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. Needs 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.
What’s on this page?
COVID-19 Grants and Support
Featured Grants
Grants closing August 2021
Grants closing in September 2021
More grant opportunities
Awards, Scholarships and more
Where to find grants
COVID-19 Grants and Support
COVID 19 Business Grants
The NSW Government has announced support for businesses, sole traders and small not-for-profits affected by COVID-19 lock downs. Support includes Business Grants, Job Saver and Micro Business Grants with payments ranging from $1,000 through to $15,000.
Payroll Tax Deferrals
As a NSW Government tax relief measure for COVID affected businesses the option of deferring payroll tax payments until 7 October 2021 is now available. 2020/21 annual reconciliations are still required to be lodged by the due date which has been extended to 7 October 2021.
Payroll Tax Concessions
Businesses impacted by the recent COVID-19 restrictions may be eligible for NSW Government Department of Revenue Payroll Tax Concessions – Ongoing – Details to be available by the end of August
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.
Residential Tenancy Support Payment
NSW Fair Trading is providing up to $1500 per tenancy agreement for landlords who agree to reduce the rent for COVID-19 impacted tenants – Ongoing
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
Gaming Machine Tax Deferrals
NSW businesses paying hotel or gaming taxes will be able to defer their taxes for the 2021-22 financial year.
Residential Aged Care COVID-19 Employee Vaccination Support Grant
The Australian Government Department of Health is providing support to minimise the financial impact of COVID-19 vaccinations on residential aged care providers and individual employees – Closes – 29 October 2021
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
Regional Tourism Activation Fund
The NSW Government’s Regional Tourism Activation Fund supports the development of unique and high impact tourism and events infrastructure that helps to boost local economies, create jobs and ensure visitors to regional NSW have unforgettable experiences that encourage repeat visitation.
The fund will operate two streams:
Stream One: Unique and high impact visitor experiences
Grants between $200,000 and $5 million are available for projects that create unique and high impact visitor experiences for people visiting regional NSW and encourage more people to plan and book holidays in regional areas.
Stream Two: Visitor accessibility and inclusion enhancements
Grants between $50,000 and $500,000 are available for projects that improve accessibility and inclusion at unique and high impact tourism destinations and visitor experiences.
Closes 11th of August 2021
Flood Disaster Recovery Grants for small business and primary producers
Small businesses and non-profit organisations directly impacted by the NSW storms and floods from 10 March 2021 onwards may be eligible for up to $50,000 flood disaster recovery grant. Up to $75,000 is available to eligible primary producers in local government areas affected by the NSW storms and floods that occurred from 10 March 2021. Small businesses and primary producers must be in a defined disaster area.
Dine & Discover NSW
The Dine & Discover NSW scheme to help NSW recover has been extended to 31 August 2021. Vouchers can be used at participating NSW businesses that are registered as COVID Safe. For businesses who want to register to receive vouchers you can register here
2020 Resilience Fund – Adapt
Adapt grants are available to individuals, groups and organisations to adapt their practice and explore new ways of working. This could include skills and career development, business development, developing artistic practice, exploring new ways of connecting and collaborating inclusively, and increasing your digital capability – Ongoing
Grants closing in August 2021
Audience Development Fund
The Audience Development Fund offers public galleries in NSW assistance in targeting and developing new audiences. It encourages galleries to create innovative public programs that engage artists and the community – Closes 2 August 2021
Recovery Boost Program
Funding for mental health projects that encourage early help seeking, support recovery and reduce stigma – Closes 2 August 2021
Safer Communities Grants – Early Intervention Grants
Support for organisations with demonstrated experience in providing early intervention activities to youth at high risk to prevent them from engaging in criminal activity or anti-social behaviour – Closes 5 August 2021
Plus1
Plus1 is our dollar-for-dollar matched fundraising program, designed to boost the fundraising efforts of small to medium not-for-profit arts organisations – Closes 5 August 2021
Regional Tourism Activation Fund
The NSW Government’s Regional Tourism Activation Fund supports the development of unique and high impact tourism and events infrastructure that helps to boost local economies, create jobs and ensure visitors to regional NSW have unforgettable experiences that encourage repeat visitation – Closes 11 August 2021
National Farm Safety Education Fund: Improving Farm Safety Practices
Funding for eligible organisations to support projects that result in improved farm safety outcomes nationally – Closes 11 August 2021
Manufacturing Strategy – Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI)
This program aims to strengthen Australia’s ability to access critical products and inputs – Closes 12 August 2021
National Priority Fund
The fund will complement the expansion and extension of the successful Local Jobs Program and help support Australia’s economic and social recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic – Closes 16 August 2021
