Search Grants & Funding

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.

Internships assist practitioners whose careers would benefit from an attachment to a person, production or organisation. This program is designed to assist the career development of talented filmmakers who can demonstrate a strong commitment to a career in the film industry. This is not an entry-level scheme.

An internship may take many forms and involve features, documentaries, animation, interactive digital media, TV drama or comedy series. For example:

• a director might attach themselves to a more experienced director on a production
• a producer might spend time in a TV production house to observe the script development and creative management process, or they may wish to work with a more senior producer developing a financing plan for a project of their own
• an animation filmmaker may wish to enhance specific technical or creative skills
• a filmmaker may want to hire a more experienced producer or director as a consultant on their own funded production.

 Who can apply?

The potential intern must:

• meet the general eligibility requirements of Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade
• be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Australian
• only apply for the internship funding twice in their career.

No minimum credits are required, but previous work will be considered in assessing the applicant’s commitment to screen storytelling as a career.

The International Finance fund provides support to Australian projects with a very high level of global appeal, to assist them to develop pitching materials and strategy, in order to best attract international partnerships and finance in the current market. 

It is open to long form drama and documentary projects on any platform which are market ready, have undergone a successful development process and can demonstrate development funding from an arm’s length commercial partner.

Applications for this fund are open to anyone who:

• meets all requirements and conditions in our Terms of Trade
• is an Australian individual or team.  Co-productions may also apply with an application from the Australian Company.
• has a market-ready, long-form project on any platform
• has undergone significant creative development and has the key creative team attached
• has a project that is uniquely and culturally identifiable as Australian and is also bold, ambitious and has universal appeal
• controls the rights and has meaningful creative control of the project
• can evidence successful development process and funding from an arm’s length commercial partner (i.e. a substantial and well-known international or Australian commercial entity with an effective track record on similar projects, for example, a commissioning platform, broadcaster, local or international distributor, studio or production company of substance) and/or Screen Australia where their development funding will have been fully acquitted as a pre-condition of eligibility.

Please refer to the ACMA guidelines for the definition of a documentary note: Screen Australia does not invest in programs such as reality or magazine television, light entertainment, panel or travel shows, infotainment, current affairs, cooking, ‘how to’, sports, corporate, training, games, extensions to film or TV, or community access programs or projects whose primary market is the education sector.

Long form is defined as a single feature project (scripted or unscripted) of at least 85 minutes duration, an episodic project of at least 3 commercial hours, or an online project of at least 45 minutes total series duration.  XR (Extended Reality) projects can be any length. 

Market ready means the project must be creatively sound, have a realistic estimated budget (or budget range) and finance plan (or plans), and at a stage of sourcing finance, partners and/or pre sales. It will have undergone significant creative development and have the key creative team attached. The stage of development might vary dependent on content type, intended platform of release, and the proposed strategy.

The Country Education Foundation's Student Support Program is designed to inspire and guide rural and regional school-leavers in current and further study, by providing access to grants, scholarships, career advice, networking opportunities, and an assistance program.

Since 1993 the CEF family has grown to incorporate 49 local foundations across the country working to support young school leavers to achieve their study and career aspirations.

CEF local foundations are run by groups of volunteers passionate about helping rural and regional young people to achieve their dreams.

The Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA) helps if you’ve left or are leaving care. This may be formal care or out-of-home care (OOHC).

The TILA is worth up to $1,500 and helps with the costs of leaving care (OOHC). It can be used to pay for a wide range of items such as payment of rental bonds, furniture, course fees and buying a car.

You and your caseworker will agree on how best to use the TILA as part of your application.

Formal care can also be known as out-of-home care. This is when a child or young person can’t live with their parents or carer. They might live with a different family or in a home for children. Formal care is where this living arrangement involves child protection services, and was ordered by a state or territory court.

To get the Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA) you must be all of the following:

• be an Australian citizen or permanent Australian resident who resides in Australia at the time you apply
• be aged from 15 to 25 years
• either have been in, or currently be in, formal care on a court order
• have left the care of the state or territory statutory department after the age of 15 years and was last in their care for a continuous period of at least 6 months
• either be approaching to leave formal care, within 12 weeks of applying, in the process of leaving formal care, or have left formal care
• have a transition to independence plan
• have not received the full amount of TILA assistance previously.

The Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme (RHWIS) aims to attract, recruit, and retain health workers in eligible positions at health services across rural and remote NSW.

