Grants Hub

Strengthening Rural Communities - Small & Vital

The Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) Small & Vital stream gives small remote, rural and regional communities across Australia the opportunity to access funds for a broad range of initiatives that directly and clearly 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).

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and assessed quarterly. 

The Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) Prepare & Recover program supports communities in remote, rural and regional communities across Australia to implement initiatives that prevent and prepare for future climate related impacts or recover from existing disasters in the medium to long-term timeframe, general one to ten years after the disaster.

Grants up to $25,000 are available for a broad range of initiatives. Priority will be given to projects that:

• Respond to a specific climate impact or event, ether historic or likely to occur in the future;
• Focus on community-led resilience building in recovery or preparedness to strengthen the capacity and capability of local people and systems, especially to manage the impact of future disaster, through; inclusion, networks, communication, information sharing, self-organising systems, local decision making, or resourcing, tools and support.
• Are from local community groups and not-for-profits or organisations that do not have DGR status.

The IOOF Foundation provides grants that support Australian not-for-profit organisations working with disadvantaged families, children and youth. The general grant program is for funding on average for $75,000 per year for up to two years. Please ensure you provide as much budget information as possible to enable us to evaluate the grant amount requested against funds available to distribute. Whilst our initial general grants are on average $75,000, we do have current grants ranging from $10,000 - $150,000 pa.

The Foundation is responsive to requests that contribute to increasing access to opportunities and is dedicated to supporting charities, non-profit organisations, and social enterprises that work within the four primary focus areas:

• Education
• Medical Research & Health
• Disadvantage Youth
• Arts & Culture

The EV fleets incentive is a payment scheme that helps eligible organisations procure battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and smart chargers. The funding is designed to cover part of the total cost of ownership (TCO) gap between a BEV and an equivalent internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV), hybrid electric (HEV) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).  

Eligible applicants to the kick-start funding include:

• any organisation that operates a fleet of at least 3 vehicles (ICE vehicles or hybrid, or PHEV, or BEV) in NSW to support their operations or
• any organisation or individual that owns at least one licensed taxi in NSW.

Organisations can apply to kick-start funding for a maximum of 10 vehicles and smart charging ports total across all rounds.

Australian communities are being hit harder by natural disasters more often. It takes many hands to get communities back up and running after a disaster and to build resilience for the next one.NAB award $1 million in Community Grants each year, with additional $200,000 available in Impact Grants, for projects with big potential. These Impact Grants provide a further $25,000 to recipients to maximise the impact they have on their communities.NAB Foundation Community Grants support community-led projects that relate to:

• Training and planning: Educational workshops, practical and strategic planning that help communities prepare for a natural disaster.
• Community recovery: Programs to enhance community connection, resilience and wellbeing post natural disaster.
• Environment and wildlife: Restoration of damaged vegetation and habitat, and rehabilitation of injured wildlife.
• Equipment and infrastructure: Tools, equipment and infrastructure improvements that help communities withstand natural disasters or recover in their aftermath.

 Our Essential Grants Program provides financial support to community groups across our network area, contributing to positive outcomes for regional communities.

The program supports community-based initiatives that align with the following categories:

• Environment Examples include initiatives that support a circular economy and waste reduction, habitat restoration or community gardens.
• Energy Transition Examples include funding contributions for solar panels or electrifying community buildings.
• Education Examples include the investment in STEM education in schools and community organisations.
• Resilience Examples include the provision of resources that support communities affected by disaster events.

In this financial year of 2024-2025, community groups can apply for a grant for amounts up to $15,000.

Each year, Highways and Byways provide small grants to community-led organisations for projects that address disadvantage and exclusion within towns and communities, especially in rural and regional Australia.

Grants up to $5,000 will be available for projects that:

• Contribute to building strong and resilient communities, especially in areas affected by extreme weather events.
• Build unity and find common grounds of understandgin and shared knowledge across an initiative.
• Encourage partnerships amongst individuals, groups and/or organisations.
• Foster engagement, diversity and cultural connections by sharing knowledge and skills in local community-based programs/events.
• Support intergenerational and Indigenous/Non-Indigenous exchanges of knowledge and skills for the sustainable and/or regenerative management of the land.
• Provide opportunities for program participants to develop leadership or other personal and community building skills.

The Incubator Event stream supports innovative events that demonstrate sound organisational planning, have a unique alignment with the character and culture of their local region and which can demonstrate a broad appeal likely to promote tourism and attract overnight visitation.

