May 2023 Grants & Funding Opportunities

Originally launched in 2019, the Qantas Regional Grants program aims to help these communities sustain brighter futures by providing financial, flight and marketing support to charities, organisations, causes, projects and individuals.

The Qantas Regional Grants program complements our broader range of initiatives we provided on an ongoing basis to regional Australia to strengthen regional communities, drive local economic activity, stimulate tourism and support jobs. This includes capping fares from flood-affected communities, year-round discounts for residents in regional and remote towns to make air travel more accessible, and the addition of new regional routes since the start of the pandemic.

Further information & eligibility

The Preventing Tech-based Abuse of Women Grants Program, led by eSafety, is part of the Australian Government’s commitment to improving the safety of Australian women and their children through the prevention of technology-facilitated gender-based violence.

Grants of between $80,000 and $500,000 are available to non-government organisations registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.

The program will be delivered from 2023 to 2028 with a total of $10 million available over at least three rounds.

Further information & eligibility

The Transport Access Regional Partnerships (TARP) Grants Program has small-scale funding available to support initiatives to improve services and outcomes for sections of the community that need improved transport.

TARP provides funding for people affected by specific circumstances that leave them with limited or no access to private transport. The program supports initiatives to improve services and transport outcomes for disadvantaged groups in rural and regional communities.

The TARP program provides funding for projects that address specific transport service gaps in a community or a group of people.

Eligible organisations include non-profit community-based organisations, incorporated associations, local councils, statutory agencies and current Australian Business Number (ABN) holders.

Other groups or individuals are free to propose projects either directly to Transport for NSW or to an eligible organisation in their region.

Further information & eligibility

Grants up to $25,000 are available for a broad range of initiatives to strengthen the capacity and capability of local people, organisations, networks, and systems that help communities to be informed, skilled, connected and resourced for the future.

Glen Innes Severn was a disaster-declared event LGA for the 2019 Black Summer Bushfires and several 2021/2022 Storm and Flood events.

Further information & eligibility

This funding stream gives small remote, rural and regional communities across Australia the opportunity to access funds for a broad range of initiatives that directly benefit local communities.

Grants up to $10,000 are available for a broad range of grassroots, community-led Initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities that strengthen local people, places and climate solutions, with a preference for smaller communities (populations under 15,000).

Glen Innes Severn is in the under-15,000 population category.

Further information & eligibility

The Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer (OCSE) manages the Supporting Young Scientists Program (SYSP).

The SYSP offers grants to NSW high school students participating 'in person' or virtually in competitions, events or courses, either domestically or internationally, which offer the potential for significant educational advancement in an area related to science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). The grant is provided for competitions, events or courses being held from July 2022 to June 2023.

Grants are awarded on an ad hoc basis until allocated funds are expended and are the primary mechanism by which funding will be awarded to eligible NSW high school students participating in STEM-related competitions, events or courses. The judging panel is composed of OCSE staff members.

Further information & eligibility

FRRR and their donor partners collaborate with ABC Heywire to help communities take action on the ideas generated by young Australians who attend the annual Heywire Regional Youth Summit.
 
Grants up to $10,000 are available for communities across Australia to adopt, adapt and act on the ideas generated by the Haywire Summit.

Further information & eligibility

The program is designed to provide funding for projects that promote appreciation and understanding of the experiences of service and the roles that those who served have played, and to preserve, add to the sum knowledge on, or provide access to information about Australia’s wartime heritage.  
 
There are 2 categories of grants available under the program:

1. Community Grants (STS-CG)
Grants to a maximum of $10,000 are available for local, community-based projects and activities.
 
2. Major Grants (STS-MG)
Grants between $10,001 and $150,000 are available for major commemorative projects and activities that are significant from a national, state, territory and/or regional perspective.  
If your project involves restoring/changing a memorial, there may be heritage considerations. Information is available from your state or territory government heritage body, or at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs website.

Further information & eligibility

Community groups, ex-service organisations and individuals can now apply for funding assistance to mark unmarked private graves of First World War veterans, through the new Marking (First World War) Private Graves (MPG) Grants Program.