Community Broadcasting Foundation – Content Grants
Content grants support the development, production and distribution of content via Australian community media – Closes 17 August 2021
Community Broadcasting Foundation – Development and Operations Grants
Funding to support community media station resilience by strengthening governance, building community, sustainable operations and technical capacity – Closes 17 August 2021
Community Broadcasting Foundation – Specialist Broadcasting Grants
Supports stations producing content that meets the needs of particular communities – Closes 17 August 2021
Safer Communities Fund – Infrastructure Grants
Funds infrastructure that aims to reduce crime, violence, anti-social behaviour and/or other security risks driven by racial and/or religious intolerance – Closes 19 August 2021
Heywire Youth Innovation Grants
ABC Heywire is now calling on community organisations to implement the inspiring ideas developed at the Youth Ideas Lab – Closes 19 August 2021
Tucker Foundation Grants
The Albert & Barbara Tucker Foundation is a philanthropic organisation based in Melbourne Australia. We are focused on supporting registered charitable organisations that are actively making a positive difference in the lives of humans, animals and the natural environment – Closes 20 August 2021
Strengthening Rural Communities – Small and Vital
Provides small rural, regional and remote communities across Australia the opportunity to access funds that can benefit and help secure their future prosperity
Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Grants – Round 23
Provides long-term funding to support industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers and the community – Closes 24 August 2021
Grants closing in September 2021
Dobell Exhibition Grant
The Dobell Exhibition Grant, supported by the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation, offers $40,000 in funding to one regional NSW gallery per annum – Closes 1 September 2021
Domestic Airports Security Costs Support
Assists eligible domestic airports to maintain regulated security screening obligations that must be met regardless of the reduced volume of aviation activity – Closes 1 September 2021
Northern Rivers Community Foundation Grants Round 4
The Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRCF) is distributing grant funding to local community organisations whose projects can address one of four priority needs in our area: disadvantage, housing & homelessness, recovery & resilience, and the environment – Opens 4 August, closes 6 September 2021
Volunteer Museum Grants
Museums & Galleries of NSW Small Grants and Project Development Grants are designed to provide assistance to volunteer community museums and Aboriginal Keeping Places in NSW. – Closes 12 September 2021
Powering Communities Program
The Powering Communities Program provides each of the 151 Federal electorates with $67,700 to fund small projects to assist community organisations to improve their energy efficiency practices and lower their energy bills. Eligible applicants must be invited by their local MP to apply – Closes 20 September 2021
Rural, Regional and Other Special Needs Building Fund Multi-Purpose Services Program – Minor Capital
Provides funding to existing multi-purpose services to upgrade and improve residential care facilities – Closes 30 September 2021
Country Passenger Transport Infrastructure Grants Scheme
Supports the construction or upgrade of bus stop infrastructure in country NSW – Closes 30 September 2021
More grant opportunities
Skills Development Grants
Skills Development Grants provide funding to volunteer museums and museum networks for regional or state-focused skill development training and networking events – Closes 24 October or when funds are exhausted
Bushfire Legal Aid Scheme
Funding to support legal assistance for small business and primary producers affected by the 2019/2020 bushfires – Closes 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
Community Achievement Awards
The Community Achievement Awards started in 2002 as the Regional Achievement and Community Awards, and are designed to encourage, acknowledge and reward the valuable contributions that individuals, communities and businesses make throughout regional and rural NSW & The ACT – Closes 11 August 2021
Cattle Council NAB Agribusiness Rising Champions Initiative
The Cattle Council NAB Agribusiness Rising Champions Initiative selects one winner from each state and the Northern Territory to come to Canberra for intensive training and mentorship over several days, culminating in a cocktail event at Parliament House to network with decision-makers and to acknowledge the success of our champions – Applications close 16 August 2021
IMAGinE Awards 2021
The IMAGinE awards highlight the resilience, innovation and creativity of museums, galleries and Aboriginal cultural centres and recognise the people who work in them. 2021 marks 14 years of the awards, Inspiring Museums And Galleries in Excellence – Nominations Close 26 August 2021
Workplace Giving Excellence Awards
The Workplace Giving Excellence Awards recognise the most outstanding workplace giving programs and performers in Australia – Entries close 30 August 2021
Southern Cross University’s Innovation District R&D Challenge
Are you ready to take your business to the next level? The SCU Innovation Districts R&D Challenge is now open for innovative solutions for post-COVID entrepreneurialism – Closes 6 September 2021
Landcare Awards
The Landcare Awards support the sharing of knowledge and achievements while promoting leadership and resilience in communities – Nominations close 31 October 2021
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 Small Business Grant supports small business 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
