Grants and Opportunities
RDA Northern Rivers seeks to support the Northern Rivers business community by featuring available grants and opportunities for the benefit of our local economy and community. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of the grants that are available, instead it is a list of featured grants, primarily for organisations.
There are many more grants available and we have provided some useful links below to help you find them. RDA Northern Rivers can support your application through access to regional data, application assistance and support letters.
Need some guidance to help write your application? RDA Northern Rivers Successful Grant Writing Toolkit provides a step by step guide to help you write winning grants.
RDA Sydney are host to two grant writing webinars that provide more insight into the grant writing process. You can access the recording of the first webinar here and download documents from both webinars on the Successful Grant Writing Toolkit page.
What’s on this page?
COVID-19 and Disasters Grants and Support
Grants closing in July 2025
Grants closing in August 2025
More grant opportunities
Awards, Scholarships and more
Where to find grants
COVID-19 and Disasters Grants and Support
The NSW Government has a range of financial support available for businesses and industries affected by the COVID 19 pandemic. Information is available from the NSW Government website.
A complete list of grants, loans and financial assistance available to NSW businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic or natural disasters is available on the Service NSW website.
Workplace Legal Advice Program
The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Workplace Legal Advice Program provides eligible employers and employees with independent legal help to deal with workplace issues arising from the coronavirus outbreak.
Natural disaster support available from the Australian Government can be found on the Services Australia website.
Grants closing in August 2025
Cancer Patient Care Program
The Cancer Patient Support Program will support, one-off, time-limited activities that provide national leadership on emerging priorities across the cancer control continuum – Closes 1 August 2025
Low Carbon Landscapes Grant
The Low Carbon Landscapes grant program aims to scale up high quality carbon abatement from the primary industries and land sector, by supporting the development of financially viable projects which can attract investment – Closes 7 August 2025
Holiday Fun for Regional Youth
Holiday Fun for Regional Youth program invites eligible councils and organisations to apply for funding to run events for young people in the regions to offer free activities that cover a variety of interests, like sports, science and the arts – Closes 8 August 2025
Regional Tech Hub Connect Grants
The Regional Tech Hub Connect Grants support organisations working to improve connectivity outcomes in rural, regional and remote communities across Australia. Micro grants are available to help local groups offer community-led initiatives that build practical knowledge around connectivity – Closes 8 August 2025
Cooperative Initiatives Grants Program
The Cooperative Initiatives Grants Program funds organisations working collaboratively to identify and resolve workplace issues and promote compliance and positive change across the spectrum of workplace participants – Closes 11 August 2025
Grid Enhancing Technologies
The Grid Enhancing Technologies program aims to accelerate the development, trialling and application of grid enhancing technologies, to maximise capacity and utilisation of existing infrastructure in Australian electricity networks – Closes 11 August 2025
Regional Arts Fund – Project Grants – 2025
The Project Grants will fund high-quality arts projects benefitting regional or remote artists, arts workers, audiences and communities. The focus of the project could include any area of creative practice, multiple art forms or cross-disciplinary practice. For projects starting in the next calendar year (2026) – Closes 15 August 2025
Local Sport Grant Program – 2025
The Local Sport Grant Program aims to increase regular and on-going participation opportunities in sport in NSW – Closes 18 August 2025
Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program – Batch 1
The objective of the program is to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Australia’s service personnel who served in wars, conflicts and peace operations, including National Service personnel, and their families – Closes 31 August 2025.
More funding and opportunities can be found on the Grants Page of the RDA Northern Rivers website.
