All posts relating to grant funding and other opportunities

Energy Efficiency Grants for small and medium sized Enterprises Round 1

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The grant opportunity provides small and medium businesses up to $25,000 to replace or upgrade existing equipment to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.

What do you get?

Grants from $10,000 to $25,000 to cover up to 100% of eligible project expenditure. There is a total of $16 million available for this grant opportunity.

Grant funding will be distributed between states and territories based on the distribution of small and medium sized businesses nationally. You are encouraged to refer to Appendix A in the grant opportunity guidelines for a breakdown of funding in each jurisdiction.

We expect that there may be a high level of interest for this grant opportunity, and it may be oversubscribed. This is a demand driven grant opportunity. Grants will be awarded to eligible applicants on a first come, first served basis until the funding is exhausted in each jurisdiction. 

Who is this for?

This grant opportunity is for small and medium sized businesses with an employee headcount of 1 to 199 employees.

Overview

The Energy Efficiency Grants for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Round 1 will support businesses to upgrade or replace inefficient equipment to improve their energy efficiency. These upgrades will enable industries to reduce their energy use and manage energy cost volatility in the long term. This will contribute to Australia’s target of a 43% reduction on 2005 emission levels by 2030. 

The objectives of the program are to: 

  • improve energy efficiency practices and increase the uptake of energy efficient technologies 
  • assist small and medium businesses to manage their energy usage and costs
  • reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

The intended outcomes of the program are: 

  • increased awareness of energy efficiency opportunities and help businesses to save energy  
  • reduced power bills for small and medium businesses  
  • emissions abatement to contribute to Australia reducing its emissions to 43% below 2005 levels by 2030.
EEG-for-SMEs-Round-1-Grant-opportunity-guidelines-PDF-1Download

Closing: Wednesday 19 April 2023 5:00pm AEST

CLICK FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Telstra’s Connected Communities Grant Program Round 1

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Telstra’s Connected Communities Grant Program is providing funding up to $10,000 to support access to information, technology, education, and facilities to help communities embrace new technologies and ways of working to build social capital and digital capability.

The program seeks to foster resilient, sustainable, and liveable communities across remote, rural, and regional Australia.

Projects that promote community preparedness, diversity and inclusivity, and digital capability are encouraged to apply.

Applications are open now, so don’t hesitate to explore this excellent opportunity to support your community.

Applications close 5pm AEDT, 30 March 2023

Funding announced by late June 2023

FURTHER INFORMATION

Western Region Sport and Active Recreation Transport Program

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The cost of transport to travel is a significant barrier for people living in the far west of the state to participate in sport and active recreation. The program will play an important role in supporting more active communities.

What is the Western Region Sport and Active Recreation Transport Program? 

The Western Region Sport and Active Recreation Program will provide funding assistance to community organisations in the far west region of NSW to enable them to participate in sports and active recreation.  

The sport and active recreation sector is community driven. Sport and active recreation contributes to community identity and cohesion creating more active, healthier communities.

Who can apply for assistance?

Organisations applying must be located within a Western Region Transport Program area of NSW (West of the Newell Highway). 

The eligible groups to apply include: 

  • sporting teams, clubs, and associations (junior and senior) 
  • active recreation clubs and/or associations (junior and senior) 
  • not-for-profit organisations providing sport and active recreation 
  • schools located in an eligible area.

Applications will be open on 30 January 2023.
Applications will stay open throughout the two-year pilot program.

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Further information and feedback
For more information, please contact Donna Coady, Aboriginal Service Development Officer. 
Email: donna.coady@transport.nsw.gov.au

2026 Census topic consultation phase one

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What information does your community need to inform important decisions?

The next Census will take place in 2026. Prior to each Census, the Australian Bureau of Statistics consults on what could be collected on the Census.

Phase one of the public consultation is open until 28 April 2023.

Learn more at https://www.abs.gov.au/census/2026-census-topic-consultation

Easy-Read-Guide-to-the-2026-Topic-Consultation-ProcessDownload

Mentoring Opportunity

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Up to 180 places are available on a 12-months mentoring and leadership development program for people
18-years and older in rural, regional and remote Australian communities.