One-off funding of up to $450 per grave to mark the private and unmarked graves of veterans whose death was unrelated to their war service.

For the purpose of the MPG Grants Program, applicants are required to seek assessment by the Repatriation Commission to identify whether the veterans may have died of causes related to their First World War service.  If they are found to have done so, they may be eligible for an official commemoration provided by Government and maintained in perpetuity.

Further information & eligibility

Woolworths Pick Fresh Play Fresh Grants support grassroots netball clubs and associations across Australia. Over the past five years, we’ve provided funding to over 300 netball clubs around the country.

This year, Woolworths are helping clubs give young players more healthy, fresh nutrition at training and on match days. Because if you pick fresh, then you’ll play fresh too.

Grants of up to $8,000 are available as well as $20,000 for the People’s Choice Award, so apply now and tell Woolworths how your club will pick fresh and play fresh!

Further information & eligibility

The NSW Government is helping kids get active with the Active Kids program.

The Active Kids program provides a $100 voucher for parents, guardians and carers of school-enrolled children to use towards sport and active recreation costs each year.

The vouchers may be used with a registered activity provider for registration fees, participation and membership costs for sport, as well as fitness and active recreation activities.

Further information & eligibility

The Creative Kids Rebate can be put towards the cost of registration, participation or tuition fees for creative and cultural activities such as music lessons, language classes, coding and digital, visual and performing arts.

Further information & eligibility

NAB Foundation Community Grants fund local projects that help communities prepare for natural disasters, support long-term recovery and build resilience against future disasters.

Grants are available for community-led projects that fall under one or more of the readiness, recovery and future-proofing categories.

Further information & eligibility

NSW Flooding - including events that began on 4 August and 14 September through until November 2022. Glen Innes Severn is an eligible LGA.
 
Assistance is being provided to declared local government areas in NSW through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
 
Primary producers recovering from the devastating impacts of floods are receiving vital support, with Category D Special Disaster Grants of up to $75,000 now available.

Flood-affected primary producers are encouraged to apply for the grant to support recovery and get back to operating as soon as possible.
 
Once approved, primary producers may be eligible for a $25,000 up-front payment, with a further $75,000 in financial assistance available thereafter upon submission of valid tax invoices.

Strengthening Business is a service under the AusIndustry Entrepreneurs' Programme that connects you with experts to make your business stronger, more resilient and better prepared for the future.
   
What do you get?
You’ll be paired with an independent facilitator. Your facilitator will recommend ways to strengthen your business systems, operations and strategies. The facilitator will help you get back on your feet and identify opportunities to improve your business. They'll provide a roadmap with their recommendations.

Who is this for?
Small businesses located in regions impacted by the 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires and recent flood emergencies. Glen Innes Severn is an applicable LGA.

If you're a small business or a not-for-profit organisation in NSW and you've been directly impacted by storms and floods from 4 August 2022 or 14 September 2022 onwards, you may be eligible for a storm and flood disaster recovery small business grant.

This disaster recovery grant of up to $50,000 is to help pay for the costs of clean-up and reinstatement of a small business or not-for-profit organisation’s operations.

You must be a small business or a not-for-profit organisation in a defined disaster area (AGRN 1030 or 1034) to be eligible. Glen Innes Severn is included.

Covered costs could include, but are not limited to:

•  payment for tradespeople to conduct safety inspections
•  equipment and materials required for cleaning up
•  equipment and materials essential for immediately resuming operations
•  payment for a cleaner if the service would not have been needed, or exceed    ordinary cleaning costs, in the absence of the disaster
•  the removal and disposal of debris, damaged materials or damaged stock
•  repairing premises and internal fittings
•  leasing temporary premises within the defined disaster area, replacing or repair of  motor vehicles registered for business use, or replacing lost or damaged stock, if it’s essential for resuming operations

•  Agriculture – dairy, extensive livestock (sheep and cattle), intensive livestock (pork and poultry), apiculture and broadacre cropping
• Aquaculture – oysters, mussels and fisheries
• Horticulture – turf, vegetables, berries, cut flowers and plant nurseries, perennial tree crops (nut crops, tea tree etc)
• Forestry – private native forests and timber plantations.

