Federal budget wrap 2020

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the government aimed to rebuild the economy following the COVID-19 pandemic by creating jobs, incentivising business investment, and cutting taxes.

But not-for-profit sector leader Dr Cassandra Goldie criticised that approach, saying the budget "missed key opportunities for job creation initiatives that would have delivered public good, particularly in female-dominated sectors."

"Each job that may be created by the tax cuts will cost $475,000, whereas improving community services would create jobs at less than a quarter of the cost," said Dr Goldie, who heads the Australian Council of Social Service.

Money is already flowing from some of the programs listed below, and in those cases you'll find more details at the Funding Centre – just follow the links. Funding Centre subscribers will be automatically alerted to grants that meet their criteria with their daily or weekly email alert. Other readers can get those alerts by signing up as a Funding Centre subscriber from just $125.

Looking for grants to help support your organisation through the pandemic? Visit the Funding Centre's COVID-19 financial assistance page for information about all of the grants available relating to COVID-19. It's free to all users.

Stay tuned for updates by tweaking your Funding Centre alert settings – set them to daily or weekly email alerts so you never miss a funding opportunity.

Read through to find out where the money is for your group.

Grants and funding

• $1 billion over two years from 2020 to extend the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program which supports local councils to maintain and deliver social infrastructure and improve road safety.
• $269.9 million over four years for a Murray-Darling Communities Investment package which includes:
  • $24.5 million over two years from 2020 to fund community-driven grants for on-ground projects.
  • $4.2 million over two years from 2020 to engage Indigenous river rangers to increase First Nations people's access to water.
• $207.7 million for round five of the Building Better Regions Fund to support investment in community infrastructure and capacity building projects in regional areas, including $100 million for tourism-related infrastructure projects.
• $100 million in 2020-21 through the Future Drought Fund for a range of programs and activities that will support the long-term drought resilience and preparedness of primary producers, rural and regional communities and local governments.
• $92.4 million in 2020-21 to expand the Support for Aged Care Workers in COVID-19 grant program for aged care providers in designated COVID-19 'hotspots'.
• $75 million in 2020-21 to establish a Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund to provide competitive grants to support new events or productions as social distancing restrictions ease. Note: this program was established before the budget release in October.
• $70 million over two years from 2019 to provide access to short-term home support services through the Commonwealth Home Support Program to senior Australians who are frail or have self-isolated because they are at high risk of contracting COVID-19.
• $50 million in 2020-21 to establish a Temporary Interruption Fund to support the local film and television sector so it can secure funding to commence productions. Note: this program was established before the budget release in October.
• $47.9 million in new funding over four years from 2020 to increase grants for the Women's Leadership and Development Program.
• $39.6 million over two years from 2020 to the Australian Sports Commission for an additional calendar year of funding for the Sporting Schools program, to increase children's participation rates in sporting activities across 6,000 schools.
• $35.9 million over five years from 2020 to increase the number of co-funded grants to women-founded start-ups under the Boosting Female Founders Initiative and to provide access to expert mentoring and advice for women entrepreneurs.
• $35.6 million over two years from 2020 to provide additional funding for the Business Improvement Fund to continue assisting eligible aged care providers to improve their financial operations.
• $35 million over four years from 2020 to extend the Safer Communities Fund (SCF), which provides grant funding to local government and community organisations to address crime and anti-social behaviour and to protect schools and community organisations that are facing risks from racial or religious intolerance.
• $35 million in 2020-21 for the Arts Sustainability Fund to support Commonwealth-funded arts and culture organisations facing threats to their viability. Note: this program was established before the budget release in October.
• $30.3 million over two years from 2020 to extend round one of the Regional Connectivity Program to support the delivery of reliable, affordable and innovative digital services and technologies in regional Australia.
• $25.1 million over five years from 2020 to establish a Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Industry Cadetship program to support 500 women working in STEM industries to complete an advanced diploma.
• $7.2 million in 2020-21 to extend the Good Sports Program, which provides tools and support for community sporting clubs to promote good mental health and reduce harmful alcohol consumption and drug use.
• $4.7 million in 2020-21 to the Australian Sports Foundation to increase the fundraising capacity of community sport clubs and enhance the organisation's information technology network and cyber security functions.

