, girls and gender-diverse people participating in running
• Reduce barriers to participation by supporting initiatives that make running feel more welcoming, accessible and inclusive
• Build the capability of running organisations and providers to create safe, respectful and inclusive environments for participants of all backgrounds and abilities
• Foster partnerships between running clubs, community organisations and local stakeholders to support safer and more inclusive running environments
• Increase participation and retention of women, girls and gender-diverse people in running.
• Encourage community-led approaches to safety, including initiatives that promote social connection, visibility, confidence and collective participation in public spaces
• Support running activities that activate public spaces and strengthen community connections.

Eligibility

To be eligible for funding, the applicant must:

• include a valid Incorporation Number and/or active Australian Business Number (ABN)
• include a declaration by the applicant organisation that if successful they will provide Public Liability Insurance with a minimum $5 million cover
• be a legally recognised entity, including:
  • an incorporated association registered in NSW or another Australian jurisdiction, or
  • a company registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), or
  • a not-for-profit organisation, including registered charities (ACNC), or
  • a sole trader operating a running-related business with an ABN.
• Have an established operational presence in NSW (e.g. program delivery, members, or events).

Core activity requirements

Applicants’ primary purpose must include the delivery of organised running activities, such as:

• community run clubs
• structured group training or coaching programs
• inclusive or social running programs
• running events or competitions
• athletics clubs with a distance running focus.

Note that sole traders may apply where the proposed project primarily delivers community participation outcomes in NSW and is not solely for commercial gain.

Applicants must provide evidence of active and ongoing operations, which may include;

• digital presence (website, social media, or event listings),
• participation data (e.g. attendance records, membership numbers)
• affiliation with recognised sporting bodies (e.g. Athletics NSW)
• governance documents (constitution, committee structure, or business registration)

Community Radio Music Hubs grants support community radio stations that are already active music hubs for their local music communities – helping them build and expand on what they already do well: bringing their local music community together through live music events.

Funding supports high-intensity music stations to create live, in-person music events and activities that support contemporary Australian music and connects artists with audiences, venues and the wider music community.

Eligible high-intensity music stations may apply for up to $50,000 to put on a minimum six music activities, with support for:

• Artist fees
• Project coordinators
• Venues and production costs
• Local promotion and content creation
• Equipment to support outside broadcasts
• Relevant licences and insurances related to music hub activity

The Multicultural NSW Stronger Together Project Grants Program supports multicultural projects that meet a community need at the grassroots level and support community harmony across New South Wales.

Eligible applicants for a Multicultural NSW Stronger Together Project Grant must be one of the following:

• Incorporated under the Associations Incorporations Act
• Company limited by guarantee under the Corporations Act 2001
• Cooperative registered under Cooperatives Act 1992
• Incorporated by an Act of Parliament
• Corporate trustee of a trust that has deductible gift recipient status under the Commonwealth Taxation laws
• An Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth) or a Local Aboriginal Land Council under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW)

Projects must:

• be delivered in NSW
• show how the project will measure outcomes
• outline how the project is cost-effective and viable with an accurate budget

The NAB Foundation Community Grants program provides funding of up to $25,000 for local projects that help communities withstand and recover from natural disasters.

They award $1.2 million in Community Grants each year across two grant rounds, including $200,000 available in Impact Grants for projects with big potential. These Impact Grants provide a further $25,000 to recipients to maximise the impact they have on their communities.

NAB Foundation Community Grants support community-led projects that relate to the following categories:

• Training and planning
• Community Recovery
• Environment and wildlife
• Equipment and Infrastructure

NAB Foundation Community Grants are open to:

• Charities that are registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for Profits Commission (ACNC). 
• Social enterprises (not-for-profit and for-profit) or start-ups with social or environmental impact at the core of their business. 
• Groups or organisations (not-for-profit and for-profit) that hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have a charitable purpose. 
• Local government or government-funded facilities (such as a school or childcare centre) seeking funding for a program that furthers charitable purpose.

The Country Arts Support Program (CASP) is an annual small grants program by Arts North West and funded by Create NSW. Grants of up to $3,000 are available to support not-for-profit organisations, local councils and eligible community groups to deliver locally driven arts and cultural projects across the New England North West.

CASP invests in projects that strengthen community participation, celebrate local identity and culture, engage professional artists, and create meaningful social, cultural and economic outcomes for regional communities.

