Search Grants & Funding

The Narrative Content Short Film Production Funding Program supports a team of content makers that must include Director, Writer, Producer and, where applicable, Animator, to make a Narrative Content Short Film intended for theatrical festivals.   

The aims of Narrative Content Short Film Production Program are to support:

• Australian live action or animated Narrative Short Films for a first and primary window of a theatrical festival outcome;

• talent who are connected to the stories they tell and reflect the breadth of Australia in service of cultural, creative and economic benefits; and
• talent and stories with viable pathways to festival audiences locally and/or globally.

The program will have two application rounds per financial year.

Communities, families and students value the NSW Community Languages Schools Program. The program helps students learn and use another language and connects young Australians to the language, heritage and culture of their community. It also helps build strong communities and it helps build respect in Australia for our many different cultures.

Schools may be eligible for a government grant to support a community language program.

There are three types of grants:

Establishment grant

This is a one-off grant of $2,500 for organisations that are setting up language classes for the first time. The aim of the grant is to help new community language schools in their first year.

Note: All organisations must submit an EOI by 1 April if applying for an Establishment Grant in the same year.

Per capita grant

This grant is used to help cover school operating costs such as teaching materials, staff wages and new equipment. The funding amount is based on the number of eligible students enrolled during term one. You can apply for this grant after you have been operating for more than 12 months.

Specific project grant

This grant of up to $10,000 is available to develop teaching materials or run training activities. The project should benefit other community language schools that use the same language.

No Interest Loans (NILs) are 0% interest and with no fees or charges. Submit your quote with your application and NILs will pay it straight to the supplier / vendor. Loans cannot be used for cash, bills, debts or rent.

Borrow up to $2000 for essentials such as appliances or furniture, car repairs, a new computer or laptop, or medical, dental or vet expenses. Borrow up to $3000 for bond on a new rental property or for recovery from a natural disaster.

Eligibility

• have a Health Care Card / Pension Card
• OR earn less than $70,000 (before tax) as a single
• OR earn less than $100,000 (before tax) if you have a partner or dependents
• OR have experienced family or domestic violence in the last 10 years
• AND you have lived at your current address for a minimum of three months
• AND you can show you can afford to repay the loan (Centrepay and direct debit available)

No Interest Loans are offered by more than 170 local community not-for-profit organisations in over 600 locations.

The Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS) provides a payment to help reduce the costs of buying continence products from a supplier of your choice.

To get CAPS you need to meet all the eligibility requirements. The basic requirements are that you:

• have permanent and severe incontinence
• have an eligible neurological condition or eligible other condition that is the cause of your permanent and severe incontinence
• be 5 years or older
• be an Australian citizen.

The CAPS payment rate for 2025–26 is $717.10. The payment may increase or decrease a little every year following the Government’s budget process.

In early 2011, Bowls Australia, in partnership with its state and territory associations, established the Bowls Disaster Relief Fund to aid its clubs in times of need.

With natural disasters regularly threatening Australia, clubs will be able to access the funds via an application process through Bowls Australia, with 100% of all sums to be redirected to those clubs in need.

Applications for the Bowls Disaster Relief Fund are open for clubs who have been affected by recent natural disasters.

Clubs can apply for up to $3,000 which will be assessed by Bowls Australia, depending on the circumstances and the details contained within the application.

Categories

• Restoring social networks and functioning
  Funding can be used to hold a community event or social activity, keep communities informed, record the disaster event as part of local history, or to develop skills and networks that build capacity for the future.
• Restoring community facilities
  Funding can be used to repair or reinstate the structure of a damaged facility, or to repair or replace damaged fittings and equipment integral to the function of a facility.
• Replenishing loss of equipment
  Funding can be used to replace bowls equipment lost or damaged during the natural disaster.

The Indigenous Youth Mobility Pathways Project (IYMP) is an innovative project which supports young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from regional and remote communities across the nation to Dream, Learn and Lead.

Help through the project includes:

• Tailored support young Indigenous Australians need to pursue their dreams and achieve their long-term career goals. 
• Addresses and removes the barriers to education and employment providing holistic support to young Indigenous people whilst engaged in the project.
• Provides support to over 230 young Indigenous people per year across Australia.
• Indigenous youth are supported to move to an IYMP host location to participate in vocational training, University and Australian Apprenticeships. 
• Participants are supported in every aspect of life. IYMP aspires to teach all the life skills required to live an independent and meaningful life beyond IYMP support.
• IYMP cultivate First Nation leaders who inspire other young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to chase their dreams, take skills back to their home community and build the capacity of remote communities across the country.

To apply under this project, a young Indigenous person must be:

• From a remote or regional community.
• Aged between 16 and 24 years upon commencement of the project.
• Willing to commit to a suitable career pathway, work hard to achieve set goals and become a future leader.

The Commonwealth Prac Payment – Vocational Education and Training (CPP (VET)) grant will assist eligible students to manage the costs associated with undertaking a mandatory practicum placement as part of a Diploma of Nursing qualification.

