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 Grants and Support
Featured Grants
Grants closing January 2022
Grants closing February 2022
More grant opportunities
Awards, Scholarships and more
Where to find grants
COVID-19 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 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.
2021 Land Tax COVID-19 Relief
The NSW Government Department of Revenue is providing relief to commercial and residential landowners, who provide a reduction in rent to a tenant who is experiencing financial distress as a result of COVID-19 – Ongoing
COVID-19 Aged Care Support Program Extension
The Australian Government Department of Health is providing reimbursement for eligible aged care providers for eligible expenditure incurred on managing direct impacts of COVID-19 – Closes – 31 March 2022
Featured Grants and Opportunities
Building Better Regions Fund – Round 6
The $1.38 billion Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) supports the Australian Government’s commitment to create jobs, drive economic growth and build stronger regional communities into the future.
Grant funding is available through two funding streams:
- The Infrastructure Projects Stream: Supports projects that involve the construction of new infrastructure, or the upgrade or extension of existing infrastructure
- The Community Investments Stream: Funds community development activities including, but not limited to, new or expanded local events, strategic regional plans, leadership and capability building activities
Applications close 10 February 2022 for both streams.
Temporary Interruption Fund
The Temporary Interruption Fund provides assistance for new local productions which have been unable to start production due to production insurance exclusions relating to COVID-19 – Closes 30 June 2022 (extended)
Waste Less, Recycle More Program
The NSW Environment Trust and EPA have a host of funding under the Waste Less, Recycle More program. The initiative includes programs for local government, business, industry and the community. The programs support and complement each other, and together form a comprehensive approach to improving the management of waste materials in NSW.
Follow the links below for information and closing dates for grants under the Waste Less, Recycle More Program:
- Improved systems for household problem wastes – community recycling centres
- Landfill consolidation and environmental improvements
- Major resource recovery infrastructure
- Organics collections (formerly Local government organics collection systems)
- Organics infrastructure – business organics recycling
- Organics infrastructure – food donation
- Organics infrastructure – processing infrastructure
- Organics infrastructure – product quality
- Recycling innovation (this combines two previous grants programs, Innovation in priority problem wastes management and Innovation in shredder floc management)
- Remanufacture NSW
Grants closing in January 2022
Sponsorship Grants for Student Science Engagement and International Competitions
Provides funds to sponsor a student or group of students to participate in STEM engagement events, activities and competitions – Closes 25 January 2022
Cross Border Infrastructure Fund
The $20 million Cross-Border Commissioner’s Infrastructure Fund, established by the NSW Government, provides targeted investment in social, economic, environmental and cultural infrastructure in cross-border communities – Closes 28 January 2022
National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program
Funding for a single organisation to undertake a national leadership role in suicide prevention and provide relevant support to the suicide prevention sector – Closes 28 January 2022
Before and After School Care Fund – Transport Grant
Funds transport solutions to increase access to Before and After School Care services – Next Round Closes 28 January 2022
Regional Youth Radio Program
Support for new projects that enable regional young people to lead and participate in youth radio and podcasting activities – Closes 28 January 2022
Grants closing in February 2022
Sisters of Charity Foundation Community Grants Program
Supports organisations that use clever ways to fight poverty, loneliness, suffering and oppression, but struggle to find funding – Closes 5 February 2022
National Careers Institute Partnership Grants Program Round 4 – Career Needs for Young People
The National Careers Institute Partnership Grants program provides grants from $20,000 to $350,000 for up to 12 months to enhance partnerships with industry, employers and schools to deliver innovative career advisory products and services for people at all stages of their careers – Closes 7 February 2022
Supporting People With Cancer Grant – 2022
Funds evidence-based projects to reduce the impact of cancer and better support people affected by cancer – Closes 7 February 2022
National Careers Institute Partnership Grants Program – Career Needs for Young People Grant
Funding to enhance career advisory products and services for people at all stages of their careers – Closes 7 February 2022
Centre of Excellence Fund
Funding to develop integrated sporting facilities to assist talent identification and development opportunities – Closes 11 February 2022
Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator is calling for submissions detailing implementable, value-for-money projects that will deliver significant heavy vehicle safety benefits – Closes 14 February 2022.