Projects may include workshops, artist residencies, exhibitions, performances, public art, festivals with a strong arts component and other community-led creative initiatives.

The program is delivered through Regional Arts Development Organisations (RADOs) on behalf of Create NSW. Before applying, all applicants must discuss their project with an Arts North West staff member and read the Applicant Guidelines to ensure their project meets the eligibility requirements.

The Elevate: First Nations Storytelling and Literature Fund is a set $10,000 AUD career development grant open to First Nations individuals and groups who are writers, poets, editors, illustrators, journalists, arts workers, and groups in the literature sector.   

Elevate is designed to support and develop career pathways and opportunities which may include capacity building, networking, mentoring, residencies, and audience development for their work. Projects can take place nationally, internationally, online, or in a combination of in-person and online capacities. Elevate is for projects beginning on or after 1 February 2027. 

Supported activities must last no longer than 12 months from the proposed start date.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and assessed quarterly.

ACCF provides annual fundings of up to $10,000 for community projects that directly benefit those in need in the community.

ACCF recognises the important contribution that community organisations make to the social, cultural, economic and environmental aspects that are in parallel with the aims and objectives of ACCF.

Applications may be made on the basis of the following categories:

• Youth
• Aged
• Special needs

The applicant must be:

• A registered not-for-profit organisation, or
• A registered charitable organisation, or
• A group auspiced by a not-for-profit organisation.

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

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

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

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

The National Australia Day Council offers grant funding to community groups, government entities and councils to support Australia Day events that bring communities together and encourage participation in Australia Day activities.

In 2027, the National Australia Day Council will provide funding of up to $15,000 through its Australia Day Community Events Grant Program to help communities reflect, respect and celebrate on Australia Day.

From community barbeques and concerts to citizenship ceremonies, flag raising ceremonies and parades, the community events grant program has helped deliver almost 4,000 community events across Australia since 2021.

The WE SWIM Multicultural Community Water Safety Program is a national, evidence-informed initiative to reduce drowning risk, remove barriers to swimming and water safety education, and build belonging for refugees, recently arrived migrants and broader multicultural communities.

Royal Life Saving funds a set of WE SWIM Multicultural Community Water Safety Partnerships, ranging from multi-partner, place based collaborations to more targeted, partner specific activity, all co-designed with multicultural communities:

• WE SWIM Place-Based Partnerships - multi-LGA or regional partnerships that shift systems at scale and build local capability that outlasts the funding period.
• WE SWIM Community Programs - focused, local partnerships that address a specific barrier, cohort or community, and build pathways into sustained participation.
• WE SWIM Pathfinder Programs - targeted initiatives, including refugee settlement pilots, community ambassadors, emerging leader scholarships and inclusive facilities work, that test and scale new approaches across the WE SWIM pillars.

Most streams follow a similar rhythm: documentation released from 18 August 2026, applications closing 24 September 2026, outcomes notified 16 October 2026, and agreements executed shortly after. Delivery generally runs 1 November 2026 to 31 May 2027, with final reporting due by 30 June 2027.

The Program’s objectives are framed around safety, access, equity, cohesion and opportunity. They are deliberately practical so they can guide decisions about funding, partnerships and delivery. 

Over the life of the Program, WE SWIM will:

• Reduce drowning risk for refugees, recently arrived migrants, multicultural communities and international students by improving swimming and water safety skills, hazard awareness and safe behaviours around water.
• Increase access and equity in swimming and water safety education by removing financial, cultural, language, gender and geographic barriers to participation in priority areas.
• Strengthen social cohesion by creating new and deeper connections between multicultural communities and local aquatic centres, swim schools, clubs and councils.
• Grow a more diverse aquatic workforce by creating pathways into swimming instruction, lifeguarding and community water safety leadership for people from multicultural backgrounds.
• Build sustainable local capability so councils, aquatic providers and community organisations can continue culturally responsive water safety programs beyond the funding period.

The purpose of this grant opportunity is to provide funding to support organisations in the design and delivery of national viral hepatitis community-led initiatives and awareness raising campaigns that engage priority populations, including people at higher risk of acquiring viral hepatitis or with limited access to health care. These activities will help reduce stigma and encourage individuals to seek care and reduce hepatitis-related cancer mortality. This includes: 

• $6.9 million from 1 January 2027 to 30 June 2029 for National Hepatitis B projects. 
• $9.0 million 1 January 2027 to 30 June 2029 for National Hepatitis C projects.