The purpose of the 2023 COVID-19 Aged Care Support Program grant opportunity is to assist providers to transition towards managing the costs of COVID-19 outbreaks as part of their business-as-usual arrangements.

The Program will reimburse approved aged care providers to maintain preparedness for, and respond to, outbreaks in the 2023 calendar year. This will cover eligible expenditure incurred in managing the direct impacts of COVID-19 to a maximum grant value per operational place for residential aged care providers, or numbers of home care packages for home care providers.

As an employer of an Australian Apprentice, you may be eligible for financial support from the Australian Government to help offset the cost of taking on an apprentice.

The Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System (Incentives System) commenced on 1 July 2022 and aims to get apprentices working in secure jobs that are in demand, filling skill shortages now and into the future.

To claim and receive payments under the Incentives System, you must meet all primary eligibility requirements.

Primary eligibility requirements include:

• the Australian Apprentice’s citizenship or residency status;
• employment and training arrangements;
• lodging claim forms with supporting evidence within the specified time;
• must have commenced or recommenced an Australian Apprenticeship under a new Training Contract on or after 1 July 2022; or
• recommenced an Australian Apprenticeship on or after 1 July 2022 after following a break greater than:

• 6 months if commencement was prior to 1 July 2022 or
• 12 months if commencement was on or after 1 July 2022

• Employers claiming incentives for an Australian Apprentice who commenced before 1 July 2022 will continue to be supported under the grandfathered Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program.

Self-Employment Assistance can help you turn your business idea or existing small business into a viable business. The program allows you to choose the level of support that meets your needs and the needs of your small business.

Self-Employment Assistance replaced the New Business Assistance with NEIS program in July 2022.

Self-Employment Assistance can help you with your business idea or existing business through its flexible services including:

• Exploring Self-Employment Workshops;
• Business Plan Development;
• Free accredited Small Business Training;
• Business Advice Sessions;
• Business Health Checks; and/or
• Small Business Coaching.

Self-Employment Assistance can help you turn your business idea or existing small business into a viable business. The program allows you to choose the level of support that meets your needs and the needs of your small business.
Self-Employment Assistance replaced the New Business Assistance with NEIS program in July 2022.
  Self-Employment Assistance can help you with your business idea or existing business through its flexible services including:

• Exploring Self-Employment Workshops;
• Business Plan Development;
• Free accredited Small Business Training;
• Business Advice Sessions;
• Business Health Checks; and/or
• Small Business Coaching.

The NSW Quad Bike Safety Rebate is designed to support farmers and businesses in NSW to improve quad bike safety by investing in key safety solutions.

Farmers and small businesses who use quad bikes and/or side-by-side vehicles (SSVs) in their workplace may be eligible for up to $2000.

As an owner or operator, you'll be eligible to apply for a maximum of $2000 per ABN.

MVP Ventures is one of a suite of initiatives funded by the NSW Government under the Future Economy Fund’s Commercialisation Pathways Program, to drive commercialisation success in NSW.

The objective of the MVP Ventures Program (the Program) is to: 

• support businesses to increase the commercialisation of innovative products and services in NSW
• attract and retain commercialisation activities in NSW.

The Program is designed to support businesses throughout their commercialisation journey and innovative firms who successfully complete projects funded under the Program are permitted to reapply for additional funding to make further progress along the technology readiness level (TRL) scale.

The NSW Government will provide up to $10 million per annum for the Program to 2026.

Innovation is a major driver of business growth, however many start-ups and small businesses can often face barriers, such as lack of technical expertise or funding when trying to access research and development (R&D) to explore new opportunities.

CSIRO's Kick-Start program helps start-ups and small businesses overcome some of these barriers to pursue R&D activities, by providing an end-to-end facilitation service, including:

• help with articulating your research question
• connecting businesses with relevant CSIRO researcher expertise and capability - think of us as your in-house R&D division
• matched funding support to improve the affordability or expand the scope of R&D services.

Conservation partners grants provide financial assistance to landholders in managing their conservation area, allowing them to improve the biodiversity value of their properties. They are available under the Conservation Partners Program.