The National Mentoring Program is part of the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund Helping
Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative. It is delivered by the Australian Rural Leadership
Foundation in partnership with the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal and the National Farmers’
Federation.

The program has already connected more than 300 rural Australians with a mentor and delivered a number
of leadership development programs in drought-prone communities across the country.

Applications are open until 3 April 2023 and can be made via the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation’s
website. Applications from people interested in either becoming a mentor or finding one are encouraged.
Mentors will be getting to know the mentee, asking questions to help guide the mentee towards setting and
achieving their goals. Mentees will share goals and challenges with their mentors and be supported in
overcoming and achieving them.

Apart from one-on-one mentoring sessions, the program includes virtual learning sessions focusing on
communication, leadership and self-awareness to develop drought preparedness, build resilience and
develop stronger networks within communities.

Applications of individuals from various backgrounds and experiences are encouraged, with mentors and
mentees matched by interest, experience and goals. For the purpose of the program, all applicants should be
living in or connected to rural communities and bring a desire to be actively engaged in their community or
rural industry.

Program graduates become part of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation’s national alumni network of
more than 2,000 people with a shared passion for thriving rural, regional and remote communities.
More information is available on the Australian Rural Leadership Foundations website or via
futuredrought@rural-leaders.org.au

Website

Stronger Communities Programme Round 8 – OPEN

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Expression of Interest for the Stronger Communities Programme Round 8 has just opened!

The program has a strong focus on community consultation and is designed to encourage and support participation in local projects. It aims to improve local community participation and contribute to vibrant and viable communities.

With recent adverse weather events and economic pressures, Round 8 also has a goal of supporting communities in their recovery. This is a great opportunity to make a positive impact on our community.

Submissions close: Tuesday, 21 March, 2023.

FURTHER INFORMATION
SUBMIT EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Fully subsidised (FREE) TAFE NSW courses

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The NSW Government has signed a $319 million agreement providing up to 300 fully-subsidised (FREE) courses across a wide range of areas for NSW residents and workers.

For further information on the courses available, visit TAFE NSW – Coomealla or https://www.tafensw.edu.au

Coomealla-Course-Brochure-2023Download

HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS

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GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY – HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS

Grants up to $4,000 are available for practical environmental restoration and rehabilitation projects, and community-focused initiatives that encourage re-connection and strengthening post-pandemic.

Extended periods of drought, bushfires, floods and a global health pandemic have left many communities struggling. The Highways and Byways grant supports communities, especially those experiencing disadvantage and inequality, as they heal and grow in the aftermath of these challenges.

Applications close at 5.00pm AEDT on Wednesday 15 March 2023.

For further information: www.hb.org.au/grants

2023 Future Women – NSW Rural Scholarship

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Do you want to fast-track your professional goals?

Applications for the 2023 Future Women NSW Rural Scholarship Program are now open! 24 scholarships valued at over $6,000 each are available to women from regional, rural and remote NSW to develop their leadership skills.

To find out more and apply, visit: https://futurewomen.com/rural-womens-scholarship/

Applications close Thursday 16 February.

Grant Funding Opportunity – Future Drought Fund

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The Future Drought Fund (FDF) is seeking eligible applicants to conduct long-term trials of innovative farming practices that build drought resilience.

The Long-term Trials of Drought Resilient Farming Practices Grants program is a $40 million program investigating farming practices of cropping and/or grazing systems through the lens of drought resilience and associated risk management.

Grants of up to $8 million (GST exclusive) are available for projects to be delivered between 2023 – 2028.

Collaborative, multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional consortia, including farmers, are encouraged to apply.

Projects that include a combination of sites are encouraged and must include at least one trial location where scientific evaluation occurs.

Successful applicants are required to undertake extension activities to support the adoption of drought resilience innovations on farms, with the aim of reducing exposure to drought risks and improving farmers’ economic, environmental, and social resilience to drought.

For more information and to apply visit the GrantConnect website.

Applications close on 15 March 2023 at 9pm (AEDT).

FDF program leads will answer questions about the Long-term Trials of Drought Resilient Farming Practices Grants program and application process at a webinar on Wednesday 8 February between 2-3pm (AEDT).

Register for the webinar via Eventbrite.