Grants closing in September 2025
Dobell Exhibition Grant
The Dobell Exhibition Grant program provides financial assistance towards the development of new, curated exhibitions of visual arts at regional and public galleries in New South Wales – Closes 1 September 2025
Elevate: First Nations Storytelling and Literature Fund – 2025
This grant supports career development and is open to Australian First Nations writers, poets, editors, illustrators, journalists, arts workers, and groups in the literature sector – Closes 2 September 2025
Small Grants Round 2
Small Grants aim to meet the short-term, collection-based requirements of community museums and Aboriginal cultural spaces – Closes 7 September 2025
Backroads · Arts on Tour
The initiative aims to extend and support the reach of professional productions to regional towns that do not have performing arts centres as well as support small hall activation and the work of independent producers and artists – Closes 17 September 2025
The Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) Small & Vital stream
The Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) Small & Vital grant 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 – Closes 17 September 2025
Local Jobs Program – Local Jobs, Local People Grant
The Australian Government is inviting organisations through an open competitive process to apply to deliver services under the Local Jobs Program over 2 years from 2025–26 to 2026–27, with a focus on key industries, and supporting key groups including mature age Australians over 45, First Nation people, migrants, refuges and humanitarian visa holders, and young people up to 24 years of age – Closes 24 September 2025
More grant opportunities
NSW East Coast Sever Weather Grant, and Tropical Cyclone Alfred Severe Weather Grant for Small Business and non-profit organisations.
Small businesses or non-profit organisations impacted by recent East Coast Severe Weather Event or Tropical Cyclone Alfred in identified Local Government Areas may be eligible for a grant to help with the costs of clean-up, repairs and reopening – Closes 4 December 2025
Rural Landholder Grants – NSW East Coast Severe Weather
Eligible primary producers impacted by the East Coast Severe Weather Event (AGRN 1212) or Tropical Cyclone Alfred (AGRN 1198) can apply for the Special Disaster Relief Grant, Natural Disaster Relief Grant or the Rural Landholder Grant – Closes 4 December 2025
Regional Event Fund: Event Development Stream
The Event Development stream supports events that have received maximum Flagship Event funding and can present a comprehensive strategy for future growth as drivers of tourism. This stream remains open until 31 December 2025, or until funds are exhausted, whichever comes first – Closes 31 December 2025
Business Event Bid Fund
The Business Event Fund Bid is designed to deliver conversion of new business where Australia is bidding against international competitors for the right to host the business event – Supports bids where a decision is made by 26 June 2026
SafeWork small business rebate
The SafeWork NSW small business rebate can assist with the purchase of eligible safety items to make the workplace safer, including managing or eliminating hazards and risks that may cause serious injury, illness or death at work. For small business owners, sole traders and charities and not-for-profits can apply – Ongoing
Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program – Batch 2
The objective of the program is to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Australia’s service personnel who served in wars, conflicts and peace operations, including National Service personnel, and their families – Closes 5 February 2026
Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program – Phase 4
Funding under Phase 4 of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program is available from 1 July 2023 to support Eligible Funding Recipients to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects across Australia – Closes 30 June 2026
Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Worker Retention Payment
Funding to support a wage increase for all eligible ECEC workers – Closes 30 September 2026
Regional Australia Microgrids Pilot Program
In October 2020, the Australian Government announced the $50 million Regional Australia Microgrid Pilots Program (RAMPP) to support pilot demonstrations of microgrids in regional and remote areas – Closes 31 December 2026
Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) Rebate Program Round 2
The objective of the Program is to incentivise voluntary uptake of ADS-B equipment in Australian-registered aircraft operating under Visual Flight Rules and Instrument Flight Rules to improve safety and efficiency for Australian airspace users – Closes 31 May 2027
Bin Trim Equipment Rebates Program
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 – Closes 30 June 2027
DRIVEN Charger Rebate Stream
The objective of the grant opportunity is to provide co-funding for dealerships and repairers to install EV chargers – Closes 30 April 2028
Boating Infrastructure Emergency Repair Pool NSW
This program provides organisations with between $5,000 and $300,000 funding to help with the costs of repairing, replacing, or improving public boating infrastructure damaged by natural disasters or severe weather events – Closes 30 June 2028
Upgrade your business equipment and system processes
