Sector grants
See below for a range of potential grant opportunities available for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services noting that some programs are State specific and won’t apply to all ACCHOs. Opportunities will vary over time. We aim to provide up to date and relevant grant opportunities which are available in the short to medium term.
See below for Tips and Tricks that can help you to write a successful grant proposal.
Lotterywest Grants to Support WA Communities – ALWAYS OPEN – WA
Lotterywest offers grants to NFPs & local government authorities. Lotterywest is the only lottery in Australia to directly support WA communities (and their inspiring projects) t to make WA an even better place to live.
Lotterywest grants provide funds across 5 priority areas:
- Inclusive thriving community
- Connected cultural experiences
- Protected sustainable ecosystems
- Smart innovative society
- Active healthy people
Turning Research Evidence into Clinical Practice – CLOSES Mon 7.7.25 – National
What do you get?
A grant of between $250,000 to $5 million to cover up to 100% of eligible project costs.
Who is this for?
Eligible organisations that can support large-scale interdisciplinary research programs to improve health benefits for Australians.
About the program
The 2024 Rapid Applied Research Translation Grant Opportunity is part of the Medical Research Future Fund and the Rapid Applied Research Translation Initiative, opens in a new tab / window.
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.
Consistent with the Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015, the objective of this grant opportunity is to provide grants of financial assistance to support Australian medical research and medical innovation projects that:
- deliver late stage translational research that is directly relevant to clinical care, health services and/or health practices, which has the potential to be translated into existing policy and practice
- use existing knowledge and evidence to support and accelerate the translation of research findings into improved health care and health interventions
- address a clearly defined gap in best practice health care and health interventions to improve health outcomes, as identified by collaborating health services
- involve all stakeholders relevant to the research and its translation in its conceptualisation, design and implementation, including health care consumers and providers.
Two streams of funding are available:
- Stream 1 (Accelerator): the Chief Investigators are primarily resident in any area according to the Modified Monash Model (MM1-7)
- Stream 2 (Accelerator): the Chief Investigator A and 50% or more of all Chief Investigators are primarily resident in a regional, rural, or remote area according to the Modified Monash Model (MM2-7).
For this grant opportunity, an application may be submitted to one of the above two Streams only. Applicants must specify the Stream they are applying for in their application.
An organisation may submit more than one application to a single Stream, but there are restrictions on the number of applications an individual (i.e. Chief Investigator) may submit to a single Stream (refer the Section on Chief Investigators in the grant opportunity guidelines).
Disaster Resilience, Risk Reduction Projects – CLOSES Wed 2.4.25 – National
Funding is available for projects that support disaster resilience and risk reduction, including those that:
- increase the understanding of natural disaster impacts, build resilience to future disasters and/or reduce natural disaster risk
- target one or more eligible natural hazard types
- deliver enduring benefits for communities at risk of future eligible disasters
- involve one or more eligible activity types in the built, social, natural and/or economic domains.
For further information, applicants should contact the Lead Agency in their jurisdiction.
Funding for Organisations to Improve Indigenous outcomes – ALWAYS OPEN – SA
Indigenous Advancement Strategy
The Indigenous Advancement Strategy provides funding for organisations to help them undertake projects or activities which promote equal opportunities for Indigenous Australians.
Employment Training Projects Where Skills Shortages – ALWAYS OPEN – NT
Pre-employment Training Program NT
This program provides funding for training providers running training employment projects that may fulfil a skills shortage.
Disaster Ready Fund 2025-2026 – CLOSES Wed 2.4.25 – QLD
Established by the Commonwealth Government, the Disaster Ready Fund (DRF) is a funding program developed to help communities protect themselves against the impacts of natural hazards across Australia. The Commonwealth Government, via the DRF, has committed to provide up to $1b over a period of five years, from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2028.
Queensland State Agencies, non-government organisations, First Nations organisations, peak bodies, local governments & community groups are eligible to apply through QRA by submitting an application form to QRA to be considered for funding.
Applications proposals close Wed 2.4.25 – 5PM
Men’s Places Grant Program – CLOSES Mon 31.3.25 – NT
If you have a project to support men’s places, you can apply for a grant of up to $10,000 per applicant.
You can use the grant to support a range of activities such as:
- information sessions
- skills development
- health and wellbeing programs
- education and peer-to-peer support programs
- parenting programs and equipment.
Applications are now open until Monday 31 March 2025.
Grants for Seniors Month events – applications open in March 2025 – NT
Your event must:
- celebrate older people and their continuing contribution
- encourage older people to live healthy and active lifestyles all year round
- demonstrate that older age can be a time of learning and adventure.
- Applications open in March.
- You can apply on the GrantsNT website.
Applications open March 2025. Senior Month runs in August in the NT.
Community Benefit Fund: gambling ameliorations grants – ALWAYS OPEN – NT
Gambling amelioration grants provide funding to support the promotion of community awareness and education in respect of problem gambling.
Funding can also include counselling, rehabilitation and support services for problem gamblers and their families.
Your organisation must be not-for-profit and have a physical presence in the NT.
You must be an NT based non-profit community organisation.
