Search Grants & Funding

Playing Australia Project Investment supports performing arts tours to reach regional and remote communities across Australia. The program supports net touring costs and other designated costs associated with tours. There is no limit on the amount that can be requested.

You can apply for:

• a reasonable portion of costs associated with re-mounting a work
• inter-state touring costs including freight, transport, accommodation and travel allowances
• a contribution towards tour coordination at a set rate per venue
• a portion of costs associated with reducing the environmental impact of your tour
• a portion of costs associated with supporting the wellbeing of the touring company

There are three rounds depending on the dates of the tour:

• Tuesday 7 March 2023, 3pm AEDT for projects starting after 1 June 2023.
• Tuesday 6 June 2023, 3pm AEST for projects starting after 1 September 2023
• Tuesday 10 October 2023, 3pm AEDT for projects starting after 1 January 2024

Supports the protection or repairs to gazetted Aboriginal Places, items listed on the State Heritage Register, or items with a current Interim Heritage Order that have been damaged by unexpected events (such as an extreme storm or accident) and where your insurance does not cover this cost.

No matched funding is required, and each listed item can only receive funding once for each unexpected event. Funding is available on an ongoing basis;however limited funding is available each financial year.

Reopening of the Bin Trim Equipment Rebates Program for eligible NSW businesses, councils, and organisations. $6 million has been allocated to continue the initiative for three years until 30 June 2027, or until all funding is used.

Rebates up to $50,000 are being offered to cover up to 50% of the cost of small-scale, on-site equipment or technology that avoids, reduces, reuses, or recycles waste. The initiative is aimed at supporting businesses to transition to a circular economy.

Some examples of equipment and technologies that may be funded include but are not limited to:

• balers
• briquette presses
• bulk bag stands and bulk bags
• cardboard perforator
• commercial worm farms
• compactors
• glass crushers
• granulators
• organics rapid decomposition units (where output is sent to a licenced composting facility)
• plastic injection moulders
• shredders
• smart scales and other food waste monitoring equipment
• source separation bins, wheelie bins, skip bins and other bin equipment – with bin signs and stickers
• trolleys to transport waste and maximise waste separation and diversion.

Businesses applying for the Rebates Program must:

• have a commercial and industrial (C&I) waste service at a site in NSW
• have a valid ABN and employ one or more full time employees in NSW, and
• send C&I waste to landfill in NSW.

Businesses can include entities that are registered charities, not-for-profits, public entities (including schools and hospitals), and government organisations.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is working to reduce good quality food suitable for human consumption from being disposed to landfill. The Food Rescue Rebates are available to expand food rescue and relief capacity to safely manage increasing amounts of rescued food in NSW. The rebates are part of a suite of organics programs available to support NSW to halve organics waste to landfill by 2030.

The objectives of this rebate program are to:

• increase the diversion (i.e. rescue) of quality food suitable for human consumption from landfill
• support NSW food rescue and relief organisations to expand their capacity to manage increasing amounts of rescued food to provide to the community
• provide a simplified funding alternative for small food rescue and relief projects.

Eligible applicants can submit an application for funding up to $2,000 (inc. GST) per financial year, per eligible address. 

When regional town and village supplies are threatened by circumstances that could not be reasonably planned for, such as an extreme dry period or extreme water quality event, the NSW Government can help local water utilities to ensure critical human water needs are met. The Water Utilities branch within NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment can provide technical assistance and advice to local water utilities, and support when applying for financial assistance from the government.

The government can help local water utilities by providing technical and/or financial assistance to assist in managing depleted or at risk supplies, including help to implement emergency capital works or to cart water to towns, depending on the particular situation.

Where the source of supply is at very high or imminent risk of failure or has failed as the result of an extreme event, undertaking emergency capital works may be the recommended course of action. Works can include constructing emergency bore supplies, creating a temporary or permanent connection to another water source or water supply scheme, temporary emergency capital works or developing new emergency water sources.

The Physical Sciences Fund (PSF) is a $3.5 million, competitive technology development and commercialisation program funded by the NSW Government. 

The objectives of the PSF are:

• improve commercialisation opportunities for NSW-based start-ups and businesses
• provide financial support to progress the development of new and innovative devices and systems across the branches of the physical sciences and engineering, including physics, chemistry, astronomy and the earth sciences.
• to realise benefits from innovation in NSW

The intended outcomes of the PSF are:

• help promising start-ups develop their technologies, to the point they attract future funding and investment
• support the growth of innovative global companies headquartered in NSW.
• deliver social, economic, and/or environmental benefits in NSW.