Landholders with an eligible agreement can generally apply at any time for a conservation partners grant, however, BCT regions may specify a period each year when applications for grants will be accepted or assessed. 

What funding can I get?
There are three levels of funding available:

1. Up to $15,000 per year for up to three (3) years for landholders with eligible in-perpetuity agreements (conservation agreements, Trust Agreements, Registered Property Agreements). 
2. Up to $8,000 per year for up to three (3) years for landholders with a term Registered  Property Agreement.
3. Up to $2,000 per year for up to three years for landholders with a wildlife refuge agreement or who are members of the Wildlife Land Trust. 

• assisted regeneration and weed control (as part of assisted regeneration strategy);
• fencing to secure conservation area, control grazing from livestock, to enable restoration of native vegetation;
• introduced pest animal control;
• revegetation (including supplementary planting);
• habitat restoration—such as installation of nest boxes and artificial hollows, or additional ground cover layer and habitat structure;
• Saving our Species management actions;
• other maintenance—such as repairs to existing features required to maintain conservation values;
• native vegetation restoration planning to guide assisted regeneration or revegetation;and/or
• project / grant management by third party(s)

The $110 million Regional Investment Activation Fund will co-invest with eligible entities on projects that will deliver significant economic, social and/or environmental benefits for a priority industry or location. 
 
Stream Two of the Regional Investment Activation Fund grant funding may be used for capital and other expenses directly related to the delivery of eligible projects. This may include:

• Purchase of land (if necessary for the project and suitable alternatives to rent do not exist)
• Purchasing, constructing, installing and/or commissioning new plant, equipment  and/or machinery
• Purchasing, constructing, establishing and/or fitting out new facilities, buildings or hubs
• Purchasing technology and/or intellectual property (IP) required to undertake the project
• Upgrading existing facilities, buildings, plant, equipment, machinery and/or technology where necessary to deliver the project and achieve its outcomes
• Cost of contractors to construct new buildings and facilities
• External project management and administration costs up to 10% of project cost
• Contingency costs up to 25% of project cost
• Eligible costs incurred once both parties have signed a Funding Deed.

• Have an Australian Business Number (ABN) 
• Be one of the following: 
  • A company incorporated in Australia 
  • A company limited by guarantee
  •  An incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust 
  • An incorporated association or co-operative 
  • An Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the
  • Corporations (Aboriginal and /or Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006. 
• Be registered for GST 
• Be financially viable and able to demonstrate that they are likely to remain so over the duration of the project 
• Have at least $20 million public liability insurance or be able to secure before entering into a Funding Deed if successful. 

Applicants should consider how they can support accessibility for people with disability above the Australian Standards (AS)1428.1-2009 or supporting universal design principles when undertaking new or upgraded site works and fit-out.
Please refer to the Stream Two Program Guidelines for further information on eligible project costs, including examples of ineligible project costs (see attached link).
Applicants must provide a cash co-contribution of at least 50 per cent of the total project cost.
Joint applications are eligible under Stream Two of the Regional Investment Activation Fund provided the lead applicant satisfies the eligibility criteria and the proposed project aligns to the key objectives of the fund and Stream Two. Applicants can be based internationally, interstate or in either metropolitan or regional NSW.

Further information & eligibility

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 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:

• 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.
• 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

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.

Further information & eligibility

Information acknowledgment sources and disclaimer: Information for this May 2023 newsletter was sourced from www.grants.gov.au, www.business.gov.au, Regional Development Australia Northern Inland and/or the following Government departments, business, industry or philanthropy organisations on grants and support programs including Qantas, Australian Government – eSafety Commissioner, NSW Government – Transport for NSW, Federation for Rural Regional Renewal, Australian Government – Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Woolworths, NSW Government – Service NSW, National Australia Bank, NSW Government – Rural Assistance Authority, Australian Government – AusIndustry, NSW Government – Department of Regional NSW, Australian Government – Department of Health and Aged Care, Australian Government – Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, NSW Government – Destination NSW, NSW Government - SafeWork NSW, NSW Government – Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade, CSIRO, NSW Government – Biodiversity Conservation Trust, and NSW Government – Department of Water.