The incentive scheme applies to health workers in eligible positions in NSW. So, whether you’re a nurse, midwife, paramedicine, medicine, allied health, administration, or in support and shared services, you could have an incentivised job at a public hospital or health facility.

In addition to standard employment entitlements, an incentive package of up to $20,000 in value depending on the location and the position.

An incentive package may include financial and non-financial incentives such as:

• a rural or regional health allowance
• accommodation assistance and help with relocation costs
• family travel assistance
• additional personal leave
• family travel assistance
• contributions to ongoing professional development

Farm Angels provides financial assistance, food hampers, care packs, and mental wellbeing support to primary producers affected by all natural disasters (drought, flood, fire, and plagues) across Australia.

The frequency and severity of natural disasters mean many are at risk of losing their farm or walking away. Farm Angels seeks to reduce this through phone conversations and on farm visits. By supporting these farmers to stay on the land through assistance tailored to their individual needs, Farm Angels contributes to Australia’s regional economies, food security and the social wellbeing of rural communities.

The Reece Foundation supports locally led initiatives that help communities in Australia and overseas with access to clean water, sanitation or food security through irrigation.

The Reece Foundation accepts Grant applications that meet the following guidelines:

• The application is submitted by a registered charity or not-for-profit organisation.

• Identifies a need for access to clean water, sanitation or irrigation for food security.

• Clearly articulates the potential impact on the community.

• Outlines how the organisation has consulted with and involved the community in the proposed initiative.

• Includes the trade-skills required for the project in addressing the need identified by the community.

• The funding request is between AUD$5,000 and AUD$30,000.

The Inger Rice Foundation funds organisations whose programs support relationships between young children and their families or carers. The Foundation also provides funding to prenatal programs.

The Foundation funds charities and not-for-profit organizations across Australia.

Funding is provided for programs that support the development of relationships between young children from birth to Primary School entry (ages 0 -5 years generally) and their families or carers. Prenatal programs are also supported.

Funding may be provided for:
•    Family support programs
•    Early intervention programs
•    Specific resources for such programs
•    Specific training required for implementation of such programs

A maximum of $7000 is available per application.

Funding to a program is limited to once every three years.

When partial funding is provided the Foundation may request assurance that other funding is available to complete the project or program.

The Opportunity Knocks Subsidy Program offers young people, aged five to 17, facing financial hardship the opportunity to continue their tennis journey. The program provides subsidised coaching by a qualified tennis coach, support with club membership fees or competition fees.

The subsidies aim to:

• Reduce financial barriers to participation in sport outside of school for children and young people;
• Use tennis as a vehicle to strengthen resilience, promote self-worth and build a sense of belonging in children and young people;
• Provide continued access to opportunities to experience success and social connection.

The subsidy ideally supports children introduced to tennis through the Kids Tennis Program or who have completed other group coaching programs and are interested in moving into competitive play.

Funding Details:

• Funding of up to $400 per person per year for coaching fees and an additional $100 per person per year for club membership and/or competition fees is available.
• Funds will be paid as a reimbursement for expenses against eligible items.
• Funding will be awarded in Semester one for Terms 1 & 2 and Semester two for Terms 3 & 4.  Applications will be accepted until each Semester’s funding allocation is exhausted.
• Funding may be used to fully or part fund eligible items for the nominated period.

Subsidy Requirements:

• Funding will be awarded for club or community coaching programs, not TA or MA high performance programs
• Coaches delivering lessons or programs must be a Tennis Australia Coach Member, meeting all TA child safety requirements

• Competitions must be a Tennis Australia endorsed Competitive Play offering.

Participant Eligibility:

Funding is available to children and young people who are:

• aged between 5 – 17
• facing financial hardship or disadvantage
• families have no outstanding reporting requirements for any other Tennis Australia or ATF funding or support programs

Rural Aid offers pre-paid Visas to farmers who have been negatively impacted by a declared natural disaster or other exceptional industry-specific occurrence, to assist with recovery.

(NB applications will remain open for each recognised disaster for four months from the date of the disaster or until funding is exhausted)

Established in 2015, Rural Aid’s vision is to safeguard farming and rural communities before, during and after natural disasters. Rural Aid is also dedicated to supporting a stable future for our farmers to ensure they can keep providing food and fibre for all Australians.

They do this through various innovative programs which increase the resilience and sustainability of farmers, families and rural communities.

