Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: Up to $50,000
- Application opened: 17 November 2025
- Application closes: 19 December 2025, 5:00 pm
Program objective
The focus of this project is to understand how perceptions of safety of women, girls and gender diverse people shape their journeys to and experiences of NSW public libraries, particularly in how they access public libraries through walking, cycling and public transport. The aim of the project is to identify potential changes within library precincts and their surrounding areas to help make women, girls and gender diverse people feel safer accessing the library. It will include co-design, collaboration and on the ground trials with local library users.
This program is administered by Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Eligible applicants must:
Be a NSW local authority and have adopted the Library Act 1939 and provide public libraries in accordance with the Act.
- If applying, councils that have already participated in the Safer Cities: Her Way Pilot program (Round One) with Transport for NSW must choose a library in a town or suburb not previously funded in the program to be considered as part of this current project.
- These councils are:
- Bayside Council
- Blacktown City Council
- Central Coast Council
- City of Canterbury Bankstown
- City of Sydney
- Cumberland City Council
- Fairfield City Council
- Griffith City Council
- Lismore City Council
- Wollongong City Council
Eligible projects must be located in:
- An LGA with an urban centre with a population of 10,000 or more
- A Library branch within a town or local centre and 800m radius of train, bus/transport hub and/or connections to active transport (walking and cycling) e.g. footpaths, shared pathways, bicycle paths/lanes.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Not applicable
Who can’t apply
Ineligible projects are:
- Located within an LGA with an urban centre with a population below 10,000
- Library branches located in a local centre or town that has already participated in Safer Cities projects with Transport for NSW as listed on Safer Cities: Her Way | Transport for NSW
- Library branches not within 800m radius of train, bus/transport hub and/or connections to active transport (walking and cycling) e.g. footpaths, shared pathways, bicycle paths/lanes.
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.
Start the application
Not applicable
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: Library Council of NSW
Applicants will receive notification by 30 January 2026 of the outcome of this expression of interest.
Anticipated assessment outcome date is 30/01/2026
Anticipated date for funding deed execution with successful applicants is June to December 2026
Support and contact
Kate O'Grady
kate.ogrady@sl.nsw.gov.au