Search Grants & Funding

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.

The Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP) provides aids, equipment and modifications to help eligible veterans to live safely and independently.

The RAP supplies items (such as aids, equipment and modifications) to clients to:

• help them with an assessed clinical health care need
• minimise the impact of their disabilities or dysfunction
• improve their quality of life
• enable them to live safely and with independence
• facilitate their participation in the community
• be an adjunct to their health treatment or a rehabilitation plan.

 The RAP National Schedule of Equipment (RAP schedule) lists the aids, equipment and modifications that are available. These fall into the following broad categories:

• assistive listening devices and tinnitus devices
• speech and communication devices
• low vision appliances (non-optical)
• cognition and memory devices
• swallowing and feeding appliances
• bathing, toileting, continence and personal hygiene products
• diabetes products
• assistance dogs (psychiatric assistance dogs, guide dogs, hearing assistance dogs and mobility assistance dogs)
• alarm system / communication appliances/assistive listening devices
• respiratory home therapy devices, including oxygen and positive airway pressure machines, beds and related appliances
• chairs and other supports
• Lifting devices
• adaptive household appliances to help with doing everyday things around the house mobility devices to help with moving around, such as a walking frame, knee walkers, manual wheelchairs, electric scooters and wheelchairs
• orthoses and prostheses
• footwear not obtained through the Medical Grade Footwear Program
• rehabilitation exercise and treatment machines
• palliative care appliances
• home modifications – non complex
• home modifications – complex
• stoma appliances

 Clients may be eligible for the RAP if they have an assessed clinical need and either a:

• Veteran Gold Card
• Veteran White Card and the equipment is for an accepted condition

Further eligibility criteria applies to some items.

The Telstra Top Up program helps those experiencing vulnerability stay connected to the people and services supporting them by providing a $180 Pre-Paid mobile recharge with 70GB of data for six months.

The program is available to community service organisations that utilise the Infoxchange Client & Case Management service and support vulnerable women, youth and families, First Nations communities or refugees, or community members impacted by homelessness, natural disaster, domestic and family violence, mental health, disability, financial difficulty or food insecurity.

Our Country Our Future (OCOF) is the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation's (ILSC) chief funding program for facilitating the return and management of Country to First Nations peoples.

They partner with eligible First Nations groups across Australia and across a range of sectors.

Direct funding is offered for:

• purchasing, managing and/or developing land or water-related interests
• planning and capability building projects to support purchasing, managing and/or developing land or water-related interests

Advice and capability support is also available, including in developing partnerships, markets and other opportunities.

The Young Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy is a program for young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women from high school through to higher education, tertiary pathways and graduate employment, who are interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The Academy engages and mentors young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women in who are interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

There is no cost to schools, students, parents/carers and no additional workloads are expected for busy teachers. The Academy is delivered by over 85% Indigenous staff, with the support of exemplary and Child Safe screened STEM Professional mentors and industry leaders.

The Academy is open to young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Island women living in Australia. Intakes are dependent on scheduled year cohorts, but they highly encourage potential applicants to email the Academy outside of these schedules, as the program may adapt to new locations and ages depending on demand, year on year.

Eligibility requirements:

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander female or female identifying.
• In Year 9 or above from 2024 onwards.
• Passing English, Maths and Science.
• Registered for school or homeschooling in their Australian state or territory.
• Demonstrated interest in STEM subjects and topics.
• Young women registered for school, boarding school or homeschooling.
• An expressed interest in STEM, and eagerness to enrol in STEM subjects as applicable.

CORENA provides interest-free loans to help fund climate projects anywhere in Australia in cases where the up-front capital cost is a barrier. Their team can also offer independent technical advice to overcome barriers to implementing cost-effective climate projects.

They welcome project loan applications from non-profits, community organisations and social enterprises and will also consider businesses or cooperatives with a social or environmental purpose.

Note that projects which are cost effective and ‘pay for themselves’ in a reasonable time (with the loan repayments to them covered by the savings made on bills) are favoured.

