Funding opportunities can be easy to miss, especially when they’re spread across different government agencies, industries and programs. Here are 22 grants, rebates and support opportunities Australian businesses should have on their radar.
Supports early-stage clean-energy startups to improve the technical and commercial readiness of renewable-energy technologies and close early-stage funding gaps.
Funding: $500,000, with up to a further $500,000 for projects with high capital expenditure requirements.
General Eligibility:
Projects progressing towards commercialisation and future investment
Closes: 28 October 2026, 4:00 pm AEDT
More Info: Launchpad Program Startup Funding Round
Provides matched funding for startups and SMEs to access CSIRO expertise for feasibility studies, prototype development, product testing, data analysis and early-stage R&D.
Funding: $20,000–$60,000 matched funding.
General Eligibility:
Closes: Ongoing.
More Info: CSIRO Kick-Start
Helps Canberra innovators turn a design-ready idea into a physical prototype using facilities and technical expertise across ANU, CIT, UC and UNSW Canberra.
Funding: Up to $10,000 in facility access, equipment time and expert guidance. This is a voucher rather than a cash grant.
General Eligibility:
Closes: Applications are assessed monthly while vouchers remain available.
More Info: ACT Prototyping Vouchers
Provides eligible companies conducting qualifying R&D activities with a tax offset to support investment in innovation.
Funding: Tax offset; the value depends on the company’s circumstances and R&D expenditure.
General Eligibility:
Closes: Applications are generally due within 10 months after the end of the relevant income year.
More Info: R&D Tax Incentive
Supports agrifood startups and SMEs exploring commercialisation, partnerships and expansion between Australia and Thailand.
Funding: Structured 12-week program support plus travel allowance.
General Eligibility:
Closes: 30 November 2026
More Info: Thailand–Australia Venture Exchange Program
Provides Canberra businesses with free one-on-one advice across business growth, finances, legal referrals, business change and other management issues.
Funding/Support: Up to 4 hours of free tailored business advice.
General Eligibility:
Closes: Ongoing.
More Info: Canberra Business Advice and Support Service
Provides financial incentives to businesses employing eligible individuals in ongoing and sustainable jobs.
Funding: Up to $10,000.
General Eligibility:
Closes: Ongoing.
More Info: Wage Subsidies
Helps employers fund workplace changes, assistive technology and support required by eligible employees with disability.
Funding: Varies. Workplace modifications and equipment can be funded up to $70,847.47, with separate caps for other services.
General Eligibility:
Closes: Ongoing.
More Info: Employment Assistance Fund
Provides eligible exporters with a refund of customs duty paid on imported goods subsequently exported, either unused or incorporated into exported products.
Funding: Refund of eligible customs duty.
General Eligibility:
Closes: Ongoing. Claims generally need to be lodged within four years of export.
More Info: Duty Drawback Scheme
Helps export-ready Australian technology businesses develop international market-entry strategies and connect with customers, partners, investors and overseas opportunities.
Funding/Support: Tailored market-entry support rather than a cash grant.
General Eligibility:
Closes: Programs run throughout FY2026–27, with individual application windows.
More Info: Austrade Landing Pads
Not a cash grant, but useful for businesses regularly importing or exporting physical goods. Accreditation can simplify customs processes and reduce border-related administration.
Support: Free accreditation, priority trade services and streamlined border processes.
General Eligibility:
Closes: Ongoing.
More Info: Australian Trusted Trader
Co-invests with Australian SME manufacturers to replace fossil-fuel industrial processes, introduce lower-emissions technology and modernise operations.
Funding: Up to $1 million; co-investment requirements apply.
General Eligibility:
Closes: 31 December 2027 or earlier if funding is fully allocated.
More Info: SME Industrial Decarbonisation Fund
Supports smaller collaborative additive-manufacturing R&D projects, allowing businesses to test ideas and solve technical challenges with research partners.
Funding: $20,000–$75,000 matched funding.
General Eligibility:
Closes: Open; availability is subject to current program funding.
More Info: STARTER Project Funding – AMCRC
Supports Australian defence SMEs to strengthen sovereign capability, exports and security.
Funding:
General Eligibility:
Current deadlines:
The current Skilling assessment batch closed on 30 September, so I would not promote that stream in the 7 October article.
More Info: Defence Industry Development Grants Program
Supports Australian companies developing capabilities to undertake maintenance and repair work in the Joint Strike Fighter supply chain.
Funding: $50,000–$250,000 for eligible Phase 1 and 2 projects, generally up to 50% of eligible expenditure.
General Eligibility:
Closes: 30 June 2028
More Info: JSF Sustainment Grants
Helps ACT businesses reduce energy, water, waste and transport costs through free assessments, technical advice and rebates.
Funding: Up to $13,000 in rebates:
General Eligibility:
Closes: Ongoing.
More Info: ACT Sustainable Business Program
Reduces development costs for eligible ACT projects adding dwellings in RZ1 and RZ2 areas.
Funding: 50% reduction in codified Lease Variation Charge.
General Eligibility:
Closes: 31 December 2030
More Info: Missing Middle LVC Reduction
Supports developers and community housing providers delivering social and affordable rental housing in the ACT.
Funding:
General Eligibility:
Closes: 31 December 2028
More Info: LVC Reduction for Social and Affordable Rental Developments
Supports major events capable of attracting significant visitation and generating economic activity for Canberra.
Funding: $50,000–$500,000.
General Eligibility:
Closes: Open; ACT Government recommends applying approximately six months before the event.
More Info: ACT Major Event Fund
Supports competitive international bids to bring major business events to Australia.
Funding: Applications must request at least $50,000, with Tourism Australia’s investment matched by an equal direct financial contribution.
General Eligibility:
Closes: 30 June 2027
More Info: Business Events Bid Fund Program
Supports international travel by Australian artists, creative workers and organisations participating in significant overseas market-development opportunities.
Funding: $5,000, $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000.
General Eligibility:
Closes: 10 November 2026, 3:00 pm AEDT
Supports small capital projects that deliver social benefits to local communities.
Funding: Up to $20,000.
General Eligibility:
Key Dates:
More Info: Stronger Communities Programme Round 10
A Canberra-focused early-stage venture capital fund supporting scalable ACT businesses and startups.
Funding: Equity investment rather than grant funding.
The fund launched with $23 million committed capital, with capacity to grow to $50 million.
Best suited to: Canberra-based innovative and high-growth companies seeking capital to commercialise or scale.
More Info: ACTivate Capital Fund information
Provides finance and business support to eligible Indigenous-owned businesses.
For startups, IBA’s Start-Up Finance Package can include up to 30% of a new business loan as a grant, with loans up to $150,000 for eligible early-stage businesses. Other finance products support working capital, equipment, contracts and business expansion.
General Eligibility: Indigenous-owned businesses; product-specific eligibility and credit requirements apply.
Closes: Ongoing.
Businesses today have more choice in how their accounting work is delivered. Technology makes it possible to work with people and providers almost anywhere in the world, often at a lower cost.
That can create genuine efficiencies. But accounting is not simply about who can process the work most cheaply.
Inflation may be easing, but high operating and financing costs continue to put pressure on business margins. While external conditions are hard to control, businesses can still review how costs, resources, processes and cash flow are managed.
This article explores practical areas to consider for improving flexibility and making better-informed decisions.
Automation is often presented as the answer to inefficient business processes.
But technology does not automatically create a better process. If the underlying workflow is unclear, fragmented or unnecessarily manual, adding more technology can simply make the same problems move faster.
