Purple Flag Readiness Grant Program FAQs

Purple Flag is an international accreditation program which recognises precincts that achieve high standards of excellence in managing their night-time economy. 

Earning the Purple Flag signals to locals and visitors alike that your precinct is a safe, welcoming and vibrant place to enjoy after dark.

While the Purple Flag precincts in NSW are the first of their kind in Australia, the program also currently operates in over 100 locations across the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden and Malta.

When you see the Purple Flag sign, you’ll know the area meets standards of excellence in vibrancy, diversity and safety at night. This includes good access to public transport, street lighting and great food and beverage.

Purple Flag is administered by the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner, in partnership with the UK Association of Town and City Management (ATCM).

This Purple Flag Readiness Grant Program is designed to help Councils with proposed or established Special Entertainment Precincts (SEP) transition into accredited Purple Flag precincts, as well as promote SEPs with Purple Flag accreditation. This funding provides applicants with resources and support needed to meet Purple Flag standards and deliver a safe, vibrant and inclusive night-time economy.

Through targeted funding, the Program seeks to:

• Embed consistent standards in precinct management – Strengthen the quality and consistency of night‑time precinct management across NSW by embedding internationally recognised Purple Flag standards.
• Strengthen local coordination and collaboration – Facilitate stronger partnerships between councils, businesses, government agencies and stakeholders to drive precinct improvements and support ongoing accreditation efforts.
• Improve perceptions of safety for women and gender-diverse people – Support initiatives that enhance the safety and inclusivity of night-time precincts, particularly for women and gender-diverse people, helping to create welcoming and secure environments for all.
• Increase awareness of the Purple Flag program among local communities – Support marketing, education and outreach initiatives to enhance business and consumer engagement with the Purple Flag framework and benefits.
• Increase precinct readiness to apply for and maintain Purple Flag accreditation – Support councils and stakeholders to adopt and implement the Purple Flag night-time management framework, strengthening their capacity to apply for and maintain Purple Flag accreditation. 

Special Entertainment Precincts (SEP) have been developed by the NSW Government as a tool for local councils to help unlock the potential of their night-time economies, encourage live performance and support vibrant and diverse going-out precincts.

A SEP is established under Part 3 of Chapter 8 of the Local Government Act 1993 and is an area, streetscape or single venue where trading hours and sound conditions are set by a council in a precinct management plan to support live performance and provide operational certainty for venues, neighbouring residents and businesses.

The 24-Hour Economy Legislation Amendment (Vibrancy Reforms) Act 2023 and the 24-Hour Economy Legislation Amendment (Vibrancy Reforms) Act 2024 strengthened the SEP framework by offering greater incentives for venues, streamlining regulations, and improving governance. 

Read more about SEPs.

Eligible applicants include NSW local councils:

• with a permanent SEP or SEP trial, or
• are funded by NSW government to establish a SEP (excluding SEP Kickstart Grant Round 2 recipients).

Councils across NSW are establishing SEPs to create the planning framework for increased vibrancy, but without the ongoing governance framework needed to encourage safety, diversity and accessibility, as well as bring together stakeholders and manage night-time risks of increased activity.

As SEPs evolve, many NSW councils are showing interest in adopting Purple Flag as a structured night-time precinct management framework.

The Purple Flag Readiness Grant Program is designed to support this momentum, by introducing a coordinated pathway for SEPs to work towards and maintain Purple Flag accreditation. This helps strengthen council’s ability to deliver safer, more vibrant, diverse and economically sustainable night-time destinations.

To complement this coordinated approach, Round 2 of the SEP Kickstart Grant now requires recipients to investigate the Purple Flag model and conduct a Purple Flag precinct self‑assessment, with councils able to seek up to $50,000 (ex GST) to support community engagement, coordination, report preparation and explore Purple Flag accreditation.

Councils are only eligible if they have an established SEP or SEP trial, or have received NSW government funding to establish a SEP.

