Grants and loans | Service NSW

Government assistance

Bushfire legal aid scheme

Small business owners and farmers who are managing legal issues related to the 2019–20 bushfire events may be eligible for funding to assist with costs under the Australian Government’s Bushfire legal aid scheme.

Applications can be made through your private lawyer. For more information, visit Legal Aid NSW.

For free legal assistance for bushfire-related legal issues, visit Justice Connect.

Export assistance grant

An export assistance grant of up to $10,000 is available to eligible NSW businesses impacted by COVID-19, bushfires or drought, to help you access new global markets or re-enter old ones.

Eligible exporting businesses can apply for 50% reimbursement of certain export-enabling expenses, such as marketing and e-commerce, for expenses already paid since 1 January 2020.

For eligibility criteria and to apply, visit Apply for an export assistance grant.

Regional job creation fund

Businesses who want to expand or relocate their operations to regional NSW may be eligible for funding under the NSW Government’s Regional Job Creation Fund.

The fund provides co-funding for projects that create 5 or more sustainable jobs within regional NSW, including those that:

replace, upgrade or adapt existing plant or equipment, including technology or energy efficiency upgrades
enable existing regional NSW businesses to establish an additional production line
relocate a business from interstate or internationally to regional NSW, or onshore an activity currently being undertaken overseas to regional NSW
develop new tourism experiences and attractions to create new demand in a region.

Applications close Friday 14 May 2021 or when program funding is fully allocated. Businesses must belong to an eligible industry depending on their region.

For eligibility criteria and to apply, visit Regional NSW.

Bushfire local economic recovery fund

The Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund supports projects that retain and create new jobs in regional areas, build resilience and increase preparedness for bushfires. Applications are open to councils, joint organisations of councils, not-for-profits, research or academic organisations, state government corporations and local Aboriginal land councils across 47 local government areas (LGAs). For-profit organisations may be eligible where projects deliver a clear public benefit.

For more information, including grant amounts and eligibility criteria, visit Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund.

Bushfire industry recovery package

Eligible businesses in regional NSW forestry, dairy, apiculture, horticulture, viticulture and aquaculture industries can now apply for funding under the Bushfire Industry Recovery Package. This package aims to support the immediate, medium and long-term rebuilding of the regional NSW agricultural sector.

Supply chain support grants are available to support short-term recovery and resilience, job security and future production. Applications for forestry, dairy, apiculture, horticulture, viticulture and aquaculture are now closed. Grants are still available for the haulage industry. For eligibility criteria and to apply, visit Bushfire industry recovery package.

Childcare grant

Grants are available for child-care services located in bushfire-affected areas. The amount of funding provided will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

For more information, visit the Department of Education.

Peer support activities grant

Primary Health Networks (PNH) in bushfire-affected regions are providing grants of up to $10,000 to strengthen social connectedness and peer support activities. Please contact your local PHN to discuss a bushfire recovery event.

Small business support grant

Applications have closed for the NSW small business bushfire support grant of $10,000 and are now being processed.

If you have questions about this grant, please call us on 13 77 88.

Small business and not-for-profit organisations grant

Applications have closed for the NSW bushfire recovery grant for directly-impacted small businesses of up to $50,000 and are now being processed.

If you have questions about this grant, please call us on 13 77 88.

Community assistance

Community events grant

One-off grants of $10,000 (excl. GST) are available through Destination NSW’s 2020 Micro Event Fund. The grants are for community-based events in regional NSW areas impacted by bushfire activity or drought conditions.

To be eligible, events must have a total expenditure budget of approximately $75,000 (excl. GST) or less, and be held between 1 May and 31 December 2020.

To check full eligibility criteria and to apply, visit Destination NSW.

Grant for Indigenous Business Australia customers

Business finance and home loan customers of Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) who have been directly impacted by NSW bushfires can access:

the temporary suspension of loan repayments
a $2000 bushfire crisis grant to cover immediate needs
assistance to make insurance claims.

If required, further assistance will be assessed on an individual basis.

Call IBA on 1800 064 800.