Eligibility:

• Be a domestic student
• Enrolled in a Diploma of Nursing course
• Undertake a practicum placement on average 30 hours or more per week
• Be on a Commonwealth income support payment (e.g. ABSTUDY, Austudy, Youth Allowance or DVA Education Allowance) or Meet a ‘Need to work’ and ‘Income test’ criteria.

The ABC (Aboriginal Biodiversity Conservation) Foundation are dedicated to strengthening Indigenous communities through on-country engagement, economic empowerment, and community-led initiatives. Through their Future Fund, they provide small grants and opportunities to grassroots Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, fostering self-determination and driving economic empowerment for sustainable futures.

• Small Event/Activity Grants: (Up to $2,500) These are for short-term, local events or initiatives. Applications are submitted online and reviewed multiple times a year by the ABC management committee. Applications must be submitted 28 days prior to the next ABC Management Committee meeting.
  *Organisations that are not currently an ABC On-Country Community Partner can still apply for this grant funding.
   
• Community Partners: For larger, ongoing projects, becoming a Community Partner gives your organisation access to more significant funding opportunities and ongoing support from ABC Foundation.

Eligibility Criteria

• All applicants must be an Aboriginal organisation with an ABN and the organisation must be able to demonstrate an alignment to ABC Foundation vision and strategic priorities in remote areas across Australia.
• More than 50% of the workforce ownership/management AND more than 50% of grant beneficiaries are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
• The organisation must have a core focus that is in line with the ABC Foundation programs; organised, conducted or promoted for the relief of poverty, sickness, destitution, helplessness, suffering, misfortune, disability or distress. With either a social or environmental focus.

*No funding will be provided to individuals.

Established under the NSW Screen and Digital Games Strategy 2025-2027, Screen NSW, through this program, will wholly or partly reimburse, up to $5,000, a screen and digital games producers’ cost to option original intellectual property (IP) from NSW-based creators.

The primary aim of the program is to encourage screen content for audiences that has originated in IP created by people who are included in the Screen NSW Priority Areas: First Nations people, people living in Western Sydney and regional NSW, people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) backgrounds, people living with a disability, and LGBTQIA+ people.

The objectives of the program are to:

• Improve sustainability of the NSW screen and digital games industries
• Improve sustainability of related NSW-based creative sectors, particularly literary fiction, non-fiction and short-form web-based and podcast content creation
• Promote collaboration between the NSW screen and digital games industries and NSW-based practitioners from other creative industries
• Provide opportunity for early and mid-career creatives from Screen NSW Priority Areas to enhance their careers by having their work reach a wider audience through screen adaptation
• Increase visibility within screen and digital games content of people from under-represented groups as set out in the Screen NSW Diversity Commitment
• Increase the level of participation of practitioners from under-represented groups as set out in the Screen NSW Diversity Commitment
• Support connections that will shape the future of the NSW creative community and strengthen its position in the global market. 

The Petstock Foundation grant program supports organisations that align with their vision and purpose.

Vision
To create a community where all animals are respected, loved and treated as part of the family resulting in a happier, healthier life for all.

Purpose
We are committed to making a long-term difference and positive change in the lives of pets and families within our community through education and raising awareness.

Preferred charities will display the following characteristics:

• Clearly defined needs and suitability
• Clearly stated outputs and outcomes, including the measures that will assess whether these have been achieved
• Development and building of existing organisational strength
• A thoroughly considered and mapped sustainability proposal
• Leverage potential impact that extends beyond the target group
• A contribution to knowledge and practice in the sector of operation
• Tax status to be eligible for a grant

They are looking for organisations or projects that create long-term change and care for or help rehabilitate those in need (whether that's people, animals or the planet!).

• ASSIST abused, abandoned and neglected pets through rescue, rehabilitation and/and rehoming initiatives;
• will SUPPORT those who require assistance within our communities through companion animal projects and disaster assistance;
• will help raise AWARENESS about rescue pets, animal health and the impact of animals on human happiness and health.

Housing Australia provides loans and grants for critical infrastructure to unlock and accelerate new housing supply. The NHIF (CI) funds essential housing project infrastructure such as utilities and roads. Without this funding, the projects may not go ahead or may start much later or deliver less homes. 

The NHIF CI can provide finance to help support critical housing-enabling infrastructure. This includes new or upgraded infrastructure for:

• Electricity and Gas
• Water, sewerage and stormwater
• Transportation including roads
• Telecommunications

NHIF CI finance can also be used for: 

• Demolition and site remediation including the removal of hazardous waste or contamination

• Onsite and linking infrastructure 

The terms of NHIF CI finance are flexible with a range of concessions available to suit the applicant’s project  requirements. These may include, for example, concessional interest rates, and/or longer loan tenure or extended period of capitalised interest and potentially combined with a grant component for projects that meet the eligibility criteria. 

Eligibility criteria

Any of the following applicants may apply for finance through the NHIF CI:

• Registered community housing providers
• State or territory governments or government-owned development corporations or utility providers
• Local governments or their investment corporations or utility providers
• Incorporated special purpose vehicles that have at least one eligible foundation member (as above).

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.