Community Development Programs

The Australian Government has announced a total of $600 million in funding over ten years for Rugby League in the Pacific (the program). A total of $480 million over ten years will be available through this grant program. The program will run over ten years from 2024-25 to 31 December 2034. It will support the entry of a men’s Papua New Guinea (PNG) team into the National Rugby League (NRL) competition no later than 2028. It will also support women’s PNG team to compete in either the Queensland Women’s Premiership or the New South Wales Women’s Premiership and, subject to an assessment of its readiness, in the NRLW Premiership. There are three grant opportunities: NRL licence; PNG NRL Franchise; and Pacific Rugby League Strategy.

The Australia Cook Islands Partnership Program (the Partnership Program) will provide funding of  AUD $7.6 million over four years from 2024-25 to 2027-28, to the Cook Islands Government (CIG). The Partnership Program will broaden, and strategically enhance, current bilateral efforts into a genuine partnership, reflecting the mutual priorities as identified in the five pillars of the Cook Islands – Australia of the ‘Oa Tumanava Partnership: 1. Strengthening our people-to-people links 2. Enhancing our security cooperation to address shared regional challenges 3. Achieving greater prosperity for our people and our region 4. Cooperating on regional and international issues, and  5. Fostering closer institutional linkages, including in support of resilient and inclusive societies. The Partnership Program will consist of four grant opportunities throughout the life of the program (FY2024/25 to FY2027/28), with an annual assessment and funding disbursement occurring once per financial year throughout this four-year period. One grant will be disbursed per financial year with a validity of twelve months. Australia’s continued support for the Cook Islands beyond its ODA graduation (01 January 2020) is an important demonstration of our tangible commitment to the bilateral relationship and reinforces our engagement with all members of the Pacific Islands Forum. To be eligible, the grant activity must align with and support the ‘Oa Tumanava Partnership and established priorities of the Cook Islands Government.

Under the IAS, the Agency considers grant proposals that address a need for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Proposals should be developed with the target community or group who will be impacted by the activity. Where an unmet need is identified, the Agency may directly approach organisations to negotiate delivery of an activity or service

Under the IAS, the Agency considers grant proposals that address a need for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Proposals should be developed with the target community or group who will be impacted by the activity. This funding approach can be used to present a proposal to the Agency where a need has been identified in the community and there are no other current funding avenues available. You must discuss your proposal with the Agency. The Agency may then invite you to submit an application. You may discuss an initial proposal with the Agency at any time by contacting your local NIAA Regional Office, or by calling 1800 079 098

The Australian Government is inviting applications through an open process to apply to deliver services under 1.12 Rural Programs, Rural Financial Counselling Services from 2027 to 2032. This initiative provides free and independent financial counselling to eligible farmers, fishers, foresters and small-related enterprises who are experiencing, or at risk, of financial hardship. This program is ongoing and is subject to regular and open approaches to market. Funding rounds and approaches have been continually reviewed and adjusted over the years to improve the performance of the program and drive efficiencies to support structural adjustment in the agricultural sector in times of financial hardship. The objective of the program is to support structural adjustment through transitioning clients out of immediate financial crisis or concerns, assessing business viability to make informed decisions about the future of the business and improving financial wellbeing and resilience through building clients’ financial knowledge and skills, and by referring clients to other professional services. The ultimate outcome is financially capable agricultural, fishing and forestry businesses that are profitable, financially self-reliant and resilient. Grantees drive these changes through case management and effective and efficient client engagement. A key performance indicator for the program is that a minimum of 80% of clients receiving services are case-managed and on exiting the service have come to a better understanding of their financial position and have met their goals to make an informed decision outlined in the program outcomes and objectives listed in the program logic.

The Journalism Assistance Fund Program, running over 3 years from 2025-26, was announced as part of the News Media Assistance Program (News MAP). News MAP aims to support public interest journalism and media diversity in Australia - recognising these are critical to a healthy democracy, social cohesion and informed citizens. Organisations producing core news content will be eligible for funding. The funding will provide a proportion of the wages for journalists producing core news content that is distributed digitally.  The program aims to: support the sustainability of Australian news publishers in the face of significant disruption to the media sector support the creation of digitally distributed news content, encourage continued employment of journalists who primarily produce news that is in the Australian public interest build and maintain social cohesion in Australia