Search Grants & Funding

Maker Projects Grants aim to foster creativity and inquiry-based learning. They support the development of STEM skills in students and youth under 18 years of age in design, engineering and programming, through hands-on learning.

The objectives of the grant opportunity are to:

• deliver projects where students and youth under 18 years of age, at the time of application, can develop and apply their STEM knowledge through experimentation, tinkering and hands-on learning by engaging with a range of technologies
• encourage practical skills, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking through the delivery of hands-on STEM-related events and activities
• inspire students and youth under 18 years of age to pursue further studies and careers in STEM
• make projects accessible to as many young people as possible, including those in regional, rural and disadvantaged areas
• make a positive and ongoing impact on students and youth under 18 years of age, particularly those historically underrepresented in STEM including as defined in the glossary of the grant opportunity guidelines.

The intended outcomes of the grant opportunity are:

• increased practical knowledge and skills in scientific experimentation, design, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship through hands-on activities for students and youth
• increased accessibility and participation in STEM-related events and activities for students and youth under 18 years of age, particularly those historically underrepresented in STEM as defined in the glossary
• positive and ongoing development of STEM skills for participating students and youth, fostered through hands-on inquiry-based learning.

You can apply if you:

• have an Australian business number (ABN)

And are one of the following entities:

• an entity, incorporated in Australia
• an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth)
• an incorporated association
• an incorporated not for profit organisation
• a publicly funded research organisation (PFRO)
• a government or non-government vocational education and training (VET) provider as defined in section 14 of the grant opportunity guidelines.

You must also deliver the project through a collaborative partnership where:

• the partnership must be established prior to the submission of your application
• the partnership must include at least one partner organisation during the life of the project
• the partnering organisation/s must be active participants in the delivery of the project and not just beneficiaries of the proposed activities.

The NSW National Carers Week Grants program provides one‑off grants between $1,000 and $2,000 to eligible organisations across NSW. Funding supports community activities and events that recognise and celebrate carers and create opportunities for connection during National Carers Week. The Program aims to increase community awareness of carers, highlight their contribution, and support more carers to feel valued and connected within their local communities. 

The objectives of the NSW National Carers Week Grants program are to:

• Provide carers with a diverse range of opportunities for connection through National Carers Week activities or events.
• Enhance the recognition of carers in communities across NSW during National Carers Week.

Under this program, eligible organisations are:

• Incorporated organisations registered and approved as a not-for-profit body by NSW Fair Trading
• Not-for profit companies limited by guarantee, operating in NSW
• Public companies limited by guarantee, operating in NSW
• State Government Other Incorporated Entity with Deductable Gift Recipient (DGR) status including Local Area Health Districts and the Justice Health and Forensic Health Network
• Local government organisations
• Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) – these Applicants will be required to provide documentation to support their ACCO status
• Indigenous Corporations registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC)
• Local Aboriginal Land Councils registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC)
• Trusts registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
• NSW non-government organisations established under their own Act of Parliament
• Religious organisations operating in NSW.

During the assessment process, checks will be conducted to confirm the eligibility of organisations. Registers such as the ACNC, ASIC, ABN Lookup, ORIC and the NSW Office of Fair Trading Register will be considered. 

This program funds individuals and groups to create new visual arts and craft commissions for presentation nationally and internationally.

Grants of $100,000 only are available. The new commission proposed must be presented to audiences by 30 June 2028.

Each year a designated number of grants are available to each state or territory reflecting the population spread across Australia.

In the 2 June 2026 closing date, grants will be awarded to applicants residing in all Australian states and territories.

Please note that successful recipients of Major Commissioning Projects grants in this round are not eligible to apply for this grant again until 2030. They are also not eligible to apply to the Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups grant category until the September closing date in 2028.

The Local History Grant Program is a Create NSW funded program, administered by the RAHS on behalf of the NSW Government. This program was formerly known as the Cultural Grants.

Projects should be relevant to understanding the history of New South Wales and its people and places. Grants of up to $6,000 ex GST support the work of historical research and publications undertaken by local historical societies and similar bodies across New South Wales. Please ensure that the project has the support of your organisation before submitting an application. Projects should generally be able to be completed by December 2027. We aim to notify the successful applicants by September 2026.