Examples of Eligible Projects

Renewable Energy

• Solar panels
• Batteries

Energy Efficiency

• Energy audits
• Heating and cooling
• Lighting retrofits
• Energy monitoring

Getting Off Gas

• Heat pump hot water systems
• Induction stovetops
• Heat pump space heating

Electric Vehicles

• Cars & buses
• Delivery vehicles

CORENA encourages you to look at your energy use as a whole and apply for a combination of the above projects, potentially over a number of years, with the aim of becoming an all electric organisation.

If you have another project that reduces carbon emissions but is not listed above, they will also be happy to consider it, they love to support innovative ideas.

Deaf Connect recognises their important role as a member of the community and are committed to supporting Deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing Australians and activities and organisations that benefit the community.

With thanks to the Deaf Lottery, they are in the position to support the Deaf community to achieve their goals, whether they be recreational, career-oriented or wellbeing focused.

The Deaf Connect Grants program is open to: 

• All Deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing community members and their allies  
• Community groups 
• Organisations

Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis, with consideration given to:  

• The project itself and its benefit to the community 
• The financial value of the project
• The financial support which has been provided to the individual or organisation within the same calendar year  

They want to invest as many projects as possible. You can submit your interest to apply for a grant in Auslan or English at any time. They recommend you allow at least 6-8 weeks prior to your project deadline.  

They will confirm they have received your application within 5 working days and provide you the outcome of your application within 30 working days. 

The Social Enterprise Development Initiative (SEDI) First Nations capability building Grants provide support for First Nations enterprises to strengthen their capability, expand their operations and increase their social and economic impact.

Grants are valued at between $50,000 and $120,000 each. Grant funds are to be used to purchase capability services from Capability Providers and other businesses, such as financial services, evaluation and impact measurement, business consulting and legal advice. Up to 20% of grant funds can be used to cover internal costs that are necessary to purchase these services.

The grants support First Nations enterprises that are trading Indigenous owned or controlled enterprises across all states and territories that are delivering services to improve social and economic outcomes for First Nations communities and Australians in a range of social outcome areas, including: employment and education.

Grant eligibility

An eligible SEDI First Nations Grant applicant:

Is an Indigenous community-controlled organisation: an organisation that is at least 51% Indigenous owned and controlled, incorporated and not-for-profit
or
Is an owned and operated Indigenous organisation: an organisation that is at least 51% Indigenous owned and controlled
or
‘Other’ Indigenous organisation: an organisation that is at least 50% Indigenous owned or controlled.

Note: If your organisation does not fit one of the above definitions, you are considered a non-Indigenous organisation and not eligible to apply for a SEDI First Nations Grant. You may be eligible for a SEDI grant.

• Is a First Nations social enterprise defined as a trading Indigenous owned or controlled organisation with a social benefit. This may include, but is not limited to:
  • Profit is utilised for its defined key purpose, that includes social, cultural, environmental or community benefit and change
  • Invests efforts and resources into their purpose
  • Creates employment and training opportunities for First Nations people
  • Delivers products and services to meet community needs
  • Profit re-distribution where some profits or revenue are re-invested into a community benefit
• Is owned and operated in Australia with beneficiaries who primarily reside in Australia.
• Has a business model that includes entrepreneurial or commercial trade activity. This may include an ‘entrepreneurial business’ or new revenue stream within an existing organisation, as long as it meets the trade revenue requirements (see description of trading revenue further below).
• Has progressed beyond the startup phase. This means you are already trading and are able to meet the annual trade revenue requirement. If your enterprise is a new revenue stream within an existing organisation, you must be able to show how the enterprise enables you to scale your impact in an approved outcome area and/or diversify your commercial revenue.
• Is seeking capability building support to scale impact in one or more of the approved outcome areas (see next point). Scale means to substantially increase the impact your enterprise delivers. This might mean increasing the number of beneficiaries your enterprise can reach (wide), or better supporting the needs of your enterprise’s existing beneficiaries (deep). Please read the Department of Social Services’ outcome areas for information on the approved outcome areas.
• Has a revenue that exceeds $50,000 and a trading revenue that exceeds $35,000 per year. Trading revenue is considered as income derived from the sale of goods or services to different customers in a repeatable way. Trading revenue does not include donations, philanthropic grants, gifts or short-term government grants. Government contracts awarded through competitive tenders or procurements can be considered as trade.

