Apply Now: Australia Day Community Events Grant Program

Deadline: 22-Sep-2026

The Australia Day Community Events Grant Program 2027 provides funding to eligible Australian organisations and government entities to deliver inclusive public events on 26 January 2027. Grants of $2,000, $10,000 or $15,000 are available to support community celebrations that encourage participation, accessibility, cultural diversity, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement, youth involvement and stronger community connections.

About the Australia Day Community Events Grant Program

The program supports community-led Australia Day events that bring people together and provide welcoming and inclusive opportunities for participation. Funded events should reflect the Australia Day messaging of “Reflect. Respect. Celebrate.” The program encourages events that involve diverse communities and provide accessible opportunities for people of different ages, cultures and abilities. Program Priorities The Australia Day Community Events Grant Program prioritises activities that promote: Events should provide a clear public benefit and be welcoming, accessible and inclusive. Available Grant Streams Three funding streams are available. Base Grant – $10,000 The Base Grant provides $10,000 for eligible Australia Day community events. Applicants should demonstrate strong community benefits, appropriate delivery capacity and alignment with the program objectives. Base + Additional Grant – $15,000 The Base + Additional Grant provides $15,000, including an additional $5,000 for events containing significant Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander elements. Applicants seeking this stream must demonstrate that the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander components have been developed in collaboration with relevant local communities and representatives. Alternate Grant – $2,000 The Alternate Grant provides $2,000 to eligible applicants. Unlike the Base and Base + Additional streams, Alternate Grant applications are not merit-based. Eligible applications are allocated in timestamp order, subject to available funding. What Can Grant Funding Be Used For? Funding may support reasonable costs directly associated with delivering the Australia Day event. The expenditure should have a direct connection to the funded event. What Cannot Be Funded?

Grant funds cannot be used for:

Core organisational operating expenses. Infrastructure. Durable equipment intended for ongoing organisational use. Unrelated organisational costs. Other expenditure that does not directly support the approved Australia Day event. Applicants should ensure that their proposed budget clearly distinguishes event-specific costs from normal organisational expenses. Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

Australian local government entities. Australian state or territory government entities. Australian not-for-profit organisations. Applicants must also meet the program’s other eligibility requirements. Insurance Requirement Applicants must hold public liability insurance of at least $10 million. An appropriate insurance certificate must be included with the application. Government Applicants Government applicants must maintain at least the same level of financial investment in the event as they provided for a previously held NADC-supported event, where applicable. Additional Grant Eligibility Applicants requesting the $15,000 Base + Additional Grant must demonstrate significant Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander elements within their event.

These elements should:

Be meaningful rather than tokenistic. Be developed in collaboration with local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities. Involve appropriate local representatives. Be clearly described in the application. Contribute substantially to the event’s cultural and community outcomes. How to Apply Applicants should prepare their event proposal and supporting documentation before submitting the application.

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Check that the applicant organisation falls within an eligible category and meets requirements such as the public liability insurance threshold.

Step 2: Develop the Event

Define the Australia Day activity, including: Event format. Date and location. Target participants. Community benefits. Accessibility arrangements. Inclusion measures. Youth participation. Cultural participation. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander involvement where applicable.

Step 3: Select a Funding Stream

Choose the appropriate funding stream:

$10,000 Base Grant $15,000 Base + Additional Grant $2,000 Alternate Grant Applicants should select the stream that best matches the scale and characteristics of their event.

Step 4: Prepare the Budget

Prepare a realistic event budget showing how grant funding will be spent. Costs should relate directly to eligible event activities.

Step 5: Prepare Supporting Documents

Applications require information and documentation including: Applicant details. Event details. Accessibility and inclusion information. Selected funding stream. Insurance certificate. Current banking details. Evidence that the bank account belongs to the applicant organisation. Applicants requesting the Additional Grant must also provide evidence of significant Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander elements developed with local communities and representatives.

Step 6: Submit the Application

Submit the completed application and required supporting information through the relevant application process. Alternate Grant applications should be submitted promptly because eligible applications are allocated according to timestamp order, subject to available funds. Assessment Process Base Grant and Base + Additional Grant applications are assessed on merit. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation. Local community celebrations. Public understanding of Australia Day. For community organisations, the funding can help cover practical event costs while allowing them to create more accessible and engaging public celebrations. Common Mista