Access a range of energy savings for your business by upgrading existing appliances and equipment or purchasing new ones – Ongoing
Export Market Development Grants – Round 4, Tiers 1, 2 and 3
The Export Market Development Grants program provides matched funding to eligible Australian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and representative bodies at different points in their export journey – Ongoing
Export Market Development Grants – Round 4, Representative bodies
The Export Market Development Grants program provides matched funding to eligible Australian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and representative bodies at different points in their export journey – Ongoing
National Cultural Heritage Account
The National Cultural Heritage Account helps to retain and protect Australia’s cultural heritage for future generations and provide public access to important objects that tell a story about our cultural identity – Ongoing
Resource Recovery Community Grants
Ballina Shire Council’s Resource Recovery Community Grant program provides financial assistance to encourage and assist individuals, organisations, and community groups in the implementation of waste minimisation and resource recovery for the benefit of our community – Ongoing
Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program: Precinct Development and Planning
The program will focus on a partnership approach, bringing together governments and communities to plan and deliver regional precincts that are tailored to local needs and have a shared vision in how the precinct connects to the region – Ongoing
Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program: Precinct Delivery
This program will bring together governments and communities to plan and deliver regional precincts that are tailored to local needs and have a shared vision in how that precinct connects to the region – Ongoing
Tertiary Access Payment Program Guidelines 2025-2027
The Tertiary Access Payment (TAP) is a non-indexed, means-tested payment to school-leavers from regional or remote areas who need to relocate for full-time, higher-level tertiary education (Certificate IV and above) at an education provider located at least 90 minutes by public transport from their family home – Ongoing
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) First Nations – Scoping Grant Opportunity Guidelines
SEE First Nations is locally tailored, whole of community LLND skills training delivery to First Nations people through place-based grants – Ongoing
ECEC Workforce Professional Development and Paid Practicum
These grants are being made available to the Early Childhood Education and Care workforce to assist with educator retention and upskilling – Ongoing
Defence Industry Development Grants Program – Exports Stream
The objective of the program is to build the industrial base Australia needs to achieve Defence outcomes in areas of strategic priority – Ongoing
Defence Industry Development Grants Program – Sovereign Industrial Priorities Stream
The objective of the program is to build the industrial base Australia needs to achieve Defence outcomes in areas of strategic priority – Ongoing
Defence Industry Development Grants Program – Skilling Stream
The objective of the program is to build the industrial base Australia needs to achieve Defence outcomes in areas of strategic priority – Ongoing
Defence Industry Development Grants Program – Security Stream
The objective of the program is to build the industrial base Australia needs to achieve Defence outcomes in areas of strategic priority – Ongoing
Industry Growth Program: Commercialisation and Growth
Participants in the Industry Growth Program Advisory Service may apply for Commonwealth grant funding to support specific commercialisation and/or growth projects – Ongoing
Industry Growth Program: Early-Stage Commercialisation
The objective of the early-stage commercialisation grants is to help businesses to undertake the steps necessary to establish the commercialise viability of an innovative product, process or service, including steps to undertake feasibility and proof-of-concept through to prototyping – Ongoing
Workforce Incentives Program (WIP) – Doctors Stream
The WIP – Doctor Stream provides medical practitioners with financial incentives to practice in rural and remote areas of Australia – Ongoing
Safework Small Business Rebate
A rebate provided through Safework NSW to support small businesses to purchase safety items to improve work health and safety – Ongoing
Producer Offset – Screen Australia
The Producer Offset is a refundable tax offset (rebate) for producers of Australian feature films, television and other projects – Ongoing
Made in NSW
Screen NSW’s Made in NSW Program is a five-year funding program to support the advancement of NSW as a production destination for feature films and major television drama programs – Ongoing
Return to Work – Phase 3
The Return to Work Program is for women who have been unemployed for one month or more and intend to return to work as an employee within 6 months – Ongoing
Advancing Renewables Program
Supports a broad range of development, demonstration and pre-commercial deployment projects that can deliver affordable and reliable renewable energy for Australian families and businesses – Ongoing
Screen NSW Development Program
