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 May 2025
Grants closing in June 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 May 2025
Australia-Japan Foundation (AJF) 2025-26 Grant Round
The AJF expands people-to-people and institutional links through programs and partnerships on contemporary issues, including in economic diplomacy, the arts, media, education, science, technology and sport – Closes 6 May 2025
Community Heritage Grants
The National Library Community Heritage Grants is a staged grants program that supports community-based organisations to identify and care for Australian, moveable cultural heritage collections which are publicly accessible, locally held and nationally significant – Closes 8 May 2025 (new applicants)
Southeast Asia Mutual Recognition of Professional Services (SEAMRPS) Grant Program
The SEAMRPS Grant Program will facilitate trade in professional services between Australia and Southeast Asia by supporting Australian professional service accreditation, licensing and registration bodies to negotiate mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs) with their Southeast Asian counterparts – Closes 8 May 2025
Community Native Fish Stocking Grants Program
The community native fish stocking grants 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 – Closes 9 May 2025
Qantas Regional Grants
The Qantas Regional Grants program provides cash, fights in kind and marketing support to charities, organisations, projects and individuals – Closes 10 May 2025
Company Director Capability Fund for Organisations
The Company Director Capability Fund for Organisations supports arts and cultural organisations to enhance governance capabilities – Closes 13 May 2025
Community Giving Project
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 Elders operate – Closes 15 May 2025
Community Wellbeing
Seeks to improve circumstances for disadvantaged members of the community, supporting people with disabilities, or otherwise marginalised individuals primarily with the objective to secure employment pathways – Closes 15 May 2025
Byron Shire Council Community Initiatives Grant
Byron Shire Council Community Initiatives Grant invests in community projects that deliver positive social, cultural and environmental outcomes and promote community participation, inclusion and cohesion – Closes 16 May 2025
Byron Shire Council Creative Public Spaces Small Grants
Creative Public Spaces Small Grants seed fund art projects, creative activations and interventions in public spaces across the Byron Shire – Closes 16 May 2025
Aboriginal Languages Sector Development Program
The Aboriginal Languages Sector Development Program 2025 will enable Aboriginal Language Organisations in NSW stabilise, strengthen and grow the NSW Aboriginal Languages Sector – Closes 18 May 2025
Aged Care Capital Assistance Program – Residential-based Aged Care Services and Staff Accommodation
This grant opportunity will provide grant funding for infrastructure projects that will maintain or improve access to quality residential-based aged care services in regional, rural and remote locations, metropolitan locations targeted to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, and deliver staff accommodation that supports residential-based aged care service provision in regional, rural and remote locations – Closes 20 May 2025
Social Enterprise Development Initiative First Nations Grants Administrator
The First Nations Grants Administrator will work with the Department of Social Services to design and deliver Capability Building Funding that effectively supports First Nations social enterprises nationally. They must be an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation – Closes 20 May 2025
Skip Ahead
Funding to support online storytellers and IP creators to expand their vision and ambition – Closes 22 May 2025
Arts and Cultural 2 Year Multi-year Funding
2-Year Multi-year funding provides core investment to the NSW arts and cultural sector to support sustainable growth of the industry, with a focus on all NSW citizens being given the opportunity to contribute to and experience arts and culture – Closes 26 May 2025
Tweed Shire Council Events Sponsorship
Funding is available for events that bring the Tweed Events Strategy 2024-2028 to life – supporting the growth and delivery of festivals and events that celebrate our natural, creative and culinary strengths, align with community values, and showcase the unique experiences of the Tweed – Closes 30 May 2025
Gordon Darling Foundation Visual Arts Grants
A perpetual public charitable trust, established in 1991 to support Australia-wide, activities of importance in the Visual Arts – Closes 30 May 2025
Thrive Community Grants
St.George Foundation Thrive Community Grants offer up to $50,000 to support the social and emotional wellbeing of children and young people via opportunities to connect and participate in community life – Closes 30 May 2025
Grants closing in June 2025
Community Heritage Grants
The National Library Community Heritage Grants is a staged grants program that supports community-based organisations to identify and care for Australian, moveable cultural heritage collections which are publicly accessible, locally held and nationally significant – Closes 3 June 2025 (repeat recipients and training projects)
Indigenous Rangers Program (IRP) Expansion Round 2
The IRP supports First Nations people to manage Country in accordance with the objectives of Traditional Owners, and to build career pathways in cultural and natural resource management – Closes 5 June 2025
Electric Vehicle Fleets Incentive – Kick Start