Eligibility

This program aims to encourage involvement in and completion of historical projects that are of significance to the community.

Who is eligible to apply for the Create NSW Local History Grant Program?

• RAHS Affiliated Societies
• Local community or regional groups of New South Wales
• Organisations incorporated on a non-profit basis, with a commitment to one or more aspects of history
• Individuals working alone are not eligible to apply and personal ABNs are not accepted. However, individuals may partner with eligible community organisations to apply.
• Local government bodies or tertiary institutions partnering with community groups to produce community-based projects may apply.
• Culturally and linguistically diverse groups or researchers working in these fields are encouraged to apply for support for projects leading to the publication of community history.

What sort of projects may be funded?

• Prepublication Research
• Publication of Books: Books or e-books of historical research on an aspect of local history or specialist historical interest
• Publication of education kits/resources
• Publication of tourist brochure/walking maps
• Oral history – interviews
• Oral history – transcriptions/making oral histories publicly accessible by print or online
• Conservation of historical resources
• Management plans for collections of historical research
• Digitisation of records 

Public Lending Right (PLR) and Educational Lending Right (ELR) are Australian Government programs that compensate Australian creators and publishers in recognition of income lost through free multiple use of their books in public and educational lending libraries. These programs support the enrichment of Australian culture by encouraging the growth and development of Australian writing.

A creator or a publisher must register and submit title claims within five years from the year of publication. Books are surveyed in a sample of either public lending libraries (PLR) or school, TAFE and university libraries (ELR).

Eligible creators are:

• authors, editors, illustrators, translators and compilers
• Australian citizens, wherever they reside, or non-citizens who normally reside in Australia (eligibility ceases if residency in Australia ceases)
• those who receive on-going royalties from the sale of their book.

Eligible publishers are:

• companies whose business consists wholly or substantially of the publication of books and who regularly publish in Australia—'regularly publish' is defined as at least once in the preceding three year period
• non-profit organisations that publish to further their aims or objectives
• self-publishing creators.

The ACCO-led ECEC Sector Growth Partnership Program - Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations who are approved Early Learning providers or are seeking to become approved Early Learning providers are encouraged to apply for this EOI. - Successful applicants in this EOI will progress to the next round where they will be invited to provide a full application. Applicants will be required to complete this via this SmartyGrants application by the close date to be considered. Applicants may be required to provide evidence to support their application. Please see Program Guidelines for information of funding streams and eligibility. 

Who can apply

Only Aboriginal community-controlled organisations (ACCOs) are eligible for this program. An ACCO is an organisation: that delivers services, including land and resource management that builds the strength and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and people and is:

• incorporated under relevant legislation and is not-for-profit
• controlled and operated by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
• connected to the community or communities in which it delivers services
• governed by a majority Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander governing body.  

ACCOs applying for Streams 1 or 2 must have ECEC service approval or have applied for service-approval. 

ACCOs must be an approved ECEC service provider, or have submitted an application for an ECEC service approval that is yet to be determined by the NSW ECEC Regulatory Authority2, to operate one or more of the following ECEC services in New South Wales:

• centre-based day care
• long day care
• outside school hours care
• family day care
• occasional care
• mobile preschool

ACCOs applying for Stream 3 must: 

Provide evidence that your organisation has consulted with the community to seek endorsement for the project. Be facing barriers to ECEC provider approval which may include (but not limited to): land or premises access issues (e.g. resolving crown land complexities).regulatory compliance planning and project scoping Provide evidence that funding will be used to reduce barries for establishment of the project.

The Community War Memorials Fund (CWMF) provides funding to support the conservation of community war memorials across NSW.

The purpose of the CWMF is to help conserve, repair and protect war memorials across NSW to support community commemoration, by funding projects that follow best practice conservation principles and processes. The CWMF is targeted at organisations who are responsible for the management of war memorials in NSW.

