Key information
- Status: Opening soon
- Grant amount: Individual amounts for each accessible amenity are in place
- Application opens: 14 January 2026
- Application closes: 18 February 2026, 4:00 pm
Program objective
Government-owned and not-for-profit organisations can apply for this funding.
Accessible Australia will fund:
- fixed Changing Places toilet facilities
- portable Changing Places toilet facilities
- portable equipment for inclusive beaches (like beach wheelchairs, floating wheelchairs and accessible beach matting)
- portable amenities for inclusive national parks (like all-terrain wheelchairs and accessible paths)
- fixed inclusive play spaces (like liberty swings and all-access spinners).
Accessible Australia replaces the Changing Places initiative. It now includes more ways to make public spaces easier to use for people with disability.
This program is administered by Department of Communities and Justice.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Funding recipients must be:
- government-owned entities, such as state and territory departments and local councils or
- not-for-profit organisations.
Funding can only be committed to state and territory governments in agreement with the Commonwealth. To be eligible for funding, the facility must be built or installed in a public space that is open to everyone.
Funding for commercial enterprises is out of scope.
- The organisation that receives the funding (e.g. LGA, organisation) must be government owned or not for profit. Funding for commercial enterprises is out of scope.
- The facility or amenity that is the subject of Commonwealth funding must be located within a public building, space, or facility that is open and available for use by the general public. This means that the building, space or facility is accessible to everyone. However, it may include an admission fee or other costs for entry.
- Accessible Australia funding is intended for enhancements or amenities beyond basic legal requirements. Jurisdictions should seek their own legal advice if they are unsure about the amenities and facilities they are obliged to fund before recommending proposals to the Commonwealth.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Accessible Australia will fund:
- fixed Changing Places toilet facilities
- portable Changing Places toilet facilities
- portable equipment for inclusive beaches (like beach wheelchairs, floating wheelchairs and accessible beach matting)
- portable amenities for inclusive national parks (like all-terrain wheelchairs and accessible paths)
- fixed inclusive play spaces (like liberty swings and all-access spinners).
Accessible Australia replaces the Changing Places initiative. It now includes more ways to make public spaces easier to use for people with disability.
All successful projects must commence within 12 months of receiving funding and be completed within 18 months of receiving funding.
When the project can start and end
The project should be started by 1 July 2026 and the project must be completed by 28 January 2028.
What costs you can apply for
Funding
The Australian Government provides funding to successful applicants (via their state and territory government) for the Accessible Australia initiative.
This includes:
- up to 100% of the total build cost for:
- inclusive beaches
- inclusive national parks
- portable Changing Places toilet facilities
- up to 50% of the total build cost for:
- inclusive play spaces
- fixed Changing Places toilet facilities.
Applicants must demonstrate they can co contribute to Commonwealth funding amounts to complete their projects.
The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) will facilitate the grants application process through Smarty Grants portal.
Applications must include detailed project quotes and a completed project plan template for each amenity.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
Please refer to the Commonwealth Accessible Australia web page.
Commonwealth Accessible Australia Initiative (Accessible Australia)
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Start the application
The Australian Government provides funding to successful applicants (via their state and territory government) for the Accessible Australia initiative.
This includes:
- up to 100% of the total build cost for:
- inclusive beaches
- inclusive national parks
- portable Changing Places toilet facilities
- up to 50% of the total build cost for:
- inclusive play spaces
- fixed Changing Places toilet facilities.
All applications are through the Smarty Grants portal
NSW will be holding an information session 20th January 2026, to register please fill out the form below.
Accessible Australia (Changing Places) Tranche 2 - Information session – Fill out form
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Australian Government, Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
This is an open competitive grant program with The Australian Government as the Decision Maker from Department of Health Disability and Ageing.
Anticipated assessment outcome date is 30/06/2026
Anticipated date for funding deed execution with successful applicants is 30/6/2026
Support and contact
Disability Inclusion & Reporting Team
DisabilityInclusion@dcj.nsw.gov.au
Grant Design and Support
GrantsDesignandSupport@dcj.nsw.gov.au
Strategy, Policy and Commissioning
Department of Communities and Justice
Accessible Australia (Changing Places) Tranche 2 - Information session – Fill out form