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 in October 2021
Grants closing November 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
COVID Development Grants
Create NSW is offering targeted support to individuals and groups of up to $5,000, and up to $10,000 for organisations in the small-to-medium sector in NSW in recognition of their role as important generators of cultural and artistic activity – Closes 31 January 2022
Featured Grants and Opportunities
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 30 June 2022. 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 October 2021
Visions of Australia
The Visions of Australia regional exhibition touring program supports audience access to Australian arts and cultural material, with a particular focus on tours to regional and remote Australia – Closes 1 October 2021
Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants
The Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program supports the recovery efforts of communities in eligible Local Government Areas (LGAs) affected by the 2019–20 bushfires. The closing date for this funding has been extended to 6 October 2021.
Copyright Agency Cultural Fund Grants for Organisations Round 2
The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund offers grants to leading organisations for projects that deliver exceptional opportunities for Australian writers, journalists, editors, picture book illustrators, English and literacy teachers, visual artists and key industry stakeholders in the writing, publishing, education, and visual arts sectors – Closes 11 October 2021
National Landcare Smart Farms Small Grants: Soil extension activities
Supports farmers to conduct activities that promote improved soil management, including via soil sampling and soil testing – Closes 12 October 2021
Regional Performing Arts Touring Fund
The Regional Performing Arts Touring program (Playing Australia) supports performing arts to reach regional and remote communities across Australia. Grants are available to support the net touring and other designated costs associated with tours – Closes 12 October 2021
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs
The focus of the Industrial Transformation Research Hubs is on the creation of industry and academic partnerships working together on research and development projects to create innovative and transformative solutions for industry – Closes 15 October 2021
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
Creative Capital Grants
The Creative Capital fund has been established to meet the demands for facilities to support the creative economy and improve access to and participation in quality cultural experiences across NSW – Closes 26 October 2021
Community Initiative Fund
Under the IAS, the Agency considers grant proposals that address a need for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – Closes 30 October 2021
Grants closing in November 2021
Infrastructure Grants
The NSW Government offers grants to communities across NSW to support the building, renovation and fit-out of infrastructure for arts and cultural infrastructure, sport and recreation infrastructure and projects that assist communities with essential infrastructure and disaster readiness – Closes 1 November 2021
Circular Solar Phase 2
Expressions of interest are open for the NSW Government’s $10 million Circular Solar grants program – Closes 4 November 2021
Future Drought Fund Network
The Networks to Build Drought Resilience Program is one of the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund’s foundation programs. It is designed to build community capacity by strengthening social and community networking, support, engagement and wellbeing – Closes 15 November 2021
Copland Foundation Grants
The Copland Foundation Grants fund projects throughout Australia that fall under the umbrella of Alex Copland’s interests – Closes 15 November 2021
Circular Challenge Funding Scheme
The Circular Challenge fund of $600K will be used to support one or more collaborative iconic projects that will enable the delivery of circularity in, and scaling of, critical supply chains identified by the work of NSW Circular – Closes 26 November 2021
Temporary Interruption Fund (TIF)
The aim of TIF is to support local film and television producers to start filming again in circumstances where new productions have been halted by insurers not providing coverage for COVID-19 – Closes 26 November 2021
Innovate with nbn™
Through this grant program, nbn™ aim to encourage those businesses from regional or remote areas with their technology-led ideas, with the aim of facilitating and supporting further growth – Closes 30 November 2021
More grant opportunities
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
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
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
