Purple Flag Readiness Grant Program

To be eligible for the Program, applicants must be a local council in NSW:

• • with a permanent SEP, or
  • with a trial SEP, or
  • funded by NSW government to establish a SEP (excluding SEP Kickstart Grant Program Round 2 recipients); and
• Demonstrate evidence of existing or proposed Purple Flag working group/s establishment, including representation from a diverse range of key stakeholders (eg. local businesses, council, police, liquor accords, transport, etc.); and
• Provide details on the geographic boundary of each proposed or accredited Purple Flag precinct within the SEP geographical boundary; and
• Provide a clear plan and timeline for the proposed grant activities to be delivered and expected outcomes for each proposed or accredited Purple Flag precinct; and
• Provide a realistic, detailed and itemised budget for each proposed or accredited Purple Flag precinct, that is clearly linked to the project activities and expected outcomes; and
• Demonstrate project deliverability by clearly detailing Council’s capacity to deliver the proposed grant activities; and
• Commit to delivering a Purple Flag self-assessment report per proposed Purple Flag precinct within 6-months of executing a funding agreement; and
• Provide a letter of commitment to the Purple Flag program from a senior council staff member (eg. Director, General Manager). The letter must not be from an elected official such as a councilor.

Eligible activities for funding under this grant include:

1.  Co‑ordination and Engagement: (Minimum 25% of total funding)

Eligible activities include:

• Working group co‑ordination: fund a role to lead stakeholder engagement, run meetings, prepare precinct snapshots, and facilitate self‑assessment nights
• Program management: of Purple Flag related initiatives
• Data collection and reporting: develop tools, surveys and feedback mechanisms to track the impact of initiatives
• Stakeholder engagement and education: run ‘walk‑shops’, roundtables, information sessions and co‑design activities with local businesses and stakeholders
• Self‑assessment report: prepare a Purple Flag self‑assessment report within six months (including precinct map, snapshot and supporting information)

2.  Perceptions of Safety

Eligible activities include:

• Safety audits and enhancements: conduct precinct audits, surveys and community engagement (e.g. safety walk‑shops and co‑design sessions).
• Training programs: deliver training for businesses and security teams on customer safety, inclusivity and perceptions of safety for women and gender‑diverse people
• Physical interventions: install art, lighting, wayfinding or signage that enhances safety and accessibility

3.  Promotion and Marketing (Available only for accredited Purple Flag precincts)

Eligible activities include:

• Marketing campaigns: banners, posters, flyers, digital advertising and social media campaigns
• Events and activations: host community events or open nights to showcase accreditation
• Digital promotion: update websites, create videos, and develop social media content
• Collaborative branding: create co‑branded materials or merchandise with local businesses

The Project needs to be delivered within 12 months.

The project should be started by 1 July 2026 and the project must be completed by 30 June 2027.

Up to $750,000 (ex GST) in funding is available for the Purple Flag Readiness Grant Program. Eligible councils may apply for a grant up to $50,000 (ex GST) per proposed or accredited Purple Flag precinct.

Councils with multiple proposed or accredited Purple Flag precincts may apply for up to $150,000 (ex GST) in total funding. Only one application per council will be accepted.  However, that application may include any number of proposed or accredited Purple Flag precincts, with funding allocated between them as the council chooses, up to a maximum of $50,000 (ex GST) per precinct.

Funding must be used for activities that support Purple Flag Readiness Grant objectives. The following conditions apply: 

• One upfront payment will be made upon execution of the funding agreement 
• At least 25% of funding must be allocated to coordination and engagement activities 
• Marketing and promotion funding is only eligible for precincts that have achieved Purple Flag accreditation

Costs that are not directly associated with the eligible activities including but not limited to: 

• The covering of costs that are not incurred within the project delivery period 
• Ongoing operational costs such as staff salaries, rent, utilities, maintenance/repairs and administrative overheads. This excludes the costs associated with the appointment or funding a program coordinator 
• Paying back loans or other financing costs, including interest and debt financing
• Purchase or lease of land or property
• Overseas travel costs
• Major capital works
• Activities that are already funded by other NSW Government grants or programs

• Activities that occur outside the Project Delivery Period (i.e. no retrospective funding) 
• Projects that constitute the normal course of business for the funded entity
• Activities that are already being supported by the NSW Government through other grant programs
• Any activities deemed by DCITHS to be inconsistent with the five core principles to achieve accreditation for the Purple Flag program.