Spending by category

Community groups and charities

• $4 billion over four years including $850 million in 2020-21 for a new JobMaker Hiring Credit Scheme for businesses, charities and not-for-profit organisations that hire people who have been on JobSeeker, Youth Allowance or the Parenting Payment.
• $35 million over four years from 2020 to extend the Safer Communities Fund (SCF)(mentioned in the Grants section above).
• $2.9 million over three years from 2020 to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) to implement reviews to intervene early where charities are at high risk of failing to meet their obligations.

Social services and welfare

• $2.6 billion over three years from 2020 to provide two separate $250 support payments to people on the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, Family Tax Benefit, Double Orphan Pension or Carer Allowance. Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) holders, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders and Veterans' Affairs payment recipients and concession card holders are also eligible.

Arts and entertainment

• $90 million in concessional loans through the Show Starter Loan Scheme to assist creative economy businesses to fund new productions and events.
• $75 million in 2020-21 to establish a Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund (mentioned in the Grants section above).
• $50 million in 2020-21 to establish a Temporary Interruption Fund (mentioned in the Grants section above).
• $35 million in 2020-21 for the Arts Sustainability Fund (mentioned in the Grants section above).

Aged care

• $1.6 billion over four years from 2020 for the release of an additional 23,000 home care packages.
• $92.4 million in 2020-21 to expand the Support for Aged Care Workers in COVID-19 grant program (mentioned in the Grants section above).
• $70 million over two years from 2019 to provide access to short-term home support services through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (mentioned in the Grants section above).
• $35.6 million over two years from 2020 to provide additional funding for the Business Improvement Fund (mentioned in the Grants section above).

National Disability Insurance Scheme

• $3.9 billion in guaranteed funding for the NDIS, including $799 million over four years to the NDIA and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

Indigenous Australians

• $39.8 million over four years from 2020 for the Clontarf Foundation to expand and extend its existing program which supports the education and employment prospects of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men.
• $33 million through the Indigenous Australians' Health Programme to expand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care services.

Sport and recreation

• $39.6 million over two years from 2020 to the Australian Sports Commission for an additional calendar year of funding for the Sporting Schools program (mentioned in the Grants section above).
• $7.2 million in 2020-21 to extend the Good Sports Program (mentioned in the Grants section above).
• $4.7 million in 2020-21 to the Australian Sports Foundation (mentioned in the Grants section above).

Health

• $100.8 million over two years from 2020 to provide up to 10 additional psychological therapy sessions each calendar year nationally under the Better Access initiative.
• $47.3 million over two years from 2020 in additional mental health and crisis support services for people experiencing mental illness and distress as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria.
• $6.9 million over two years from 2020 to support digital mental health services including the Australian Government’s mental health gateway Head to Health.

Education

• $1 billion in 2020-21 through the Research Support Program to support university research.
• $238.9 million over four years from 2020 to guarantee Commonwealth Grant Scheme (CGS) payments for higher education providers from 2021 to 2023 as they transition to new funding arrangements as part of the Job-ready Graduates reforms.

Women

• $47.9 million in new funding over four years from 2020 to increase grants for the Women's Leadership and Development Program (mentioned in the Grants section above).
• $35.9 million over five years from 2020 to increase the number of co-funded grants to women-founded start-ups under the Boosting Female Founders Initiative (mentioned in the Grants section above).
• $25.1 million over five years from 2020 to establish a Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Industry Cadetship program (mentioned in the Grants section above).

Regional Australia

• $2 billion of additional loan funding in 2020-21 for drought related loans.
• $269.9 million over four years for a Murray-Darling Communities Investment package (mentioned in the Grants section above) which includes:
  • $24.5 million over two years from 2020 to fund community-driven grants for on-ground projects
  • $4.2 million over two years from 2020 to engage Indigenous river rangers to increase First Nations peoples' access to water
• $207.7 million for round five of the Building Better Regions Fund (mentioned in the Grants section above).
• $100 million in 2020-21 through the Future Drought Fund (mentioned in the Grants section above).
• $30.3 million over two years from 2020 to extend round one of the Regional Connectivity Program (mentioned in the Grants section above).
• $10 million in additional funding in 2019-20 for Special Circumstances funding for eligible drought-affected schools experiencing financial difficulties.

Environment and renewable energy

• $225.6 million over three years from 2021 to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) to maintain assets and safely respond to weather emergency events.
• $10 million over four years from 2020 to support industry-led collaborative research projects through the Cooperative Research Centres Projects program to develop innovative solutions for recycling and reuse of plastics, paper, tyres and other problematic materials and hard-to-recycle waste.

Infrastructure

• $1 billion over two years from 2020 to extend the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (mentioned in the Grants section above).