Search Grants & Funding

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

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

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

If you do not qualify for legal aid from a legal aid commission and cannot pay for your legal costs, you may be able to get help through a Commonwealth legal financial assistance scheme.

Help can be provided for the payment of costs for certificates issued by federal courts under the Federal Proceedings (Costs) Act 1981.

Some schemes provide legal representation costs and disbursements. Some schemes are limited to disbursements only. Disbursements are costs your legal representative incurs while acting for you such as obtaining reports, court transcripts and expert opinions.

They will not usually provide legal financial assistance:

• if you can meet your legal costs without incurring serious financial difficulty
• for costs incurred before you apply, unless the scheme allows for reimbursement.

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.

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 Mercy Foundation’s Social Justice Small Grants Program provides seed funding to assist communities and organisations to build capacity that will help create structural change and bring about greater social justice in Australia.

Projects that focus on bringing about greater inclusion for marginalised groups will be prioritised. 

Priority will be given to small organisations and those groups that receive no other funding.

The 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 maximum grant has been increased to $1000 in 2022 and there will be more grants awarded (if successful) each round. The project needs to directly or indirectly assist, involve and benefit LGBTQIA+ people and promote positive social outcomes and mental health in the community.

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.

Round 1 2026
Funding priority to transgender, non-binary and gender diverse people and communities
Opens at 9am AEDT Monday 19 January 2026 and closes at 11:59pm AEST Monday 13 April 2026.

Round 2 2026
Funding priority to projects supporting healthy ageing for older people
Opens at 9am AEST on Monday 4 May 2026 and closes at 11:59pm AEST on Monday 13 July 2026.

Round 3 2026
Funding priority to regional and rural communities
Opens at 9am AEST Monday 3 August 2026 and closes at 11:59pm AEDT on Monday 16 November 2026.

The 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 maximum grant has been increased to $1000 in 2022 and there will be more grants awarded (if successful) each round. The project needs to directly or indirectly assist, involve and benefit LGBTQIA+ people and promote positive social outcomes and mental health in the community.

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.

Round 1 2026
Funding priority to transgender, non-binary and gender diverse people and communities
Opens at 9am AEDT Monday 19 January 2026 and closes at 11:59pm AEST Monday 13 April 2026.

Round 2 2026
Funding priority to projects supporting healthy ageing for older people
Opens at 9am AEST on Monday 4 May 2026 and closes at 11:59pm AEST on Monday 13 July 2026.

Round 3 2026
Funding priority to regional and rural communities
Opens at 9am AEST Monday 3 August 2026 and closes at 11:59pm AEDT on Monday 16 November 2026.

The 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 maximum grant has been increased to $1000 in 2022 and there will be more grants awarded (if successful) each round. The project needs to directly or indirectly assist, involve and benefit LGBTQIA+ people and promote positive social outcomes and mental health in the community.

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.

Round 1 2026
Funding priority to transgender, non-binary and gender diverse people and communities
Opens at 9am AEDT Monday 19 January 2026 and closes at 11:59pm AEST Monday 13 April 2026.

Round 2 2026
Funding priority to projects supporting healthy ageing for older people
Opens at 9am AEST on Monday 4 May 2026 and closes at 11:59pm AEST on Monday 13 July 2026.

Round 3 2026
Funding priority to regional and rural communities
Opens at 9am AEST Monday 3 August 2026 and closes at 11:59pm AEDT on Monday 16 November 2026.

Youngcare’s At Home Care Grants (AHCG) provide funding for equipment, home modifications and essential support that is unable to be funded through other means (eg. NDIS). This funding is to both enhance the quality of life for young people with high physical care needs and assist them to remain living in their own home with loved ones.

The grants provide one-off funding of up to $10,000 to help those aged 16-65 with high physical care needs who are living at home, and are at risk of entering inappropriate housing.

Grants are offered nationwide.

The Youngcare Moving Home Grants provide essential funding to assist people in moving from inappropriate housing, such as aged care, rehabilitation, or hospital, into somewhere more appropriate. This may involve returning home or transitioning to more specific housing for their needs, such as Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA).

Up to $5,000 is available for people with extreme functional impairment caused by a physical disability. This funding can be used for essential equipment, home modifications and services, household items, and utilities to ensure an improvement in the individual’s quality of life.

These grants are open year-round (except for a month over Christmas) or until the funds run out. Panel Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month, with completed applications required 2 days before.

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

Funding can support travel and accommodation costs for: 

Artists and Acts 

• domestic tours  
• domestic professional development opportunities, including performance at significant music market events, attendance at events, workshops, camps, mentorships and residencies 
• significant international professional development opportunities, including performance at significant international music market events, attendance at workshops, camps, mentorships and residencies. 

For domestic tours and performance at music markets, 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. 

Music Industry Professionals 

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

This program is open for applications until 24 April 2026, with applications assessed monthly. Applications submitted by 12pm (midday) 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. 

Eligibility

The fund is open to artists, acts and music industry professionals, as well as music businesses applying on behalf of an artist or act. 

Funding recipients must be: 

• 18 years or older 
• currently living in NSW (minimum 12 months) 
• performing or working in contemporary music. 

Applicants will need: 

• an active ABN (that’s your Australian Business Number) 
• a bank account with the same name as your ABN 
• or a funds administrator to help you out. 

For the purpose of this program contemporary music refers to 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           
  • music theatre          
  • working in and with community music groups.   
• These applicants should refer to Create NSW's Arts and Cultural Funding Program | NSW Government (ACFP) guidelines.

The Waratah Education Public Ancillary Fund mission is to support underprivileged or disadvantaged families, children, teenagers and young adults so that they have access to educational instruction and to support and fund activities to help break the cycle of poverty and disadvantage.

Waratah Education are offering grants between $10,000-$20,000 to organisations who provide front line support to disadvantaged youth in Australia. 

Organisation eligibility:

• The organisation is not-for-profit and has Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) Item 1 status.

• Must reside in Australia and undertake operations in Australia.

• Annual Turnover < $1.5mil

• The organisation’s mission and operations, and the proposed program, are consistent with the mission of the Waratah Education Public Ancillary Fund​

Project eligibility:

• Provide direct support to disadvantaged students by providing school resources and essentials to students experiencing financial disadvantage, which could prevent the student from realising their potential at school and/or lead to school refusal.

• Support would include providing financial support for school uniforms, books and stationery resources, and digital access.

• The organisation can demonstrate the knowledge and the expertise necessary to implement the project as well as the skills necessary for the sustainable management of the program and the responsible stewardship of resources.

• The organisation can clearly define the project, the need for the project and the impact on the beneficiaries.

• Projects that involve mentoring, tutoring, or educational programs for schools or communities may also be considered, particularly those that focus on removing barriers to school attendance.

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.