Who can apply

An organisation can apply to the CWMF if:

1. It is one of the applicant types listed below

2a. It is the owner of the war memorial, or

2b. It has received the endorsement of the owner of the war memorial to undertake the project and apply to the CWMF.

For the purposes of the CWMF, the owner of the war memorial is the entity who owns or manages the land on which the war memorial is located, or the building in which it is housed, also known as the landowner.

Eligible applicant types

• Incorporated not-for-profit community organisations
• NSW local councils operating under the Local Government Act 1993
• Incorporated organisations that are registered and approved as not-for-profit bodies by NSW Fair Trading
• Not-for profit companies limited by guarantee, registered in NSW (must have ACNC registration and/or DGR status)
• Indigenous Corporations (must be registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations)
• NSW Local Aboriginal Land Councils
• Religious organisations operating in NSW
• NSW non-government organisations established under their own Act of Parliament
• NSW Government agencies who own or are responsible for a war memorial, including government schools, are eligible to apply to the CWMF
• Non-Council Crown Land Managers (Category 1 or 2)

Types of projects funded under this grant

Applications to the CWMF must align with and be submitted under one of the below categories:

• Category A: Reports and Assessments - Engaging heritage or other relevant specialists (such as engineers) to produce reports relating to the repair, protection, and/or conservation of existing war memorials and/or their precincts.
• Category B: Physical works - Engaging heritage or other relevant specialists (such as stonemasons and joiners) to undertake physical works relating to the repair, protection, and/or conservation of existing war memorials AND / OR other physical works relating to the memorial’s immediate precinct to promote its conservation, safe and accessible use, and community access for commemorative purposes.

Notes:

• The CWMF supports projects for existing war memorials. Applications cannot be submitted for the construction of new war memorials.
• Category A applicants cannot apply for Category B works in the same round for the same war memorial. This is because applicants planning physical works to war memorials are expected to have already obtained relevant heritage advice for their project, such as the kinds listed under Category A.
• Category B applicants are expected to obtain relevant heritage advice for their project before applying to the CWMF.

Playing Australia Project Investment supports organisations to undertake performing arts tours to reach regional and remote communities across Australia.

The program supports costs associated with touring to regional and remote areas of Australia. There is no limit on the amount that can be requested. Touring activity must be confirmed prior to seeking investment through this category.

Who can apply

Legally constituted organisations only may apply.

What you can apply for

You may apply for any costs necessary for the completion of a successful regional tour with a confirmed itinerary.

Creative Australia acknowledges that flexibility is required when touring and supports a variety of touring models. Applicants may seek investment for alternative touring models that:

• propose activity such as residency models with live performance outcomes or concept touring
• present a tour that includes significant and targeted community engagement
• present an annual touring program for single or multiple works
• propose a digital tour.

You can apply for support towards:

• a tour that has a confirmed itinerary
• payment of fees and salaries for artists and touring party
• costs associated with remounting or rehearsing a work
• production costs associated with touring the work or delivering the activity
• touring costs including freight, transport, accommodation and travel allowances
• tour co-ordination
• costs associated with reducing the environmental impact of your tour
• costs associated with supporting the wellbeing of the touring company.

2026 Closing Dates

• Tuesday 3 March 2026
• Tuesday 2 June 2026
• Tuesday 13 October 2026

Playing Australia Project Investment supports organisations to undertake performing arts tours to reach regional and remote communities across Australia.

The program supports costs associated with touring to regional and remote areas of Australia. There is no limit on the amount that can be requested. Touring activity must be confirmed prior to seeking investment through this category.

Who can apply

Legally constituted organisations only may apply.

What you can apply for

You may apply for any costs necessary for the completion of a successful regional tour with a confirmed itinerary.

Creative Australia acknowledges that flexibility is required when touring and supports a variety of touring models. Applicants may seek investment for alternative touring models that:

• propose activity such as residency models with live performance outcomes or concept touring
• present a tour that includes significant and targeted community engagement
• present an annual touring program for single or multiple works
• propose a digital tour.