The objectives of the grant are: 

• To provide funding to eligible organisations to maintain nationally coordinated activities that improve prevention, testing, diagnosis and treatment outcomes for hepatitis B and C.
• To provide funding to eligible organisations to deliver evidence-based activities that address gaps in hepatitis B and C continuum of care.
• To address goals and targets in the Strategies.

The intended outcomes of the grant opportunity are:

• To support harm reduction, public awareness and education, and targeted approaches that increase testing, reduce stigma and discrimination, and strengthen access to culturally safe and appropriate care, particularly among priority populations experiencing inequitable health outcomes.
• To reduce hepatitis-related cancer mortality.
• To support the national elimination of hepatitis B and C as public health challenges in Australia by 2030. 

The Dementia Training Program (DTP), first established nationally in 2016, aims to strengthen the capability of Australia’s health and aged care workforce to provide high-quality, evidence-based dementia care. 

The purpose of this grant opportunity is to fund the delivery of accredited and non-accredited education, upskilling and professional development in dementia care. The delivery of DTP activities will reflect the emerging dementia, health and aged care landscape, including recent aged care reforms and increasing demand for services. 

DTP activities will:

• Be aligned with a National Dementia Training and Education Standards Framework.
• Expand experiential, immersive, peer mentoring and interprofessional training. 
• Adopt tailored approaches for diverse workforce groups and communities including for First Nations people, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people from regional, rural and remote locations.
• Build organisational capability and leadership for high quality dementia care, including sustainable practice change. 
• Deliver key service elements responding to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

There are two funding streams: Stream 1 aims to improve capability of health and aged care workers to provide high quality dementia care for non-Indigenous Australians, including people from diverse backgrounds. Stream 2 focuses on culturally safe, community-led dementia training for First Nations communities and workforces.

Eligibility:

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

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation (registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and /or Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006)
• Company
• Corporate Commonwealth Entity
• Non-Corporate Commonwealth Statutory Authority
• Corporate State or Territory Entity
• Non-corporate State or Territory Entity
• Non-corporate State or Territory Statutory Authority
• Cooperative
• Incorporated Association
• Statutory Entity
• Partnership
• Unincorporated Association.

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. Eligible organisations can form a consortium with ineligible organisations, with the exception of those organisations deemed ineligible because they are included on the National Redress Scheme’s website on the list of ‘Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme’.

The Gordon Darling Foundation is a perpetual public charitable trust, established in 1991 to "support Australia-wide, activities of importance in the Visual Arts."

The Foundation can only provide funding to Public Institutions in Australia. Applicant organisations must have Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status. Individuals wishing to apply for funding for projects must partner with a Public Institution which then takes on responsibility for the project.

Funding may be provided for:

• catalogues and publications:
  • that are scholarly, with well-researched new information.
  • that provide a permanent record of an exhibition, collection, or work of an artist or movement.
• professional education initiatives, including individual professional development.
• collection management initiatives, including database development, digitisation and conservation.
• research projects leading to the recognition and publication of material of significance.
• internationally known speakers for symposia.

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

The Foundation will consider funding -

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

To be eligible to apply:   

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

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

Whitehaven Coal takes great pride in long-standing links with local communities, and are pleased to support a range of charities and community organisations.

Following community feedback, they’ve developed an approach to community investment that is structured and open and involves community representatives in the funding allocation process.

They provide support to initiatives across:

• Economic prosperity and resilience – town liveability, community services, facilities and infrastructure
• Environment – climate, environment and water (supply, drought and water treatment)
• Education, training and employment, – jobs for locals, upskilling, future of work, career pathways for local youth
• Community health and wellbeing – through services, availability of staff and liveability
• Indigenous engagement – support and promote initiatives that collaborate with Indigenous Peoples

The annual PILA Goalpost Subsidy Program provides kick-start financial assistance for grassroots clubs to purchase safe, high-quality, regulation-compliant goalposts.

This national program is open to clubs in all states and territories.

• Applicants must demonstrate a need to enhance their field.
• Only one (1) subsidy per recipient per application period.
• The subsidy is applicable only to PILA goalposts.
• Any combination of subsidised products listed may be ordered.
• Goals must be ordered in pairs (2) to accommodate one (1) field.
• The subsidy excludes all non-listed products and services.

Special consideration may be given to applicants outside of clubs who require financial assistance. If applicable, please indicate this on your application form.