Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: From $100,000 to $1,000,000
- Application opened: 23 March 2026
- Application closes: 1 May 2026, 4:00 pm
Program objective
The objective of the Community Participation Stream is to:
Increase liveability and social cohesion of communities through greater participation in community activities that contribute to the wellbeing, social or economic participation of residents.
The full Program Guidelines are available on the NSW Government Grants and Funding Finder or you can follow this link (Program Guidelines) to view the guidelines.
This program is administered by Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Eligible applicants are:
- Incorporated not-for-profit organisations
- incorporated Aboriginal community organisations (i.e. initiated by, controlled and operated by Aboriginal people and/or governed by a board or committee of Aboriginal people)
- Local Aboriginal Land Councils
- Lord Howe Island Board
- Unincorporated Far West groups
- Local government
- Section 355 committees of a local council
Eligible applicants must:
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- be located in NSW
- provide appropriate evidence of not-for-profit and incorporation status
- be financially viable and able to demonstrate they are financially viable by providing the most recent 3 years of financial statements
- hold or commit to obtaining public liability insurance of not less than $20 million per occurrence prior to executing a funding deed with the department
- be a fit and proper person/legal entity
- not be insolvent, bankrupt or subject to ongoing legal proceedings
- declare in the application form that the applicant is not aware of any issues which could cause reputational or other risks to the NSW Government
If an applicant’s circumstances in relation to the above eligibility criteria change, the applicant should provide updated information by contacting the department via email at regionaldevelopmenttrust@dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Eligible Locations:
- Albury City
- Armidale Regional
- Ballina Shire
- Balranald Shire
- Bathurst Regional
- Bega Valley Shire
- Bellingen Shire
- Berrigan Shire
- Bland Shire
- Blayney Shire
- Bogan Shire
- Bourke Shire
- Brewarrina Shire
- Broken Hill City
- Byron Shire
- Cabonne
- Carrathool Shire
- Central Coast
- Central Darling Shire
- Cessnock City
- Clarence Valley
- Cobar Shire
- Coffs Harbour City
- Coolamon Shire
- Coonamble Shire
- Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional
- Cowra Shire
- Dubbo Regional
- Dungog Shire
- Edward River
- Eurobodalla Shire
- Unincorporated Far West NSW
- Federation
- Forbes Shire
- Gilgandra Shire
- Glen Innes Severn
- Goulburn Mulwaree
- Greater Hume Shire
- Griffith City
- Gunnedah Shire
- Gwydir Shire
- Hay Shire
- Hilltops
- Inverell Shire
- Junee Shire
- Kempsey Shire
- Kiama Municipality
- Kyogle
- Lachlan Shire
- Lake Macquarie City
- Leeton Shire
- Lismore City
- Lithgow City
- Liverpool Plains Shire
- Lockhart Shire
- Lord Howe Island
- Maitland City
- Mid-Coast
- Mid-Western Regional
- Moree Plains Shire
- Murray River
- Murrumbidgee
- Muswellbrook Shire
- Nambucca Valley
- Narrabri Shire
- Narrandera Shire
- Narromine Shire
- Newcastle City
- Oberon
- Orange City
- Parkes Shire
- Port Macquarie-Hastings
- Port Stephens
- Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional
- Richmond Valley
- Shellharbour City
- Shoalhaven City
- Singleton
- Snowy Monaro Regional
- Snowy Valleys
- Tamworth Regional
- Temora Shire
- Tenterfield Shire
- Tweed Shire
- Upper Hunter Shire
- Upper Lachlan Shire
- Uralla Shire
- Wagga Wagga City
- Walcha
- Walgett Shire
- Warren Shire
- Warrumbungle Shire
- Weddin Shire
- Wentworth Shire
- Wingecarribee Shire
- Wollongong City
- Yass Valley
Types of projects funded under this grant
Eligible projects that can be supported by a Community Participation grant will increase participation in the type of community activities that contribute to the wellbeing, social or economic participation of residents, to achieve the program objective at 1.3. and can include:
- new and improved infrastructure and/or activation of under-used assets
- new or expanded services or programs, that increase access to, or improve the diversity of community activities and cohorts that can participate
- addressing barriers to participation, improving the amenity of activities with facilities, childcare (creche), increased safety, supervision and/or transport.
Projects must be able to meet the project delivery timeframe listed in the Key Information.
Outcomes for projects funded under this grant
Short-term outcomes
Increased access to diversion activities, reduction in youth crime
Improved amenity of local activities lifts community engagement
Medium-term outcomes
Health and well-being improvements, and increased opportunities to develop skills and connections within the local community particularly for young people and families
Long-term outcomes
Attract and retain the residents and workers needed to ensure the economic success and ongoing sustainability of regional communities
Communities have the amenities and social cohesion needed to build and maintain resilience from economic or environmental shocks
What costs you can apply for
The following types of project costs are eligible for funding:
- are within the minimum and maximum funding amount for a grant under the program
- engagement of temporary staff, programs or service providers to deliver activities or programs that contribute to the program objective
- the purchase of non-fixed assets (e.g vehicles) and equipment that relate to the participation in the community activities, services or programs
- construction costs for infrastructure development, expansion or upgrades that relate to the program objective and would not be considered business-as-usual activities, responsibilities or operations
- includes less than 20% of the total grant for contingency
- includes less than 10% of the total grant for project management and administration
Who can’t apply
Ineligible applicants include:
- individuals
- sole traders
- unincorporated associations
- for profit and commercial organisations
- Australian or NSW Government agencies, state owned corporations, or statutory authorities
What costs you can't apply for
The following are examples of project costs that are ineligible for funding:
- financing costs, including interest and debt financing, costs such as rent and utilities unless specifically related to the project
- insurance costs (applicants must hold and maintain adequate insurance coverage for any liability arising from their participation in funded activities)
- depreciation of plant and equipment beyond the life of the project
- purchase of land or buildings
- staff training costs not directly related to the project
- costs that are not essential to the success of the project
- cost of projects or activities already funded or costs related to business-as-usual activities and operations for state or local government
- any costs for works or improvements that are not directly related to delivering the project
- retrospective funding to cover any project component that is already purchased and/or complete prior to the Department receiving a signed Letter of Offer and Confidentiality Agreement, however the NSW Government makes no binding financial commitment until both parties sign a funding deed.