The Incubator Event stream offers annual grants of up to $20,000 (ex. GST) to events in Regional NSW to support costs including but not limited to temporary event infrastructure; venue hire; marketing and promotions; marketing, PR and digital consultancies; brand design and development; and attendee research.

Application to the Incubator Event stream is a single-stage process consisting of an online application form responding to a series of questions that address the fund criteria. Strong applications require robust data and supporting information.

The Flagship Event stream identifies and assists the development of events that contribute to the unique character and culture of the tourism regions of NSW and can demonstrate that they attract overnight visitation.

The Flagship Event stream offers grants specifically to support marketing activities aimed at increasing visibility and attracting visitation to the event from outside its immediate area. Grants through the Flagship stream are only available to events that have been running for more than two years.

The Flagship Event stream offers two subcategories:

• Annual grant - $20,000 (ex GST)
• Triennial grant - $30,000 (ex. GST) per annum for three years

A single event may receive an annual grant a maximum of three times and a Triennial grant only once. An event will only be considered for a Triennial grant once it has received three Annual grants.Application to the Flagship Event stream is a single-stage process consisting of an online application form responding to a series of questions that address the fund criteria. Strong applications require robust data and supporting information.

The ANZ Community Foundation provides single year grants of up to $30,000 to community projects. The Foundation supports projects across four granting areas, aligned to the things ANZ cares about most; Financial Wellbeing, Environmental Sustainability, Housing Access and Thriving Communities.

Your project/organisation must align with, and your application must clearly articulate, how your project aligns with one of the below focus areas.

• Financial Wellbeing - Improving financial wellbeing, particularly for under-represented and disadvantaged people in our community, including initiatives that improve economic participation. For example through building financial literacy, developing vocational skills, and providing access to meaningful work. 
• Environmental Sustainability - Improving environmental sustainability through initiatives that restore and conserve the natural environment or which contribute to water stewardship, lower carbon emissions, and waste minimisation.
• Housing Access - Improving housing access through initiatives and programs that support those experiencing or at risk of homelessness or that provide supports for people living with a disability
• Thriving Communities - Supporting communities to thrive through initiatives and projects targeting disadvantage, inequity or marginalisation.

Aboriginal Affairs NSW supports NAIDOC events and activities across NSW, to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through an open and competitive grant funding opportunity.

The Objective of the 2025 NAIDOC Grants Program is to support events and activities in NSW marking NAIDOC week that:

• Celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements.
• Align with the theme of NAIDOC Week in 2025 - The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy
• Promote a greater awareness and understanding of Aboriginal history and/or culture within the broader local or regional community.

The Rheem Apprentice Plumber Grants program was founded with the purpose to ease the financial pressure faced by apprentice plumbers. Rheem is passionate about investing in the skills and training of industry newcomers and the grants are Rheem’s way of thanking the Australian plumbing industry for its ongoing support.

This year, 20 grants worth $3,000 each will be awarded to deserving apprentices across the country. Each grant includes $2,000 to go towards TAFE/RTO fees and textbooks, a $1,000 tool voucher, plus a tote tool bag.

The NSW Boating Infrastructure Emergency Repair Pool (BIERP) grants provide funding to local councils and organisations to repair, replace, or improve public boating infrastructure damaged by natural disasters or severe weather events.

The types of projects that will be considered for funding under the BIERP are summarised below:

• Repair or replacement: the reinstatement of the infrastructure asset to its working condition prior to the natural disaster or severe weather event.
• Betterment: minor changes to replacement design that improves resilience of the asset against future natural disasters or severe weather events.
• Access for repair and reinstatement: Work to provide access for repair, replacement and betterment can be funded if it is directly related to the above works. For example, the removal of a collapsed tree across a jetty to gain access to repair the pontoon at the end of the jetty

The project supports initiatives that provide sustainable, tangible and long-term benefits with positive outcomes for Australian rural, regional and remote communities. In turn this builds capacity, longevity, liveability and connection in the regions in which we operate.

Structured across six distinct pillars (referred to as the 'Community Giving Project Pillars') with a focus on sustainability, innovation, wellbeing, diversity, and safety, Elders will offer grants up to $20,000. There is a seventh pillar called the People's Choice, which will offer two additional grants of up to $10,000 each.

 This program provides financial and in-kind support to encourage and assist community groups and organisations to make a positive and ongoing contribution to the community’s wellbeing, cultural life and environmental sustainability.