Councils that have only passed a formal resolution to establish a SEP are not eligible unless they have received NSW Government funding to establish the SEP (excluding funding from the SEP Kickstart Grant Round 2).

No. As long as the council fulfils the obligations stipulated in the funding deed, including delivering on the activities outlined in their application and provides the required evidence to demonstrate completion, the recipient is not breaching the funding agreement and no reimbursement is required.

Recipients of the SEP Kickstart Grant (Round 2) are ineligible, as this grant also offers up to $50,000 (ex GST) in funding to support the preparation of a Purple Flag precinct self-assessment report and to explore accreditation for the same location as their SEP/s. Providing additional funding through this grant program could therefore be considered duplicate funding for the same activities.

The Purple Flag Readiness Grant is specifically designed to support councils to adopt the Purple Flag night‑time precinct management framework across SEPs in NSW, working in collaboration with local businesses and other key stakeholders. As only councils have the authority to establish SEPs, this grant funding is specifically designed for councils leading proposed or established SEPs.

To support streamlined governance and maintain consistency, it is recommended, though not mandatory, for the Purple Flag Working Group to have similar membership as the SEP Working Group.

For applicants to the Purple Flag Readiness Grant, it is an eligibility requirement to provide evidence of an established or proposed Purple Flag (or precinct) Working Group. This group must include the lead applicant and representation from a diverse range of key stakeholders, such as local businesses, chambers of commerce, local council, police, transport, liquor accords and other relevant partners.

Because both SEP and Purple Flag working groups share similar goals relating to night‑time economy management, having similar membership can improve coordination and reduce duplication. However, precincts may adjust membership as needed to ensure all relevant stakeholders are appropriately represented.

To be deemed eligible, the applicant must demonstrate that the proposed or accredited Purple Flag precinct boundaries sit within or align with the proposed or established SEP geographical boundaries.

When determining the area to include in the Purple Flag map, ensure it encompasses the core evening and night-time activities of your precinct (typically between 6pm and 6am). This may include a mix of businesses, cultural venues, recreation facilities, hospitals, educational institutions, and supporting infrastructure that contribute to the night-time economy.

When defining the boundary of your precinct, keep the following principles in mind:

• Reflect the night-time activity: the Purple Flag precinct boundary should follow a clear and natural break in night-time activity, such as the beginning of a residential area or a zone where night-time activity is not present.

• Movement at night: the map should include all the areas visitors are likely to move through while engaging with the night-time economy. This may include laneways, footpaths and routes connecting venues, public spaces and transport hubs.

• Include transport connections: Make sure the boundary incorporates key transport nodes such as train stations, bus stops, taxi ranks and rideshare pick-up areas, as well as the walking routes that connect them to the precinct.

• Exclude residential buildings and office buildings, except where they are in a commercial area. However, it is important to consider how night-time activities impact on people who work and live in these buildings.

• Use whole streets: Boundaries must include whole streets to define the precinct. This means you can’t include only one side of a street or half a block as part of your precinct.

For guidance on how to create your Purple Flag precinct map, refer to Appendix C in the grant guidelines, view this instructional video or visit the Purple Flag website for further details.

Applicants should demonstrate how the proposed grant activities or initiatives will help improve safety and perceptions of safety for women and gender diverse people within the precinct. This may include evidence-based approaches, community engagement insights, proposed safety initiatives or supporting data that shows how the initiatives will contribute to a more inclusive and welcoming night-time environment.

Useful resources such as the ‘Evaluation Tool for Public Space and Public Life 2.0’ and the ‘Community Survey Tool for Public Space and Public Life’ are available as part of the Safer Cities Program website at transport.nsw.gov.au to assist applicants in developing this component of their application.

Funding can be used for activities that strengthen coordination, improve safety, and if eligible, promote Purple Flag accreditation. All projects must align with the objectives of the Purple Flag Readiness Grant Program.