You must also be incorporated under one of the following:
- the Associations Act (NT)
- the Corporations Act 2001 (Commonwealth)
- the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Commonwealth)
- any other Act of Parliament.
NT Health Aboriginal Scholarship Scheme – ALWAYS OPEN – NT
If you’re an Aboriginal student in your first year of an undergraduate health degree, you can apply for the Northern Territory (NT) Health Aboriginal Scholarship Scheme.
Five scholarships worth up to $5,000 each are available to eligible students who are studying:
- any bachelor degree within the field of health or
- a bachelor degree that has a pathway leading to a health occupation such as a registered nurse, midwife or pharmacist.
Aboriginal Responsive Skilling Grants – ALWAYS OPEN – NT
Aboriginal Responsive Skilling Grants funding for regional and remote communities to train workers for projects in the community. This funding may cover the entire cost of training for people looking for work, or up to 50% of the cost for training existing workers.
By the time you have finished the training, the participants will have the following:
- increased or improved work skills
- better employment pathways or opportunities
- nationally recognised qualifications.
End of Life, Palliative Care Research – CLOSES Sun 23.3.25 – NSW
This Research Grant Program 2024/25 to 2026/27 provides funding for research activity that will contribute to improving end of life & palliative care services for patients, carers, & families in NSW. Up to $2.7m over3 years is available for research that responds to Research Grant Program priorities & demonstrates potential to be translated into policy and practice, with broad benefits across NSW.
Recipients of the funding will conduct research in the following priority areas:
- pharmacological & non-pharmacological symptom management for patients
- collaborative care models to improve patient, carer, family &community experiences & outcomes
- culturally and socially inclusive care for Aboriginal, CALD & LGBTIQ+ patients, carers, families & communities
- psychosocial support for grief, loss & bereavement for patients, carers, families & communities.
Location: NSW
Closes: Sunday 23 March 2025
Agency: NSW Health
Incorporating Patient Data in Health Technology – CLOSES Wed 23.7.25 – National
Financial assistance grants to support medical research & medical innovation projects that develop:
- consumer-informed approaches to generating and/or incorporating:
- consumer/patient data across the health technology assessment lifecycle of (1) medicines or vaccines; or (2) medical devices
- (3) patient reported outcomes into the assessment of the long-term safety & efficacy and/or the material safety & biocompatibility of implantable devices.
- (4) scalable approaches to evaluating the long-term effectiveness of highly specialised therapies emerging medicines, or medicine-related health technologies, including the incorporation of patient reported outcomes
Location: ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA
Closes: Wed 23 July 2025
Grant Type: Research
Agency: National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Mental Health & Climate Change Research – CLOSES Wed 23.7.25 – National
The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Global Health Initiative grants:
- aim: to develop knowledge & tools for addressing threats to Australia’s national health security from regional & global challenges
- objective: financial assistance to support medical research & medical innovation projects that, through co-design with consumers & health services, develop scalable & sustainable interventions to mitigate the impact of climate change on Australians’ mental health
- intended outcome: to improve the health & wellbeing of Australians by addressing the mental health impacts of climate change
Location: ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA
Closes: Wed 23 July 2025
Grant Type: Research
Agency: National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Disaster Recovery Quick Response Grants – ALWAYS OPEN – National
Assists any Indigenous corporation whose property has been directly affected by a declared natural disaster, such as a flood, bushfire, or cyclone. The funding can be used for immediate clean up of property, work to make property safe & purchase plant & equipment to assist with recovery efforts.
Locations: National
Opens: Always open
Grant Type: Health
Max. Grant: $20,000
Eligibility: Indigenous corporations (incorporated) may be eligible for assistance through the program if:
- Their property is within a State or Territory declared natural disaster area.
- They require immediate assistance to make their property safe to access.
Agency: Indigenous Land & Sea Corporation
Rural Procedural Grants Program – ALWAYS OPEN – National
This program aims to support procedural GPs who work in rural & remote areas to:
- improve or extend current skill levels
- ensure they have the skills to provide high-quality services
- comply with the professional development requirements of their GP college.
This helps ensure people in rural & remote areas have access to highly skilled health professionals. Helps cover the cost of professional development for procedural general practitioners (GPs) who work in rural & remote areas. The RPGP provides grants of up to $32,000 to rural GPs and locums who provide procedural services. This helps with the cost of attending continuing professional development activities, to maintain or increase their procedural & emergency medicine skills (including emergency mental health).
Locations: National
Opens: Always open
Grant Type: Health
Max. Grant: $32,000
Co-contribution: Not specified
Eligibility: Must be a GP working in a MMM 3-7 region. Please see section 6 of the Guidelines.
Agency: Department of Health and Aged Care
Mental Awareness Foundation Grants (QLD) – ALWAYS OPEN – National
Supports those making a difference in the area of mental health.
Locations: National
Opens: Always open
Grant Type: Mental Health
Max. Grant: $300,000 per year for 3 years
Co-contribution: Not specified
Eligibility: Must be a registered charity based in Queensland.