The Resilient Homes Program helps communities recover from disasters. It also makes eligible homes in high-risk areas more resilient to the impacts of future disasters. This program is being delivered by the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA).

What help can I get?

• Home Buyback – a buyback of the property whereby the homeowner receives a payment for the purchase of the property
• Home Raising  – a grant payment of up to $100,000 including GST towards the cost of elevating the liveable areas of the home and associated consequential works
• Home Rebuild – a grant payment of up to $100,000 including GST towards the cost of rebuilding a more resilient home where the property was destroyed or uninhabitable
• Home Relocation – a grant of up to $100,000 including GST to help homeowners relocate their current home to a safer location on their property, or to another property in the region
• Home Retrofit – a grant payment up to $50,000 including GST towards the cost of retrofitting and/or repair work of on the home to incorporate flood resilient design and materials in eligible areas.

Where the estimated costs for the Resilient Measures (i.e. Home Raising, Home Rebuild, Home Relocation and Home Retrofit) is more than the available grant value, RA will match financial contributions provided by the homeowner for eligible activities (co-contribution) up to a maximum of 100% of the available grant value.

 The maximum for a single home is:

• Home Raising or Home Rebuild - $100,000 including GST plus $100,000 in co-contribution up to the maximum grant value of $200,000 in total including GST.
• Home Retrofit - $50,000 including GST plus $50,000 in co-contribution up to a maximum grant value of $100,000 in total. 

Free Home Assessments are also available for homeowners who may be eligible for Resilient Measures. In the Central West, homeowners within the Home Assessment stream will also eligible for a Home Assessment.  

The Telstra Footy Country Grants is designed to financially assist initiatives that can support Community Clubs affiliated to the AFL to strengthen the base and secure the future in three key strategic areas.

• Grow and assist volunteer capacity.
• Grow and diversify participation.
• Improve club environments and experiences.

Whether it's upgrading to an electronic scoreboard, upskilling volunteers or introducing new initiatives to attract more participants, Telstra Footy Country Grants aims to provide tangible support for clubs and alleviate the challenges they may face.

Applications will open on Monday 2nd December 2024. The following dates will represent a cut off for when applications are considered. For example, if you were to miss Round 1, you can still apply; however, the outcome of your application won't be known until after the Round 2 closure date.

• Round 1:Monday 2nd December 2024 to 11:59pm (AEDT) Sunday 2nd February 2025
• Round 2:Monday 3rd February to 11:59pm (AEST) Thursday 3rd April 2025
• Round 3:Friday 4th April to 11:59pm (AEST) Sunday 25th May 2025
• Round 4:Monday 26th May 2025 to 5pm (AEST) Thursday 24th July 2025

Quick Response Grants offer funding for regional artists, arts organisations and communities to respond to unique arts opportunities that present themselves at very short notice.

You can apply for Quick Response Grants up to $3,000 for individuals and $5,000 for organisations. There is no minimum grant amount. Assessors will make decisions around funding allocated to successful applicants, taking into consideration the quantum of funds available in the individual state/territory. In exceptional circumstances, applicants located in very remote areas may be permitted to apply for larger grants.

Please note:  There are no rounds in December and January.

Wettenhall Environment Trust are providing support for people undertaking projects that will make a positive difference to the natural living environment, in land, sea or air, rural or urban. The Trust support grassroots organisations and individuals, and academics who are working with on-ground community groups. The Trust are looking for projects around about flora and fauna conservation around Australia. These projects should involve any of the following: monitoring, recording and sharing data; delivering community education; providing community capacity building (e.g. training); research and science. 

Grants are usually under $10,000. Wettenhall also grants on behalf of donors, and sometimes these programs can be over $10,000. If you have a project over $10,000, check with the Executive Director. Universities and academics can only apply for up to $5,000.

The 2025 General Jeffery Soil Health Award recognises the work of people who care for soil health and who are educating or inspiring others.

The NSW Government has committed $250 million to establish the Drought Ready and Resilient Fund, an initiative designed to bolster the resilience of NSW farmers to future adverse weather events and climatic conditions, such as drought. Through the Drought Ready and Resilient Fund, eligible primary producers can access a low interest loan up to $250,000 to help prepare for, manage and recover from drought. The loan can be used for products, activities and services relating to animal welfare, farm preparedness, income diversification, environmental improvements as well as training and business development. The Drought Ready and Resilient Fund loan facility has been designed to complement the existing Drought Infrastructure Fund loan product, formerly known as the Farm Innovation Fund.  (See Drought Infrastructure Fund here) The current interest rate for Drought Ready and Resilient Fund loans is: 5.10% per annum for a 5-year loan; 5.60% per annum for a 10-year loan

Customers will be provided with an indicative interest rate at the point of application, however the rate applied to the loan will not be determined until the date of first drawn down.  The interest rate applied to the loan is fixed for the term of the loan. Applications are now open and will continue to be accepted until program funding is exhausted.

