Key information
- Applications are now closed.
About the grant
Grants are available for community- based organisations to deliver targeted outreach and tailored energy literacy education to their communities. Eligible organisations can apply for funding to deliver face-to-face community engagement (e.g. workshops), development of resources, partnerships with local councils, community groups or small business networks and more.
Funded projects will empower vulnerable cohorts to make informed energy choices to make their homes comfortable and affordable.
Energy literacy refers to
a person’s understanding of the role and flow of energy in their daily life and the broader world, and their ability to apply this knowledge to make informed decisions and solve problems.
What you can apply for
- Category 1: Small project.
- For smaller, localised projects that include lower cost activities.
- Grants from $50,000 to $150,000.
- Category 2: Medium to large projects.
- For projects with a broad reach and high impact.
- Grants from $150,000 to $500,000.
Eligibility
To apply, you must be an organisation that is supporting, strengthening, or representing the interests and well-being of a community.
Two or more organisations can partner to deliver the grant. Only one organisation should apply on the behalf of all partners.
Eligible applicant organisations must have a registered ABN and be based in Australia.
Who can apply
To apply, you must be one of the following:
- community groups and organisations
- local councils or council groups
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations
- culturally and linguistically diverse community groups
- small business associations
- regional alliances or networks
- not for profit organisations
- peak bodies or sector leaders
- organisations with trusted networks and capacity to engage vulnerable households.
The applicant’s organisation must target outreach to one or more of the following groups:
- low-income households and social support recipients
- seniors and people with health/disability needs
- renters (especially low-income and private tenants)
- families with children
- culturally and linguistically diverse communities
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- regional and remote communities
- people in homes with poor energy efficiency or limited agency
- people just above eligibility thresholds (“hidden vulnerability”)
- people with employment insecurity.
Examples of energy outreach
- Delivering face-to-face community engagement (for example, ‘bring your bill’ days, energy advice stalls).
- Providing energy literacy education through workshops, events, or home visits.
- Developing and distributing multilingual or culturally tailored energy literacy resources.
- Engaging vulnerable households with targeted support.
- Larger projects may develop regional or sector wide energy education outreach strategies and programs.
Get support to develop your application
Applications are now closed.
We want to ensure organisations are well supported to prepare strong applications. For this grant, free application support is available to applicants.
An independent external consultant will provide tailored support, depending on the grant Category you are applying for.
Free grant writing workshop
Available to: All applicants
This free workshop will guide you through best-practice techniques, show you how to respond to selection criteria, and help you define clear, measurable outcomes that align with the grant’s goals.
Participants will also receive access to an application writing guide to support their submission.
Free one-on-one application support
Registrations for one-to-one support have now closed.
Available to: Category 1 applicants only
An independent external consultant will be available for support with your application. While they cannot write your application, their support will help you articulate your project vision, define objectives and plans, and review your application.
How to apply
Applications are now closed.
Frequently asked questions
No. The minimum grant value is $50,000.
Please note that this funding can be used to procure expertise to support project activities and deliverables.
The application must be submitted by one organisation however the project can be delivered by a collective of partners.
You must provide clear project planning for a collective delivery and use of funds.
In addition to the application form, applicants are encouraged to attach documents that will support and confirm elements of the application. For example, CVs for the key personnel or a reference supporting your application.
No. The purpose of the grant is to provide targeted energy literacy programs to vulnerable communities. The funded work must meet the criteria as outlined in the guidelines.
All projects need to be completed by June 2027.
Where a project completion is earlier than this date, there is a possibility to extend delivery times, however this will be decided on a case-by-case basis with the Department.
Where project completion is June 2027, delivery time cannot be extended.
No. The grant funding can only be used to provide support to NSW communities.
This grant is funded under the NSW Consumer Energy Strategy to support NSW consumers to get a better quality of life while also helping the environment.
There is energy saving information and resources available at How to save energy and reduce your electricity bill.
You can also allocate some of the grant funding to procure energy experts to support your deliverables, that could include:
- delivering of face-to-face community engagement
- designing energy literacy education
- developing tailored resources.
No, funding cannot be used to purchase household energy saving items.
Where the provision of energy saving equipment is part of the project design, organisations can include the cost in the in-kind contribution.
Building capacity is about developing and strengthening the skills, abilities, processes and resources that organisations can continue to use beyond the life of the project.
Funding can be used to:
- cover the cost of staff delivering the project.
- hire consultants to assist in upskilling staff and developing tailored energy resources for the intended beneficiaries.
Funding cannot be used to fund staff for BAU activities.
This includes for-profit businesses.
Organisations including non-profits, charities, government agencies, clubs, and other entities with diverse purposes are also eligible.
Contact us
If you have any questions about this funding opportunity, or to discuss your project or application, please email us at [email protected].
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