Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: From $10,000 to $100,000
- Application opened: 12 March 2026
- Application closes: 22 April 2026
Program objective
NSW communities have experienced a rise of hateful rhetoric, particularly following the devastating impacts of the December terror attack in Bondi and compounding additional pressures on social cohesion. Round Five will support local councils to engage with their local communities, capture local experiences, and collaborate on anti-racism actions or support the development of local anti-racism strategies.
In this mutually beneficial program, local government will gain valuable insights from the community, and the community will in turn be provided with the opportunity to shape their local government area in respect to racism and discrimination. Local government may wish to use the grants funding to hold roundtable conversations or run workshops to better understand the racism and discrimination issues specific to their locality.
Racism and discrimination can also occur at the organisational level within local government. Local government may wish to use the grants funding to explore the lived experiences of their staff and critically assess cultural safety within the workplace and system. For example, local government may wish to use the grants funding to better understand staff concerns and address racism and discrimination through training.
These engagements can also assist in the development of a tailored anti-racism strategy (or related strategies), using the NSW Local Government Anti-Racism Strategy Guidelines and Template. A robust strategy ensures local government has a long term-plan to address racism and discrimination, developed for and with the community, and strengthens community connectedness as a result. To inform the design of this template, Premier’s Department held a Co-Design Workshop with over fifty local government representatives. Applicants may wish to familiarise themselves with the insights from this workshop which can be found in the Co-Design Workshop Report.
Together, these actions will strengthen local governments’ capacity to manage complex issues, prevent discriminatory behaviours, and build community resilience, connectedness and trust.
This program is administered by Premier's Department.
Eligibility
Who can apply
- Applicants must be a NSW Local Government (operating under the Local Government Act 1993).
- Applicants who applied for funding in previous rounds regardless of success are welcome to apply.
- The application must not be for an existing project or funded from council or other sources.
- The application must identify and address one or more of the program outcomes, from the NSW Social Cohesion Grants for Local Government Program logic (see section 1.2 of the Guidelines).
Who the grant is targeted towards
- Local Government
- Communities
Types of projects funded under this grant
All funded activities must contribute to the achievement of the program’s aims as set out in the program logic (see sections 1.1 and 1.2 of the Guidelines).
Initiatives uplift local government capacity and/or engage their communities to address racism and discrimination as well as align with the Local Government Social Cohesion Program Logic by strengthening connections within communities, and/or between communities and/or between communities and institutions.
When the project can start and end
- Projects can be delivered from 3 to 12 months commencing in July 2026.
- Funds will be released in a one-off payment via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) at the beginning of the contract, and all funds must be expended within 12 months of funding having been received, unless otherwise agreed to by the Department.
The project should be started by 1 July 2026 and the project must be completed by 1 July 2027.
Outcomes for projects funded under this grant
- Connectedness within communities (9)
- Connectedness between communities (10), or
- Connectedness between communities and institutions (11)
- Additional outcomes from the NSW Social Cohesion Grants for Local Government Program Logic will also be considered.
What costs you can apply for
The requested funds contribute towards the cost of delivering a range of activities, including but not limited to:
- The purchase of equipment (including software) if it is integral to the activity this must be factored into the budget as well as the specific usage of this equipment for the project.
- Devolved funding programs for service organisations.
- Applicants may allocate funds requested to staff-related costs. These costs must be directly related to the proposed project.
- Activities can be a one-off or time-limited activity, or series of events with specific goals and conditions. The project will have defined responsibilities for all contractors and external personnel, a proposed budget, an iterative project plan, and a specific start date and end date.
Who can’t apply
- Applicants not operating as a NSW Local Government (operating under the Local Government Act 1993)
What costs you can't apply for
Please refer to ineligible projects
Types of projects not funded under this grant
- Projects and/or activities that are not related to strengthening social cohesion or to address racism and intersectional experiences of discrimination internally or in their local communities.
- Ongoing or recurrent funding for programs.
- Supplementing, increasing, or continuing ongoing service delivery that is the core business of the Local Government.
- Political party activities.
- Capital expenses, including but not limited to building works (including maintenance) and equipment purchase, unless explicitly related to the project.
- Celebration of specific national or independence days, with the exception of key Australian days including ANZAC Day, Australia Day, and NAIDOC week. Celebrations must focus on building equity across all cultural and ethnic groups.
- Religious festivals, rituals, events or promotions, except multi-faith events which involve people from multiple religions and do not isolate one religious group.
- Reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to the commencement of the funding agreement.
- Covering existing debts or budget deficits of the Local Government.
- Purchase of alcohol, tobacco products, gaming services, entertainment streaming.
- Commercial or fundraising activities.
- Cash prizes or gifts, including gift vouchers (this does not include disbursements for public participation).
What co-contributions are required
Not Applicable
Additional eligibility requirements
Not Applicable
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
Not Applicable
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
All eligible applications will be assessed against the following assessment criteria (assessment weightings have also been provided):
- Application clearly outlines local social cohesion challenges related to racism and intersectional experiences of discrimination and detail how this application will address these. (20%)
- Applicants must respond to one or more anticipated outcomes of: connectedness within communities (9), connectedness between communities (10), or connectedness between communities and institutions (11) from the program logic. Additional outcomes from the NSW Social Cohesion Grants for Local Government Program Logic will also be considered. (20%)
- Application includes a project plan that outlines activities and tasks, milestones, how they may work with local services/businesses to deliver tasks, and associated risks with implementing the proposed initiative. (20%)
- Application demonstrates value for money with reference to a budget, applicants can also consider social, environmental and cultural value and opportunities. (20%)
- Application demonstrates commitment to program evaluation, including the provision of a program logic. (10%)
- Application considers how learnings and techniques taken from the project can be utilised throughout Local Government processes, noting that funding is a one-off grant and will not be extended. (10%)
Application fields will correspond to each of stream assessment criteria.
Start the application
Applicants must apply through SmartyGrants during the application period. Applications received outside of this period will not be considered.
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: Deputy Secretary, Delivery & Engagement Group, Premier's Department
A five-person assessment panel convened by the Department will include at least one member from the Department and up to four staff from other NSW Government agencies.
These members (clerk grade 7/8 and above) will have expertise on social cohesion initiatives, community engagement or anti-racism policy.
Panel members will be screened for actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflicts of interest before participating in the assessment of applications. Any identified conflicts will be reported to the Director, Connected Communities, Premier’s Department for appropriate risk management in accordance with the Department’s systems for risk management and conflict of interest management. In event of the Director, Connected Communities, Premier’s Department identified conflict of interest, this matter will be escalated to the Executive Director, Delivery, Social & Community Delivery.
All applications for grants are reviewed to ensure compliance with eligibility criteria and required documentation. Eligible applications are then progressed to the assessment phase.
The panel will make recommendations for grant funding to the decision-maker (Deputy Secretary, Delivery & Engagement Group, Premier’s Department) who will approve successful applications. Not all grant applications will be successful.
Anticipated assessment outcome date is 01/06/2026
Anticipated date for funding deed execution with successful applicants is 01/06/2026
Support and contact
Connectedcommunities@premiersdepartment.nsw.gov.au