Screen NSW Development funding supports writers, directors and producers to develop fiction or unscripted (documentary) and online projects with distinctive ideas and ambitious stories – Ongoing
Airservices Australia Enroute Charges Payment Scheme
The Airservices Australia Enroute Charges Payment Scheme (program) commenced on 1 January 2002 and was introduced against the background of the collapse of Ansett on September 12, 2001 to assist in ensuring the continuation of air services to regional Australia – Ongoing
Bridges Renewal Program and Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program
The Bridges Renewal Program (BRP) and the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program (HVSPP) are complementary programs designed to provide funding to State, Territory and Local Governments for projects which will upgrade and replace bridges to enhance access for local communities and facilitate higher productivity vehicle access (BRP) and increase the productivity and safety of heavy vehicle operations (HVSPP) – Ongoing
Employer Incentives for Apprentices
The Australian Government offers a range of incentives to employers who hire apprentices, ranging from additional support for identified skill shortages, adult Australian apprentices, Australian apprentices with a disability and wage subsidies – Ongoing
Indigenous Travel Grants
The Travel Grants program is designed to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander filmmakers in travelling to key international and Australian events. Professional development is a key objective – Applications can generally be made at any time at least five weeks before the event
NSW Heritage Emergency Works Grant
These grants support the protection or repairs to declared 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 – Ongoing
Regional Event Fund – Event Development Stream
The Event Development stream supports the strategic growth of proven events that demonstrate a clear rationale for the continued development of its tourism potential – Ongoing
Support for Startups
An initiative under the NSW Government’s Jobs for NSW program to provides capital funding through investment to support growing businesses – Ongoing
Awards, scholarships and opportunities
The Ethnic Business Awards
The Ethnic Business Awards recognise the outstanding accomplishments of Migrant and Indigenous entrepreneurs – Nominations close 1 August 2025
2025 NSW Sustainability Awards
The NSW Sustainability Awards celebrates and honours trailblazers and innovators who are dedicated to creating a more sustainable future for NSW and provides an opportunity to showcase efforts contributions towards sustainability. Applications close 9 September 2025
2025 IMAGinE Awards
The 2025 IMAGinE Awards celebrate the resilience, innovation, and creativity of museums, galleries and Aboriginal cultural centres across New South Wales, and recognise the people and projects making a difference in communities through outstanding exhibitions, public programs, partnerships, and collections care. Applications close 15 September 2025
Tertiary Access Payment
A payment to help students with the cost of moving from regional or remote areas for tertiary study – Ongoing
Commonwealth Prac Payment (Vocational Education and Training) Program
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 – Ongoing
Women in STEM Cadetships and Advanced Apprenticeships
The Women in STEM Cadetships and Advanced Apprenticeships Program aims to promote equality of opportunity in higher education, through increasing access to, and participation of, up to 600 employed women to study Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) – Ongoing
Where To Find Grants
Government Grants
Australian Government
Grants & Programs is the assistance portal on the Australian Government’s business.gov.au site. The search feature provides access to over 600 grants that support business, local government and community. It includes incentives for research and development, support for small businesses, tax and duty concessions, and assistance for industries in transition.
GrantConnect provides centralised publication of forecast and current Australian Government grants and opportunities and grants awarded
Community Grants Hub is the Australian Government’s site for community-related grants. This can include grants for health, agriculture and landcare. Other sources of Australian Government grants
Department of Social Services
Department of Environment and Energy
Creative Australia
Screen Australia
Community Grants Hub
NSW Government
The NSW Business Grants support small businesses to hire new employees and expand their business.
Community Builders NSW is a program which provides funding for a range of services to strengthen communities and build their capacity and is provided by NSW Family and Community Services.
Other sources of NSW Government grants
Screen NSW
Create NSW
Arts NSW
Smarty Grants
Club Grants
Museums & Galleries NSW
Northern Rivers Regional Councils
Funding for a range of community projects is available through Northern Rivers local councils. Information about community funding programs can be found on council websites.
Ballina Shire Council
Byron Shire Council
Clarence Valley Council
Lismore City Council
Richmond Valley Council
Tweed Shire Council
Kyogle Council
Other Grant Opportunities
Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal
Australian Communities Foundation
Club Grants
Northern Rivers Community Foundation
Community Broadcasting Foundation
