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.

Featured Grants

NSW COVID-19 Small Business Support Grant
The NSW Government is providing financial support to ease the pressures on small business as a result of COVID-19. Eligible applicants can apply for up to $10,000 – Closes 1 June 2020

Regional Tourism Bushfire Recovery Grants
The Regional Tourism Bushfire Recovery Grants end date has been extended and minor amendments made to the program guidelines. There are two funding streams which, together, will support events, concerts, festivals and visitor attractions in fire-affected regions to assist with recovery efforts and encourage international and domestic visitors to come back to the regions – Stream 1 closes 18 December 2020, Stream two closes 8 May 2020

2020 Resilience Fund – Survive
Survive grants are available to individuals, groups and organisations to offset or recoup money lost due to cancelled activity. These grants provide stop-gap funding until relief offered by other funding agencies, government departments and support services can be accessed – Closing date not yet advised

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

Small Business Bushfire Recovery Grants
Recovery grants of up to $50,000 are available to eligible small businesses and non-profit organisations that have suffered direct damage to their premises or equipment from the bushfires and intend to re-establish in the community – Closing date not yet advised

Emergency bushfire support for primary producers
Up to $75,000 is available to farmers, fishers and foresters located in declared bushfire disaster areas. This is to cover costs for immediate and emergency needs not covered by existing insurance policies – Closing date not yet advised

Grants closing in May 2020

Community Heritage Grants
The Community Heritage Grants are provided to assist with the preservation of locally owned, but nationally significant collections of materials that are publicly accessible including artefacts, letters, diaries, maps, photographs, and audio visual material – Closes 4 May 2020

Community Business Bureau
The Community Business Bureau is offering grants in the form of a 10 week online Working Mind program to provide individuals with knowledge, insights and practices to help you work effectively in uncertainty and complexity – Closes 8 May 2020

Community Energy Efficiency and Solar Grants
The objective of this grant opportunity is to support community organisations across Australia to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficient practices and increase the uptake of energy efficient technologies – Closes 18 May 2020

eSafety Commissioner Online Safety Grants
The Online Safety Grants Program, led by the eSafety Commissioner, is part of the Australian Government’s commitment to keeping children and young people safe online – Closes 21 May 2020

Regional and Small Publishers Innovation Fund
The Innovation Fund was established by the Government to support regional and publishers to transition to and compete more successfully in the evolving media environment. The Innovation Fund was announced as part of the Regional and Small Publishers Jobs and Innovation Package – Closes 22 May 2020

Feed Appeal Community Grants
The Feed Appeal grants program supports community charities that deliver food relief programs. Applications must be for projects that will improve the lives of people that are experiencing hunger and/or food insecurity in the local community – Closes 22 May 2020

Tackling Tough Times Together
The Tackling Tough Times Together grant program helps communities access the resources they need to support one another through the ongoing effects of the drought – Current round closes 28th of May 2020, EOI’s for $150K tier closed 16 April 2020

Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program
Aims to increase the productivity and safety of heavy vehicle operations, including through the provision of driver fatigue management rest areas and the enhancement of heavy vehicle networks – Closes 29 May 2020

Bridges Renewal Program
Aims to upgrade and replace bridges to enhance access for local communities and facilitate higher productivity vehicle access – Closes 29 May 2020

Gordon Darling Foundation Grants
Each year the Gordon Darling Foundation assists Australian Public Institutions to undertake a wide range of visual arts projects in all Australian states and territories and helps to promote Australian arts in the international arena – Closes 31 May 2020

Grants closing in June 2020

Australia Council Fellowships
The Australia Council offers one grant round each year for Fellowships – Closes 2 June 2020

Sunsuper Dreams for A Better World 2020
Sunsuper’s community grants provide funding under the following categories: Better Living, Brighter Futures, Active Community.
Closes 26 June 2020

Emergency Water Infrastructure Grants
Eligible Primary Producers can claim a rebate of 25% of the cost of purchase, delivery and if applicable, the labour cost to engage a person to install water infrastructure for animal welfare needs – Closes 30th of June 2021 or when the $12 Million funding allocation is exhausted

Small Project Grants (Quick Response)
Small Project Grants support the creation, development and presentation of new work and professional development or promotion for NSW-based professional artists and arts and cultural workers – Closes 30 June 2020

More grant opportunities

Special Disaster Grant – Bushfires
Up to $75,000 for primary producers and $50,000 for small business and non-profit organisation sis available the the NSW Special Disaster Grant – Closes 31 July 2020

Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Scheme
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 31 July 2020

M&G NSW 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 25 October 2020 or when funds are exhausted

M&G NSW Leg Up Grants
Leg Up Grants are quick response skill development grants for workers in volunteer managed museums throughout NSW. These grants fund various skill development projects including hosting or attending workshops, conferences or seminars in NSW, in addition to networking activities – Closes 25 October 2020 or when funds are exhausted

Before and After School Care Equipment and Facilities Grant Program
The Equipment and Facilities Grant Program supports schools and services to fund equipment and facilities that enable new services to establish and existing services to expand – Closes 31 January 2021

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

Strategic Opportunities Program
The Strategic Opportunities Program supports individual initiatives and events that demonstrate long-term benefits to the NSW screen industry – Ongoing

Performers Trust Foundation
The PPCA Performers’ Trust Foundation provides grants to promote and encourage music and the music-related performing arts – Ongoing

Indigenous Documentary Development
This program seeks to provide practitioners with the opportunity to create appropriate written and/or visual materials to ensure that projects are as strong as possible when competing for production finance – 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

Museums & GalleriesNSW Leg Up Grants
Matched funding of $50 – $500 for volunteers to attend or host development activities in NSW. The grants can cover the cost of attending a workshop, conference or course, bringing a presenter to your museum or the travel costs of a group of volunteers visiting another museum – Applications accepted until funding expended

Regional Investment Attraction Fund
A range of funding and opportunities are available under the NSW Government’s Regional Investment Attraction Fund, including financial incentives, relocation assistance for workers and special activation precincts – 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

Strategic Opportunities Program
The Strategic Opportunities Program supports individual initiatives and events that demonstrate long-term benefits to the NSW screen industry – Ongoing

Inspiring Australia – Science Engagement Programme
Inspiring Australia seeks to engage the wider community with science, raise awareness of the achievements of our best scientists and build skill and capability in STEM in Australian schools and community – Closes when available funding for 18-19 is exhausted

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

Supply Chain Facilitation
Supply Chain Facilitation offers eligible businesses practical ways to connect with and supply new and existing markets, and project opportunities – Ongoing

Go NSW Equity Fund
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

Building Partnerships NSW
Provides NSW technology startups with up to 35% of approved project costs to a maximum of $100,000 to create marketing opportunities for an enabling technology which addresses a compelling industry need or market gap – 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

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