The Open Streets Program is a $4.5 million grant program that will provide successful councils with funding of up to $150,000 to temporarily close streets to cars and open them on a day, or series of days, for placemaking events and activations. The program purpose is to encourage collaboration between government, business and community to improve the vibrancy of local streets and centres.

The Open Streets Program aims to meet these objectives:

• Temporarily close streets to vehicles and open them for people, with projects over a day, or series of days, and provide safe spaces for community events and activities.
• Bring vibrancy to our streets by creating a sense of excitement and discovery with creative events and activations that are inviting and inclusive to all the community.
• Support job creation in local businesses and the cultural sector.
• Support the development of longer-term place management outcomes, through projects that encourage private-public partnerships.

Funding is available for businesses preparing to commercially manufacture low carbon products in NSW. This stream will fund specific development activities that enable a financial investment decision to establish a manufacturing facility.

The low carbon product manufacturing - project development stream is part of the net zero manufacturing initiative and will invest in project development activities to help businesses reach a financial investment decision for a new facility that manufactures low carbon products.

The initiative plays a pivotal role in achieving NSW's commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 through the following 4 objectives:

• drive economic growth across NSW - increase economic activities by providing funding for new or expanded low carbon manufacturing facilities.
• increase investment and employment in new low carbon industries - attract more investors to engage in the low carbon manufacturing sectors, leading to more job opportunities. 
• support a diverse, self-sufficient, resilient and competitive low carbon manufacturing sector - foster a dynamic and robust economic landscape, reduce dependency on a single sector, and promote the export of low carbon products and technologies.
• establish new industrial facilities and advanced manufacturing capabilities to help decarbonise NSW’s economy - facilitate the establishment and development of low carbon manufacturing with advanced capabilities, contributing to the overall reduction of NSW's economy's carbon footprint.

This grant was launched in early 2024 to fund road safety treatments. $91.8 million of funding is available to councils across NSW.

The outcomes and objectives of the program are to: 

• Deliver lifesaving road safety treatments on remote, regional, and urban roads. 

• Implement treatments that deliver improved Road Safety Outcomes linked to the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-30 and the National Road Safety Action Plan 2023-25, as well as the NSW Governments Road Safety Action Plan 2026. The goal of this Program is to reduce fatal injuries by 50 per cent and serious injuries by 30 per cent on NSW roads by 2030. 

• Improve risk ratings on roads to a minimum of ‘three-star’ rating on high-risk highways and arterial roads.  

• Improved protection for vulnerable road users, particularly on urban footpaths, shared pathways, cycleways and road crossings.

This Program contains 4 sub-programs: 

1. School Zone Infrastructure sub-program   

2. Heavy Vehicle Rest Area sub-program – State roads only 

3. Walking and Cycling Infrastructure sub-program 

4. Pedestrian Protection sub-program. 

The $2-for-$1 Native Fish Stocking Program provides two dollars in funds for every one dollar in funds offered by community groups to stock native fish (Australian Bass, Murray Cod, Golden Perch) into rivers and dams across NSW.  The objectives of the program are to support local communities in the stocking of high value native fish to protect and enhance our valuable state-wide recreational fisheries. The program also supports the development of regional aquaculture ventures which produce high quality fish stock for release into public waters to benefit recreational fishers.

Who can apply

• Non-government and not-for-profit groups undertaking approved fish stocking activities in NSW public waters (a group includes a fishing club or other community service organisation).
• Individuals involved in community fish stocking programs to benefit recreational fisheries.
• NSW councils and local government agencies.
• HQAS accredited fish hatcheries (to supply fish for the program)
• Non-government authorities.

Apply now for a metering plan implementation grant and receive up to $100,000 to cover up to 50% of the costs of installing an energy metering and monitoring system. 

The objectives of this funding are to:

• improve energy performance in NSW businesses.
• enable businesses to identify, prepare and verify energy and emissions reduction projects.
• provide robust data to site managers to make informed investment decisions that help achieve net zero emissions objectives.
• demonstrate the link between energy metering and monitoring systems and energy and cost savings.

The Small Grants Program provides grants to support time critical Language activities by NSW Aboriginal not for profit Community orgs, groups, and Aboriginal sole traders, consistent with the Aboriginal Languages Act 2017.