Kids Under Cover’s strategy of complementing the provision of stable and secure accommodation with educational support has proven to be a simple yet effective approach to the long-term prevention of youth homelessness.

As more families feel the strain of soaring education costs, rising house prices and an increased cost of living, many young people may be forced to leave school or education early.

These scholarships give young people the support they need to stay in school. This is not just by helping financially with educational expenses, such as travel costs, textbooks, and equipment, but also by preventing the social exclusion that can haunt young people who miss out on camps, excursions or other school social activities due to lack of funds. A scholarship may also provide a young person with the freedom to choose the subjects they are passionate about, rather than just those they can afford, thus keeping them engaged with their studies.

The Kids Under Cover Scholarship helps young people who have the passion and motivation to continue education but don’t have the resources. These scholarships are helping young people aged 12-25 years old undertaking secondary schooling, TAFE, university and job training. We provide the Kids Under Cover Scholarships for secondary and post-secondary study to young people who have a Kids Under Cover Studio on their property.

Kids Under Cover Scholarships can help with the costs associated with education or training, such as: textbooks, uniforms, laptop, printer, excursions, and so on.

You can receive a Kids Under Cover Scholarship if you:

• Are aged 12-25 years as of 30 June 2025;
• Are undertaking secondary schooling, TAFE, university and job training;
• Live on the same premises as a Kids Under Cover studio; AND
• Household has completed the acquittal process for previously awarded scholarship/s.

Previous scholarship recipients are still eligible to receive a scholarship in 2025.

The Ethnic Business Awards (EBA’s) recognise the outstanding accomplishments of Migrant and Indigenous entrepreneurs. They highlight the contribution made to Australia by these people. As Australia’s longest running business awards, these awards are the most prestigious of their kind.

Indigenous Award
The first of it’s kind. Launched in 2010 the EBA recognises excellence in business endeavours by Indigenous entrepreneurs. The award is open to businesses of all sizes and in the last decade has brought much attention to the growing number of creative, diverse and inspiring Indigenous business men and women.

Migrant Awards
The Migrant awards are open anyone born outside of Australia. There are two categories for the Migrant awards.

• Medium to Large Migrant Business Category (turnover greater than $10 million per annum)

• Small Migrant Business Category (turnover less than $10 million per annum)

The Tertiary Access Payment (TAP) is a one off payment of up to $5,000. It’s to help eligible students with the cost of moving to study. This is for study after you’ve finished year 12 or equivalent.

To get this payment you must meet all of the following things:

• be an Australian resident meeting residence rules
• come from an inner regional, outer regional or remote area
• move to study at a tertiary education provider that’s at least 90 minutes away from your family home location by public transport
• have completed year 12 or equivalent
• studying a tertiary course at certificate IV or above
• be 22 or younger on the day you start your tertiary course
• have parents or guardians whose income is under the current combined parental income limit of $250,000 if you are a dependant.

You can claim this payment in your first year of tertiary study only.

To get the payment, you must be studying one of the following:

• university course
• Vocational Educational and Training (VET) course
• other higher education course.

You meet the rules for qualifying study if you do all of the following:

• study a certificate IV or above at an accredited Australian tertiary education provider
• study at least 75% of a full-time study load
• study a course with a minimum duration of one academic year.

You may still be eligible if you can’t study full time. This needs to be for a special reason and you’ll need to provide proof.

There are also rules you need to meet for the delivery of your study program. It must be one of the following:

• face-to-face
• a combination of face-to-face and online study
• at a Regional University Study Hub or Suburban University Study Hub.

These Copland Foundation Grants fund projects throughout Australia that fall under the umbrella of Alex Copland’s interests, namely:

The study, management, conservation, acquisition, and interpretation of collections;

1. The study, management, conservation, acquisition and interpretation of relevant historic architecture,
2. The provision of education programs, whether for staff of such museums, institutions, societies, organisations or for the general public,
3. The purchase of art works and/or other artefacts, to be identified on public display by the purchaser as a gift from the Copland Foundation.

The Copland Foundation grants are divided into three categories:

1. Acquisitions
2. Conservation
3. Interpretation

To be eligible for assistance a museum/institution must:

1. Be recognised as a recipient institution under the Commonwealth Government’s Cultural Gifts Program or as an endorsed Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR)
2. Be open to the public
3. Be seeking assistance to:
   • acquire, conserve or interpret an object or collection of objects
   • or, conserve or restore features of an historic building used for cultural purposes, its garden and/or surrounds.