This fixed incentive funding option of the electric vehicle fleets incentive is designed to support eligible organisations to test electric vehicles in the early stage of their fleet transition and has a streamlined option for smaller fleets – Closes 30 June 2025 or when funds are exhausted
Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Grants
Promoting diversity, innovation and service responsiveness in the NSW workforce, the Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Grant subsidises the salary, development and support costs of Aboriginal employees in public service agencies and local government authorities – Closes 30 June 2025
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 – Closes 30 June 2025
Screen NSW Development Program
Screen NSW Development funding supports writers and producers to develop fiction or unscripted (documentary) and online projects with distinctive ideas and ambitious stories – Closes 30 June 2025
EV Fleet Incentive Kick-start Funding
This is a new fixed incentive funding option part of the EV fleets incentive designed to support small organisations or those in the early stage of their fleet transition to test Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and charging infrastructure – Closes 30 June 2025
National Energy Bill Relief for Small Businesses
Eligible NSW small businesses who are embedded network (on-supply) customers can apply for a National Energy Bill Relief payment of up to $325 in financial year 2024-25 – Closes 30 June 2025
More grant opportunities
‘Lights on Door Open’ Stipend Program
The ‘Lights on Door Open’ stipend program aims to support eligible organisations, reduce the burden of constant fundraising, and allow them to focus on collections, maintenance, and best practices – Closes when all funds ($226,000) expended
MRFF 2024 Rapid Applied Research Translation
This initiative supports the translation of research evidence into clinical practice and better quality of care for patients by encouraging collaborations between academic researchers, health service providers, consumers and other end users on projects to improve health care delivery, service and systems sustainability – Closes 7 July 2025
Quality Use of Pathology Project Grants 2025-2027
This grant opportunity will invest in projects that support the pathology sector and relevant interested parties to collaborate on innovative approaches to improve pathology related practices, including those that improve the economic efficiency, sustainability and quality delivery of the MBS pathology items, amongst requesters/referrers, providers, and consumers of pathology services – Closes 7 July 2025
MRFF National Critical Research Infrastructure Initiative – 2024 Clinical Trial Enabling Infrastructure
The 2024 Clinical Trial Enabling Infrastructure grant opportunity focuses on promoting development and implementation of ‘adaptive platform’ and ‘registry based’ clinical trials which are thought to offer more efficient evaluation of potential medical therapies over conventional trial designs – Closes 17 July 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
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
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
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
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
Lights on Doors Open stipend program to support volunteer-led museums and galleries
The ‘Lights On, Doors Open’ stipend program has been established to relieve the pressures faced by volunteer-led museums and Aboriginal cultural spaces in NSW – Closes when funds are exhausted
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
Olive Cotton Award
The Olive Cotton Award is a $20,000 biennial national award for excellence in photographic portraiture in memory of photographer Olive Cotton. In 2025 the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre will celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the award – Closes 13 May 2025
Traditional Knowledge Innovation Award
The ATSE Traditional Knowledge Innovation Award acknowledges and recognises an individual, team, community, or organisation respectfully and successfully applying Australian Traditional Knowledge in contemporary innovation contexts – Nominations close 13 May 2025
Dare to Dream Scholarship
The Redkite and Coles Dare to Dream Scholarship was established to inspire teenagers affected by cancer to achieve their goals and ambitions – Closes 19 May 2025
NSW Volunteer of the Year Award
The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are an annual celebration of volunteering in NSW. The Awards acknowledge the contribution of volunteers and Leaders of volunteers right across the state – Nominations close 23 May 2025
Australian Training Awards
The Australian Training Awards recognise and celebrate excellence and are an important mechanism for promoting the benefits of VET – Nominations close 31 May 2025
National Safety Awards of Excellence
The National Safety Awards of Excellence recognise and honour the outstanding individuals, teams, and organisations making a real impact on health and safety across Australia and New Zealand – Nominations close 2 June 2025
Resilient Australia Awards
The Resilient Australia Awards celebrate and promote initiatives that build whole of community resilience to disasters and emergencies around Australia as well as capture and share examples of resilience in action – Nominations close 18 July 2025
The Ethnic Business Awards
The Ethnic Business Awards recognise the outstanding accomplishments of Migrant and Indigenous entrepreneurs – Nominations close 1 August 2025
Tertiary Access Payment
A payment to help students with the cost of moving from regional or remote areas for tertiary study – 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
