Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: From $10,000 to $40,000
- Application opened: 17 August 2026
- Application closes: 11 September 2026, 4:00 pm
Program objective
Programs and initiatives will contribute to the achievement of objectives:
- Deliver holistic responses that address the underlying needs and risks that contribute to young people’s involvement with the justice system and improve their outcomes.
- Deliver culturally responsive initiatives that build long-term resilience and protective factors, increase connection to culture and improving social and emotional wellbeing for young people and families.
- Deliver programs and initiatives that empower young people and their families to achieve change in the young person's behaviour and safety.
- Support young people and families to re-engage with education, training, or employment.
- Increase community safety through tailored initiatives for high-risk youth.
- Whole of community initiatives that engage young people in pro-social activities
- We are particularly interested in grant applications that align with and help achieve the NSW Government’s Closing the Gap priorities, including: Target 11: to reduce the overrepresentation of Aboriginal young people in the criminal justice system, so that by 2031, the rate of Aboriginal young people (10-17 years) in detention is reduced by 30 per cent.
[1] A holistic approach means to provide support that looks at the whole person, not just their mental health needs. The support should also consider their physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing. This approach is aligned with the concept of Aboriginal health – which his holistic in that it includes physical, social, emotional and cultural well-being of individuals and the whole community.
This program is administered by Department of Communities and Justice.
Eligibility
Who can apply
All applicants are required to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- be able to enter into a grant funding agreement with the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ)
- have an Australian bank account
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- have appropriate insurance; this must include but is not limited to a minimum of $10 million Public Liability Insurance
- address the NSW National Redress Scheme sanctions
- be a registered Australian business, a not-for-profit Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO), or another incorporated organisation.
Incorporated organisations registered and approved as a not-for-profit body by NSW Fair Trading will be considered eligible, including:
- incorporated organisations that are registered and approved as not-for-profit bodies by NSW Fair Trading
- not-for-profit companies limited by guarantee, registered in NSW (must have ACNC registration and/or DGR status)
- Indigenous Corporations (must be registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations)
- NSW Local Aboriginal Land Councils
- religious organisations operating in NSW
- NSW non-government organisations established under their own Act of Parliament
- a not-for-profit non-Aboriginal organisation partnering with a lead ACCO or Aboriginal business
- ACCO sole trader
- Incorporated Associations registered outside NSW but with an Australian Registered Body Number (ARBN)
- Proprietary Limited (Pty Ltd) Companies.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Initiatives that:
- address the underlying risks and needs that contribute to young people’s involvement with the justice system
- empower young people and their families to achieve change in the young person's behaviour and safety
- are culturally responsive and build long-term resilience and protective factors, increase connection to culture and improving social and emotional wellbeing for young people and families
- support young people and families to re-engage with education, training, or employment and pro-social activities
- increase community safety through tailored initiatives for high-risk youth.
When the project can start and end
The project should be started by 1 December 2026 and the project must be completed by 30 December 2027.
Who can’t apply
You are not eligible if you are:
- An individual.
- Federal and State Government agencies and bodies.
- NSW educational facilities (public schools, private schools, TAFE).
- Local government organisations, including: - NSW local councils operating under the Local Government Act 1993 (LG Act) - Joint Organisations (s400O of the LG Act) - County Councils (s383 of the LG Act) - Regional Organisations of Councils (which are voluntary groupings of councils).
- Unincorporated organisations or groups without an eligible subcontracting organisation.
- Organisations that have not met project requirements, including acquittal and reporting, for funding received from DCJ in the previous two years.
- Organisations with Redress Obligations under the National Redress Scheme that have not joined the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse.
- Have overdue acquittals with DCJ.
- Do not have appropriate insurance; this must include but is not limited to a minimum of $10 million Public Liability Insurance.
- Organisations that received funding under the Community Safety Investment Fund (CSIF) Stream 1 or Stream 2 in the 2025–26 round are not eligible to apply for this round.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
Please ensure you read and review the Community Safety Investment Fund Stream 1 Grant Program Guidelines and COMMUNITY SAFETY INVESTMENT FUND STREAM 1- ROUND 2 - Overview supporting documents.
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
Please register for one of the Information Sessions - Community Safety Investment Fund - Stream 1 - Round 2 - Information Session – Fill in form to learn more about the grant and how to apply.
Smarty Grants will be used to support the application process. Grant Design and Support can assist organisations with any queries regarding the application process. Organisations can contact via email grantdesignandsupport@dcj.nsw.gov.au.
Please quote your Application ID in all correspondence. If you are not familiar with the SmartyGrants management system, please refer to the SmartyGrants Help Guide for Applicants or check out Applicant FAQs. You can also contact SmartyGrants directly if you are having technical difficulties with the application form or your SmartyGrants account/password, email service@smartygrants.com.au.
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: Secretary, Department of Communities and Justice on Behalf of Youth Justice
This is an open competitive grant program. Applicants will be assessed against the eligibility criteria and assessment criteria listed in the Community Safety Investment Fund Stream 1 Grant Program Guidelines
Support:
Information Sessions
Information sessions will be held on the following dates:
- Wednesday, 19th August 2026 at 2:00 pm
- Friday, 21st August 2026 at 10:30 am
Applicants are encouraged to attend one of these sessions to learn more about the Community Safety Investment Fund (CSIF) Stream 1 Round 2 grant opportunity, eligibility requirements, and application process.
To register your interest, please complete the form below:
Community Safety Investment Fund – Stream 1 – Round 2 Information Session – Fill in Form
After registering, you will receive a Microsoft Teams meeting invitation for your selected session. Please ensure you accept the meeting invitation to confirm your attendance.
Please email YJGrantsFunding@dcj.nsw.gov.au with your preferred session date and time and you will provided with the link to join an MS TEAMS information Session.
Applicants can access free project support and consultation to assist with developing and strengthening their grant application. This service provides guidance on project design, alignment with grant objectives, and application requirements
To book a Project Support and Consultation session, please contact or book:
Name: Nicole Weber
Phone: 1300 199 310
Mobile: 0411 595 218
Email: nicole@qmconsulting.com.au
Anticipated assessment outcome date is 31/10/2026
Anticipated date for funding deed execution with successful applicants is 30/11/2026
Support and contact
Department of Communities and Justice on Behalf of Youth Justice