You can apply for support towards:

• a tour that has a confirmed itinerary
• payment of fees and salaries for artists and touring party
• costs associated with remounting or rehearsing a work
• production costs associated with touring the work or delivering the activity
• touring costs including freight, transport, accommodation and travel allowances
• tour co-ordination
• costs associated with reducing the environmental impact of your tour
• costs associated with supporting the wellbeing of the touring company.

2026 Closing Dates

• Tuesday 3 March 2026
• Tuesday 2 June 2026
• Tuesday 13 October 2026

Playing Australia Project Investment supports organisations to undertake performing arts tours to reach regional and remote communities across Australia.

The program supports costs associated with touring to regional and remote areas of Australia. There is no limit on the amount that can be requested. Touring activity must be confirmed prior to seeking investment through this category.

Who can apply

Legally constituted organisations only may apply.

What you can apply for

You may apply for any costs necessary for the completion of a successful regional tour with a confirmed itinerary.

Creative Australia acknowledges that flexibility is required when touring and supports a variety of touring models. Applicants may seek investment for alternative touring models that:

• propose activity such as residency models with live performance outcomes or concept touring
• present a tour that includes significant and targeted community engagement
• present an annual touring program for single or multiple works
• propose a digital tour.

You can apply for support towards:

• a tour that has a confirmed itinerary
• payment of fees and salaries for artists and touring party
• costs associated with remounting or rehearsing a work
• production costs associated with touring the work or delivering the activity
• touring costs including freight, transport, accommodation and travel allowances
• tour co-ordination
• costs associated with reducing the environmental impact of your tour
• costs associated with supporting the wellbeing of the touring company.

2026 Closing Dates

• Tuesday 3 March 2026
• Tuesday 2 June 2026
• Tuesday 13 October 2026

NSW is home to thriving and diverse LGBTQ+ communities. They are the sum of resilient First Nations communities, diverse cultural and religious communities, are people of all ages and abilities, and stronger as a community when we embrace and celebrate this diversity.

Funded by the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District and delivered by ACON, the Diversity Days Grants program provides small grants of up to $1,000 to support local LGBTQ+ groups and communities to deliver inclusive activities for Diversity Days. The program aims to increase awareness and celebration of LGBTQ+ diversity in priority settings across NSW.

Objectives of the Diversity Day Grants

• Increase visibility and celebration of LGBTQ+ diversity in priority settings in NSW
• Foster social connection and friendship by supporting activities that bring people together
• Foster local leadership by supporting development of community led activities
• Foster collaboration between LGBTQ+ communities, service providers, Councils, and other local groups.

Priority given to

• Activities that are led by and engage LGBTQ+ First Nations communities, multicultural and multifaith communities, people with disabilities, and older LGBTQ+ people
• Activities that increase awareness of the diversity in LGBTQ+ communities and/or create spaces for diverse groups within the LGBTQ+ community
• Activities held in priority settings of Rural, Regional and Remote NSW, as well as Greater Western Sydney
• New applications from LGBTQ+ groups without regular sources of funding

Example activities

• Activities that increase awareness of diversity such as culturally significant celebrations or religious ceremonies
• Activities that foster social connection such as community events, arts, and recreation activities
• Informative activities that explore LGBTQ+ diversity such as panel events or awareness campaigns
• Activities that increase LGBTQ+ visibility such as a Council flag raising events or community stalls

Eligibility - Who can apply:

• Individuals, community groups, businesses, not-for-profit organisations
• Applicants based in or who plan to deliver their activity in New South Wales
• Applicants may submit one application only. Multiple applications from the same group or organisation will not be accepted.
• Applicants who have an Australian Business Number. If you don’t have an ABN, then you will need to submit a completed ‘Statement by Supplier’ form.

The Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP) provides scholarships and bursaries to help health professionals in rural and remote Australia retain and enhance their skills, capacity and scope of practice. The Program is an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, administered in New South Wales by Rural Doctors Network (RDN).

The HWSP is available to medical, nursing, midwifery, allied health, dental and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals providing primary health care in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services sector, non-government organisations and private practice.

RDN opens several application rounds in a financial year, with applications assessed as eligible being prioritised within available funding.

A Mental Health Month project or event is a great way to encourage awareness of mental health, and social and emotional wellbeing in your community. It can decrease stigma, and empower people to seek help, for themselves or others.