Types of projects funded under this grant

• Community driven Language activities that support the growth and recognition of Aboriginal Language  
• Strengthening Aboriginal Community participation in Language activities state-wide or nationally  
• Meeting short term Language training and development costs of Aboriginal Community organisations and groups

The following NSW Aboriginal not for profit Community organisations and groups are eligible: 

• an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the (Commonwealth) Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006  
• a company incorporated in Australia under the (Commonwealth) Corporations Act 2001  
• an Incorporated Association (incorporated under state legislation, and commonly have ‘Association’ or ‘Incorporated’ or ‘Inc.’ in their legal name)  
• an Incorporated Cooperative (incorporated under state legislation, and commonly have ’Cooperative’ in their legal name)  
• an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust  
• a Local Aboriginal Land Council under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW) 

The following NSW Aboriginal Sole Traders are eligible where they are: 

• an Aboriginal sole trader whose primary business activity relates to cultural expression or revitalisation (noting projects must not be profit-making in nature) 

The Australian Government and the governments of NSW, South Australia, Queensland and ACT have agreed to extend the 30 June 2024 delivery deadline to return the 450 GL of water to the environment under the Murray Darling Basin Plan to 31 December 2027.

The Australian Government’s Off-farm Efficiency Program is a $1.54 billion initiative to upgrade water infrastructure to reduce water losses and increase water available for the environment. The program has three streams including $1.33 billion for state-led projects (open) and $150 million for grants provided direct to applicants (now closed). A further $60 million is available for on-farm projects, however NSW Government will not progress applications under this stream.

Projects funded under the program will provide long-term benefits through improved water infrastructure and reduced water losses. Water users and the community will also benefit from increased water reliability and the creation of job opportunities.

The program aims to:

• improve and modernise water delivery systems and reduce water losses to increase the volume of available water for the environment, irrigation, urban and industrial networks, irrigators and communities
• drive employment and create infrastructure opportunities for local communities through funding arrangements for suitable projects
• deliver on the NSW Government’s commitment to the Murray Darling Basin Plan to contribute to the return of 450 GL to the environment by June 2024.

The program is open to individuals and entities in the irrigation, urban and manufacturing sectors across the Murray Darling Basin for projects that will achieve water efficiencies and return water to the environment.

The following types of projects are eligible to apply for funding under the program:

• Irrigation networks: installing new, or upgrading existing, irrigation infrastructure and technology in water delivery networks to supply water to irrigators, including permanently decommissioning inefficient or underused sections of a water delivery network
• Industrial or mining: constructing, replacing, upgrading, installing, improving, or refurbishing industrial water uses, including reducing leakage, for the purpose of using water for producing goods and services
• Urban: constructing, replacing, upgrading, installing, improving, or refurbishing urban water supply arrangements, including reducing leakage for the purpose of urban water supply
• Stock and domestic: improving stock and domestic water supply on one or more properties for the purpose of watering stock and supplying water for human use.

Feasibility funding is available to help identify early project opportunities to reduce water losses and increase water available for the environment in the Murray-Darling Basin. This can include investigations into improving infrastructure, confirming water losses and savings, informing the potential costs of construction, and supporting formal discussions with stakeholders.

Some on-property projects are eligible such as the installation or replacement of pipes, tanks and troughs for stock and domestic systems These are considered ‘off-farm’ activities as stock and domestic water entitlements are not tradeable and do not impact the water market. Individuals or organisations proposing on-property stock and domestic projects to improve water delivery and reduce water losses are encouraged to contact winsw.programs@dpie.nsw.gov.au for more information.

Small businesses who have been directly affected by a declared natural disaster including floods, fires or storm damage, may be eligible for low interest loans of up to $130,000.

This low interest rate loan can help a small business:

• return to its normal level of trading or until the next major income is received within 12 months from the date of disaster
• replace and repair damage caused to your small business and associated improvements not covered by insurance.

A repayment term of up to ten years is available dependent upon the amount borrowed and the applicant’s ability to repay.

The repayment term is preceded by a two-year interest and repayment free period.

A list of declared disasters and the associated closing dates for applications is available on the Rural Assistance Authority website.

Small businesses who have been directly affected by a declared natural disaster including floods, fires or storm damage, may be eligible for low interest loans of up to $130,000.

This low interest rate loan can help a small business:

• return to its normal level of trading or until the next major income is received within 12 months from the date of disaster
• replace and repair damage caused to your small business and associated improvements not covered by insurance.

A repayment term of up to ten years is available dependent upon the amount borrowed and the applicant’s ability to repay.

The repayment term is preceded by a two-year interest and repayment free period.

A list of declared disasters and the relevant application close dates are available of the Rural Assistance Authority's website.