Types of projects not funded under this grant
A project is not eligible for funding if:
- the application does not meet the compliance, eligibility and project feasibility criteria or does not include information required to assess these criteria
- the applicant has received funding from the NSW, Australian Government or another source for any part of the project scope that duplicates deliverables to be funded by this program
- it has more than 50% of the funding request allocated to ineligible project costs
- it is for planning purposes only or costs are exclusively for marketing, branding, advertising or product promotion including tourism marketing
- it requires ongoing funding from the NSW Government. A plan for the closure, or continuation of the activities with alternative funding, at the end of the grant period once the grant is expended will be required as evidence.
- it would be considered business-as-usual activities and operations
- it is solely for the maintenance of any infrastructure i.e. painting or beautification repairs without upgrading the functionality or amenity of the infrastructure.
- it provides direct commercial and/or exclusive private benefit to an individual or business.
Example projects
- Upgrade a sports ground to meet regional level competition, increase safety and availability (e.g. lighting, facilities) or enable use by multiple sports
- Safe transport (e.g. bus purchase and operation, driver and supervision for children) for residents/participants to access community activities (e.g. employment skills/wellbeing/ youth programs, sport, community programs or cultural events), including after hours.
- Fit for purpose facilities and staff for community activities that increase the number of people and/or cohorts that benefit, such as wellbeing or job readiness activities with casual childcare/creche.
What co-contributions are required
Eligible applicants must make a financial contribution towards the project of at least 20% of the total project cost. Exemptions can be considered.
What your application needs to include
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.
Address the assessment criteria
Preliminary assessment
Compliance and eligibility
The department will assess all submitted applications against the compliance and eligibility criteria identified in these guidelines.
Non-compliant or ineligible applications will not be considered for further assessment.
Project feasibility
The department will then assess all compliant and eligible applications against the feasibility criteria identified in these guidelines
Merit-based assessment criteria
The department will undertake a merit-based assessment on applications that have been determined as compliant, eligible and feasible as part of the preliminary assessment stage.
The assessment team will assess each application on its merits without reference to the comparative merits of other applications.
The department may seek additional information to assist in the assessment process. The department will notify applicants if additional information and supporting material is required and the timeframes in which it is required.
The department will provide the assessment outcomes of all applications to the assessment panel.
Assessment panel
An assessment panel will consider and determine the assessment outcomes for each application.
The assessment panel will take into consideration any personal, business and/or probity issues and risks that could cause reputational or other risk to the NSW Government.
The assessment panel may recommend a lesser amount of funding for an application or defer a recommendation pending further information. The assessment panel may also recommend specific funding conditions, where appropriate.
The assessment team may consider principles including, for example:
- the total amount of funding available
- geographical distribution of projects across regional NSW
- funding a variety of projects in size, scale and type
- suitability of a project for other government funding opportunities
- alignment of the project with other NSW Government policies and strategies
- issues which could cause reputational or other risks to the NSW Government.
Decision making
The final decision maker for the program is the Minister for Regional NSW.
Start the application
The program is a single stage application process.
Parameters
Applicants can only submit one application per Stream.
Where to apply
Applicants must submit their applications and supporting documents through the program’s online application portal on Smarty Grants.
When to apply
Applicants must submit their applications by the closing date and time outlined in the Key Information section of these program guidelines.
The department retains discretion to extend the closing date and time, and to accept late applications in extenuating circumstances.
Applicants cannot reopen or amend applications after the closing date and time.
What to include
Each application must include the documents or application sections listed in the Application Form which includes the following:
- a clear project scope and description of activities
- a detailed project budget based on quotes or detailed estimates, reasonable assumptions or previous experience with similar projects
- a project management plan (template provided) demonstrating the project will be successfully completed in the required timeframe
- a risk management plan demonstrating an understanding of the project’s risks and strategies to manage or mitigate the risks
- landowner’s consent using the template provided (if required)
- evidence of public liability insurance
- evidence of co-contribution or evidence to support an exemption.
- evidence of need (letters, data, community consultation)
- evidence of support for the project (through partner/stakeholder letters, community backing, co-delivery commitments
- Development Application approval (and other necessary approvals) OR evidence that applicant has started the process to gain approval.
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: Minister for Regional NSW
Determining which applications are successful involves these stages:
- preliminary assessment (compliance, eligibility, feasibility)
- merit-based assessment criteria
- decision making.
Support and contact
Please contact regionaldevelopmenttrust@dpird.nsw.gov.au