Agency: Mental Awareness Foundation
BHP WA Community Grants Program – ALWAYS OPEN – WA Only
The BHP WA Community Grants program enables positive community, environmental & economic development initiatives in BHP’s host communities that their operatives, employees & their families call home.
Locations: WA only
Opens/Closes:Refer Agency’s website
Grant Type: Community
Max. Grant: $20,000
Eligibility: WA Community Grants program supporting Port Hedland, Newman, Kalgoorlie, Kambalda, Leinster, Leonora, Wiluna & Kwinana.
Agency:BHP
Youpla Support Program Resolution Payments – CLOSES Tues 30.6.26 – National
This grant opportunity was announced by the Australian Government 8.2.24 as its enduring resolution for people impacted by the collapse of the funeral insurance provider, the Youpla Group. The Youpla Group entered liquidation in March 2022, leaving many people without cover, inflicting significant cultural, emotional & financial harm on many First Nations people & communities. The Youpla Support Program will provide a Resolution Payment to Eligible Persons to help them recover from this harm.
Location: ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA
Closes: Tues 30 June 2026
Agency: National Indigenous Australians Agency
NT Aboriginal Investment Corporation – CLOSES TBC – NT Only
Grants are to promote self-determination & economic self-sufficiency of Aboriginal people living in the NT & promote their social &cultural wellbeing. The NTAIC Grants Program aims to ensure:
- funding is provided to Aboriginal people in the NT.
- NTAIC Grants maximise strategic opportunities & drive economic, social & cultural outcomes.
There are two streams – General Grants & Innovation Grants.
Locations: NT
Opens: “Mid 2024”
Closes: TBC
Grant Type: Various
Max. Grant: General Grants – $500,000 per year (up to $1.5m over three years).
Innovation Grants – $10m
Co-contribution: Not specified
Eligibility: Indigenous Organisations in the NT
Agency: NTAIC
Agency Collaborates – Community Initiated – CLOSES Tues 30.12.25 – NT, QLD, SA, WA
Grants that address a need for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, developed with the target community or group who will be impacted by the activity. This funding can be used where a need has been identified in the community & there are no other current funding avenues available.
Location: NT, QLD, SA, WA
Closes: Tues 30 December 2025
Grant Type: NIAA
Agency: National Indigenous Australians Agency
Cancer Patient Care Program – CLOSES Fri 1.8.25 – National
This grant opportunity seeks to ensure all Australian’s living with cancer have access to high-quality & culturally safe support throughout their cancer experience. This grant opportunity will prioritise activities that focus on increasing equity across tumour types a&/or priority populations. The Cancer Patient Support Program will support, one-off, time-limited activities that provide national leadership on emerging priorities across the cancer control continuum.
Location: ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA
Closes: Fri 1 August 2025
Grant Type: Health
Agency: Department of Health and Aged Care
Brotherhood of St Laurence (Hippy Program) – CLOSES Mon 30.6.25 – QLD
Indigenous Health. Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters via Home Tutoring (HIPPY).
Eligibility criteria for HIPPY includes: children who are turning 4 yrs by 30.6.25 & live in Inala or surrounding suburbs. 75% of our enrolled families have to meet 1+ additional criteria: hold a health care card; child is Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander; child resides in out of home care; no income or receiving government support as main source of income; single parent families; main language spoken at home is not English.
Location: QLD
Closes: Mon 30 June 2025
Grant Type: Indigenous Health
Agency: QLD Government
Tips and tricks
Writing a successful grant proposal often requires a strategic approach which communicates your organisation’s mission, needs, and goals in a clear and compelling way. To help you write a winning grant proposal, here are some tips and tricks to consider:
- Understand the funder’s priorities: Research the funder’s priorities, goals, and outcomes to ensure your project aligns with them. Review their previous grant awards and current guidelines to understand what they’re looking for. Consider whether it’s worth investing time and energy by applying for grants which may not be in alignment with what your project wants to do.
- Develop a compelling narrative: Tell a story that connects your organisation’s mission and goals to the funder’s priorities. Use data, statistics, and examples to support your narrative and make it convincing. However, be careful to ensure you still answer the questions.
- Focus on outcomes and impact: Show how your project will make a difference and achieve specific outcomes. Include metrics and evaluation plans to demonstrate the impact of your work.
- Craft a clear and concise budget: Develop a detailed budget that is easy to understand and aligns with the funder’s requirements. Clearly articulate how the funds will be used and how they align with your project goals.
- Build strong partnerships: Build partnerships with other organisations and stakeholders to strengthen your proposal and increase your chances of success. Highlight the strengths and expertise of your partners and how they will contribute to the success of your project.
- Avoid common pitfalls: Avoid common pitfalls such as vague language, insufficient details, lack of clarity around outcomes, and unrealistic budgets. Make sure you comprehend what each question is asking and address this in your response. Have others review and provide feedback on your proposal before submission.
By following these fundamental points, you’ll be well on your way to writing a successful grant proposal that stands out from the rest. Remember, the key is to communicate your organisation’s mission and goals in a clear and compelling way that resonates with the funder’s priorities and demonstrates the impact of your work.