Coordination and Engagement (minimum 25% of funding)

At least 25% of your total grant must be used for activities that support precinct coordination and stakeholder engagement. Examples include:

• Developing the Purple Flag self-assessment report (due within 6 months of executing the funding agreement)
• Coordinating working groups with local businesses and key partners
• Funding a program coordinator to manage Purple Flag related initiatives
• Collecting data or insights to track precinct outcomes
• Engagement and education activities for businesses and stakeholders

Improving Perceptions of Safety

Activities that improve safety and perceptions of safety for women and gender diverse individuals, such as:

• Safety audits, surveys, walk‑shops and co‑design activities
• Training for businesses and security teams on safety and inclusivity
• Place based improvements (e.g., lighting, art installations, wayfinding)

Promotion and Awareness (Purple Flag–accredited precincts only)

Purple Flag accredited precincts may also use funding for:

• Marketing campaigns to promote the precinct’s Purple Flag status
• Events and community activities showcasing accreditation
• Digital promotion (web content, videos, social media)
• Collaborative branding with local businesses

Eligible council can apply for up to $50,000 (ex. GST) per proposed or accredited Purple Flag precincts under the Purple Flag Readiness Grant Program.

Councils with multiple proposed or accredited Purple Flag precincts may apply for up to $150,000 (ex. GST) in total funding. Only one application per council will be accepted, but that application may include any number of proposed or accredited precincts, with funding allocated as the council chooses, up to a maximum of $50,000 (ex. GST) per precinct.

No. Being awarded the grant does not guarantee Purple Flag accreditation. The grant is intended to encourage councils to adopt Purple Flag as a night-time precinct management framework across Special Entertainment Precincts (SEP).

While achieving Purple Flag accreditation is not mandatory for grant recipients within the project timeframe, successful grant applicants will receive a Purple Flag application template (including the precinct self-assessment report template) to ensure councils are well positioned and supported to apply for Purple Flag accreditation when ready. The Purple Flag accreditation assessment will be managed through a separate process. Grant recipients will be notified when future rounds of assessments for Purple Flag accreditation open for applications.

For details on accreditation requirements and the application process, please visit Purple Flag.

This Purple Flag Readiness Grant program is designed to help Special Entertainment Precincts (SEP) transition into accredited Purple Flag precincts. Applications are assessed against the eligibility and funding criteria specified in the Grant Guidelines. The assessment process determines whether an application is recommended for approval, and therefore whether the applicant is eligible to receive grant funding.

In contrast, the Purple Flag accreditation is subject to a separate assessment process conducted by independent assessors. This assessment evaluates whether a precinct meets the international Purple Flag standards of excellence in night‑time precinct management. The outcome of this process determines whether a precinct is awarded Purple Flag accreditation status.

Achieving Purple Flag accreditation is not mandatory for grant recipients. However, successful applicants will receive a Purple Flag application template (including the precinct self-assessment report template) to ensure councils are well positioned and supported to apply for Purple Flag accreditation when ready. The Purple Flag accreditation assessment will be managed through a separate process. Grant recipients will be notified when future rounds of assessments for Purple Flag accreditation open for applications.

It is an expectation that grant recipients complete a Purple Flag self-assessment report for each proposed Purple Flag precinct that is within a proposed or established Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP), no later than 6 months after executing a funding agreement (or as otherwise agreed by DCITHS).

Councils may only submit one application, including for multiple proposed or accredited Purple Flag precincts.

This is an open, non-competitive, demand-driven (first-in, first-served) grant program so application timeliness is important.

Late applications may be considered after the closing date, subject to the discretion of DCITHS, if a reasonable explanation can be given for the delay, the applicant has at least commenced their application in SmartyGrants prior to the closing date, and probity principles in respect of fairness and equity are maintained.

Applications that are deemed insufficient, incomplete, or incorrect may be considered ineligible for funding.