Each year, Wayahead extends over 30 small grants of either $500 or $1000 to community groups and organisations across NSW, facilitating the initiation of Mental Health Month projects or events.

Please be advised that grant applications must align their event dates with Mental Health Month (October), enhancing the significance and impact of the program.

Grant Categories

• General Grant
  The General Grant category encourages individuals, groups or organisations to propose projects or events that promote mental health awareness and dialogue. It supports initiatives aligned with the current years theme, providing funding and partnering with Wayahead to enhance their impact within communities.
• Youth Grant
  The Youth Grant category invites young people, individuals, youth-focused groups or organisations to propose projects or events promoting mental health awareness among peers during Mental Health Month. Recipients align with the current years theme and partner with Wayahead to amplify the impact of their initiatives within communities.
• CALD Grant
  The Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Grant category encourages individuals, groups or organisations addressing CALD communities to propose projects or events promoting mental health awareness and support. Recipients align their initiatives with the current years theme and partner with Wayahead to enhance the impact of their events.
• LGBTQIA+ Grant
  The LGBTQIA+ Grant category welcomes individuals, groups or organisations focusing on LGBTQIA+ to propose projects or events promoting mental health awareness and support within the community. Recipients align their initiatives with the current years theme and partner with Wayahead to enhance the impact of their efforts.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Grant
  The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Grant category welcomes individuals, groups or organisations focusing on Indigenous communities to propose projects or events promoting mental health awareness and support. Recipients align their initiatives with the current years theme and partner with Wayahead to support the impact of their efforts within these communities.

AusArt Day is a national initiative designed to support and enable a collective action by artists and arts organisations to fundraise on one national day – increasing the visibility of arts philanthropy and encouraging greater generosity in support of the arts.

It aims to elevate the public value of the arts in the consciousness of everyday Australians and increase donor engagement in support of Australian creativity.

For 2026, AusArt Day will take place on Thursday 22 October 2026, building on the momentum of its inaugural year. AusArt Day offers two grant opportunities, as follows:  

To support the creation of digital content for use within your AusArt Day campaign:  

• artists and collectives – $2,500
• arts organisations (of less than $5 million operating budget) – $5,000. 

An opt-in dollar-for-dollar matched funding to incentivise your donor engagement during your AusArt Day campaign: 

• artists and collectives – $2,500
• arts organisations (of less than $5 million operating budget) – $5,000 

The matched funding initiative encourages donations during AusArt Day by matching each contribution dollar-for-dollar, effectively doubling the value of every donation up to a set limit (limits outlined above). 

Applicants who opt in to the matched funding component are required to demonstrate how matched funding will be applied strategically to strengthen their campaign and maximise donor engagement.  Applicants may receive one or both granted opportunities.  

The Creative Nations Program supports First Nations artists, cultural workers, organisations and communities through their artistic expressions that continue to sustain and strengthen First Nations arts and culture in NSW.

This funding could:

• enable the creation and presentation of new work and the ability to access resources and expertise for individual artists projects or artistic/professional development
• create more employment and professional development opportunities for First Nations artists and cultural workers
• invest in First Nations led organisations and help cultural workers become leaders
• enable the sharing of First Nations stories and truth telling
• support personal and community wellbeing and economic development.

Who can apply

Individuals: 

• First Nations applicants must be 18 years or above 
• Have an active Australian Business Number (ABN) or be administered at time of contracting (if successful) 
• Currently living in NSW (minimum12 months) 

Groups or other entities that do not have legal status: 

• Applicants must be First Nations and 18 years or above, have an active Australian Business Number (ABN) or be administered at time of contracting (if successful)  
• Majority of members must currently be located in NSW (for the past 12 months) 
• Unincorporated groups must have a written/ signed agreement between all members outlining roles and responsibilities, and their acceptance of the proposed project. 

Organisations or entities that do have legal status (such as companies, associations, partnerships, and other incorporated entities):

• must be First Nations led organisations operating in NSW for the last 12 months
• The person submitting the application must have the authority to act on behalf of the organisation/entity