Variety – the Children’s Charity, offer support to children who have experienced permanent hair loss due to conditions such as Alopecia or other medical conditions, helping them access a wig that restores confidence and a sense of self.

Specialised wigs can cost up to $6,000 and may only last two to three years, making them out of reach for many families. Through the Wigs Grant, Variety can provide up to $5,000 towards the cost of a human or synthetic hair wig to help make this support more accessible.

Families are welcome to choose a wig supplier that best suits their child’s needs, and are also encouraged to check with their GP or specialist about any available government subsidies in their state or territory.

Wig Grant applications are open all year for families across Australia with applications managed nationally through the Variety office in NSW/ACT.

Ski for Life provides grants to community groups and organisations delivering practical mental health and suicide prevention initiatives across rural and regional Australia. They support projects that strengthen wellbeing, promote connection, and deliver measurable impact where it’s needed most.

Applications are welcome for projects that:

• Are community-led and locally delivered

• Focus on mental health, well-being, and suicide prevention

• Support rural and regional communities

• Create practical, measurable outcomes

The Wild Country Environmental Fund was established in May 2022 by Georgina and Michael who have a life-long affinity for wild places. They love to fund education and advocacy of wild places, research into wild places and their ecology, and support direct action to protect these places.

Funds are distributed throughout the year to registered Australian charities with DRG1 status, with $10,000 distributed per quarter as individual grants between $1,000 and $5,000 per project.

They encourage applications from registered charities small or large.

The Balnaves Foundation supports Australian not-for-profit organisations that work in the arts, health and education, with a focus on initiatives that benefit young people, First Nations and those facing disadvantage.

There are no specific grant rounds for the General EOI process and submissions are generally open year round.

The Foundation only supports grants delivered in Australia by Australian not-for-profit organisations. The Foundation prefers to support multi-year projects with a funding range of $150,000 – $250,000 per annum.

Within the health space, The Balnaves Foundation is focused on supporting projects that deliver significantly improved health outcomes for young Australians through the prevention and early intervention of chronic health conditions.

Please note that the Foundation’s trustees meet four times a year. If your EOI moves forward to the Proposal stage it may take between 3-6 months from your initial EOI submission for it to be presented at a Trustee meeting. The Foundation recommends timing your EOI submission to allow for this. Submissions received less than 3 months before the commencement date are unlikely to progress.

Due to limited capacity the Foundation team is unable to accept meeting requests or review applications prior to submission.

Australian Red Cross provides limited cash and voucher assistance (CVA) to some people on temporary visas who are experiencing financial hardship and vulnerability.

Cash assistance (also known as emergency relief) is a small one-off payment to help you with your basic needs like food, shelter and medicine.

They have limited funding and receive a high number of applications from across Australia. For this reason, they must prioritise support for people with the least access to income, services, and support networks.

You may be eligible if:

• You hold a temporary visa.
• Are over 18 years of age.
• You are living in Australia.
• You meet our financial hardship threshold and are experiencing vulnerability (e.g., unable to meet basic needs such as food, housing, or medical care).

Please note that New Zealand citizens are not eligible as they have broader access to services and work rights in Australia.

The Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS), provides financial assistance towards travel and accommodation costs when you need to travel more than 100km one way or 200km within a week for appointments to the same medical practitioner or health service for specialised medical treatment that is not available locally.

IPTAAS provides financial support towards travel and accommodation. You can claim financial assistance towards:

• private vehicle travel
• public transport (trains, buses and ferries)
• taxis (includes ride sharing like Uber)
• air travel (in special circumstances)
• accommodation