Rural Aid provides critical support of farmers and rural communities suffering the effects of drought, flood, fire or natural disaster.

If you're a farming family in need of help, please let us know. If you know a farming family that needs help, tell them about this campaign.

Upon successful completion of the registration form, please contact the Rural Aid team on 1300 327 624 during business hours. A member of our friendly team will then verify your registration details and help guide you through your application for the assistance.

You must contact Rural Aid following your online or postal registration. Dependent on the farmer's eligibility and current situation, Rural Aid's assistance includes fodder supplies, domestic water, counselling services and more.

The Australian Government’s Resilient Rivers Water Infrastructure Program builds on and replaces the former Off-farm Efficiency Program and supports the delivery of the 450 GL of water recovery target under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. The new program is a $494 million initiative over four years to fund projects improving and modernising water delivery infrastructure and assisting to recover water for the environment. Projects funded under the program will improve the efficiency of water delivery infrastructure on-property/on-farm as well as off-farm, including in urban, industrial and mining settings. Water saving will then be used to increase the volume of water available for environmental purposes by up to 450 GL a year. The program aims to:

• increase water recovery by improving water use, increasing the volume of Murray-Darling Basin water resources available for environmental use
• invest in infrastructure providing longer-term benefits and helping to recover water for the environment
• support climate-resilient primary production over the long-term

Nuffield Australia awards scholarships each year to primary producers in Australia, for travel and research around the world.

Each scholarship is valued at $40,000 and open to Australian citizens or permanent residents directly involved in food and fibre production typically aged between 28 and 45. The bursary allows scholars to travel overseas both individually and in small groups.

Eight to 12 scholars from Australia and other Nuffield countries spend five weeks travelling together in up to six countries, literally making their way around the world as agricultural explorers: visiting farms, corporate agribusinesses, research facilities, government institutions and culturally stimulating environments. For many scholars, the GFP is the accelerator experience of their Nuffield travels, broadening horizons, cementing global friendships, and is a unique chance to understand other cultures and countries on a deeper level.

The FNTMP can support you to grow your tourism business by connecting you with expert advice, tailored learning and access to culturally respectful industry specialists. If you are a First Nations tourism business and you have aspirations to grow, the FNTMP will give you access to free one-on-one mentoring, delivered in a way which suits your needs. 

The FNTMP can support you to grow your tourism business by: connecting you with industry professionals who can provide free, one-on-one advice; and culturally respectful support; providing access to a suite of learning supports and resources developed for and tailored to the First Nations tourism sector.

The mentoring will be delivered by industry specialists who have: tourism industry knowledge and experience including understanding of local tourism opportunities; experience working in a culturally appropriate and respectful manner with First Nations businesses and/or communities; previous experience providing business advice and support (including mentoring) and/or owning and operating a business.

It is a flexible program and the mentoring will be a mixture of face to face and online as preferred. Mentees will have an initial, one-on-one meeting with their mentor to discuss the current state of their business, their goals and objectives and to agree on the duration and frequency of mentoring as per the table below. 

The Department of Regional NSW has recently announced in Orange through the Regional Development Trust Fund, a $5m investment into engine and emerging industries in regional NSW centred on the food & beverage (F&B) industry. The Engine and Emerging Industries Loan Pilot provides low interest loans of between $100,000 and $1 million are now available to eligible regional enterprises to fund activities that support investment in new technologies and equipment that will increase efficiency and productivity.

This is a particularly important for our Central West footprint as the F&B industry provides significant contribution to our GVA. Applicants can apply for funding for activities that commenced on or after 1 April 2024.

• The loan can be used to fund investments that will result in:
• implementation of advanced manufacturing techniques and technology
• expansion of existing advanced manufacturing capabilities
• access to external expertise that is directly related to delivery of the project
• purchase and/or installation of specialist equipment and/or infrastructure necessary to progress the project including mobile equipment
• intellectual property protection or advice
• increased capabilities/efficiencies of pre or post-production phases, for example, implementation of pre-market and/or after-market service activities.