Blue Carbon Ecosystem Restoration Grants
The Blue Carbon Ecosystem Restoration Grants will run over 4 years from 2021–22 to 2024–25 and will fund on-ground implementation of at least 4 blue carbon ecosystem restoration projects in Australia – Closes 15 February 2022
Supporting Agricultural Shows and Field Days
The Australian Government is inviting agricultural show societies and field day organisers to apply for a grant to reimburse them for costs they incurred when they had to cancel their scheduled show or agricultural field day in 2020 because of COVID-19 – Opens 28 January, Closes 17 February 2022
Energy-efficient communities: Food and beverage manufacturing grants now open
To help businesses and community organisations save energy and lower bills through equipment upgrades, investment in energy and emissions monitoring and management systems, completion of energy systems assessments and community energy generation and storage projects – Closes 18 February 2022
Catalysing the Artificial Intelligence Opportunity in Our Regions Round 1
This program provides businesses with up to $500,000 to support the development, implementation and demonstration of real-world applications of artificial intelligence technologies – Closes 21 February 2022
Strengthening Rural Communities – Small & Vital
The Strengthening Rural Communities program gives small rural, regional and remote communities across Australia the opportunity to access funds that can benefit and help secure their future prosperity – Current Round Closes 22 February 2022
Securing Raw Materials Program Round 2
The Securing Raw Materials Program helps businesses to move or expand into regional areas, and partner with regional universities or organisations to research and develop innovative and locally sourced raw material supplies – Closes 24 February 2022
Coles Nurture Fund
Australian producers can apply for a grant of up to $500,000 to help them develop new market-leading products, technologies and processes. Up to $500,000 – Closes 25 February 2022
Multi-Sport Community Facility Fund
Supports the development of new and improved multi-sport infrastructure projects that will meet the current and future needs of the community – Closes 25 February 2022
Before and After School Care Fund – Viability Grants
Financial relief to existing services that are experiencing financial stress and are at risk of closing in the short-term – Closes 28 February 2022
More grant opportunities
Community Broadcasting Foundation – Content Grants 2022/23
Supports the development, production and distribution of content via Australian community media – Closes 1 March 2022
Community Broadcasting Foundation – Development & Operations 2022-23
Supports community media station resilience by strengthening governance, building community, sustainable operations and technical capacity – Closes 1 March 2022
Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship Round 4
The Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship program supports investment in gender equity initiatives that aim for lasting systemic change by eliminating barriers for women’s participation in STEM education and careers, and entrepreneurship – Closes 2 March 2022
COVID-19 Regional Airline Network Support Program
The Regional Airline Network Support Program was announced as part of the Australian Government’s response to the economic impact of COVID-19 and in response to its unprecedented and likely sustained impact on the domestic airline industry – Closes 25 March 2022
Business Improvement for Residential Aged Care Providers Round 2
The Business Improvement Fund Round 2 is primarily aimed to support small to medium-sized residential care providers (i.e. with 7 or less facilities) that are facing financial pressures which may impact their ability to offer quality care to residents in regional, rural and remote locations – Closes 30 March 2022
Industry Clusters (Stage1) – Strengthening Australia’s National Vocational Education and Training System (2021-2025)
The Australian Government is establishing Industry Clusters to provide industry with a stronger, more strategic voice and broader role in ensuring Australia’s VET system continues to deliver on employer and learner needs – Closes 31 March 2022
Aboriginal Land Clean Up and Prevention Program
Funding of between $10,000 to $75,000 is available to Local Aboriginal Land Councils for individual projects – Closes 31 March 2022
Culture Heritage and Arts Regional Tourism (CHART) program
The $3 million Culture, Heritage and Arts Regional Tourism (CHART) program is an Australian Government program that aims to support community cultural, heritage and arts organisations in regional Australia as they recover from the impacts of COVID-19 – Closes 29 April 2022
Arts Sustainability Fund
The Arts Sustainability Fund will support the arts and entertainment sector to continue its activities with funding targeted towards significant Australian Government-funded arts organisations to help them remain solvent – Closes 31 May 2022
Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund
The RISE Fund is delivered to support artists and organisations affected by COVID-19 through the delivery and presentation of activities across all art forms to audiences across Australia – Closes when all available funds have been allocated
Bushfire Legal Aid Scheme
Funding to support legal assistance for small business and primary producers affected by the 2019/2020 bushfires – Closes Ongoing
Riparian and Habitat Recovery funding
Funding of up to $18,000 is available to help landholders and community groups protect and enhance waterways, wetlands and habitat in the North Coast region of NSW – Ongoing
Strategic Opportunities Program
The Strategic Opportunities Program supports individual initiatives and events that demonstrate long-term benefits to the NSW screen industry – Ongoing
Australian Government’s Youth Job PaTH
Trial and hire a young person and get help with wage and training costs – Ongoing
Performers Trust Foundation
The PPCA Performers’ Trust Foundation provides grants to promote and encourage music and the music-related performing arts – 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 Emergency Drought Relief Package 2019-20
On 11 June 2019 the NSW Government announced additional drought assistance measures for farmers including a $350 million increase in the Farm Innovation Fund and $70 million to continue rebates on the Drought Transport Subsidy – Ongoing or until funds exhausted
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
Regional Filming Fund
The Regional Filming Fund offsets costs associated with shooting in regional areas of NSW. Regional NSW is defined as all areas in NSW outside the Sydney Metro area (excluding the ACT) – Ongoing with applications being accepted up to 4 weeks prior to the start of filming in regional NSW
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
NSW Trade Missions & Exhibitions
Provides export ready NSW companies with industry exhibitions, specialist advice and networking opportunities to help them succeed in the export market – Ongoing
Export Capability Building Program NSW
Provides NSW businesses exporting or looking to export with access to workshops to improve their export readiness – Ongoing
Early Development NSW
Provides key creatives for NSW based screen projects with funding of up to $50,000 to support screen content in the early stage of development with pre-draft and early draft costs – Ongoing
Advanced Development NSW
Provides NSW-based key creatives with funding of up to $50,000 to support screen content in an advanced stage of development including feature films, documentaries, adult and children?s TV drama – Ongoing
Awards, scholarships and opportunities
Young Achiever Awards
Recognises the positive achievements of all young people throughout Australia up to and including 29 years of age – Closes 2 February 2022 (extended)
Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science – Science Prizes
Recognises the achievements and success of Australian scientists and innovators, and benefits to both Australia and the rest of the world – Closes 10 February 2022
The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science – Science Teaching Prizes 2022
Recognises Australian science educators for excellence in science teaching – Closes 10 February 2022
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
Indigenous Advancement Strategy Department of Social Services Department of Environment and Energy Australia Council for the Arts 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
Multicultural NSW
Screen NSW
Create NSW
Arts NSW
Smarty Grants
Museums & Galleries NSW
Infrastructure Grants
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
Business Australia – Guide to NSW Small Business Grants
