Explore Business Grants Available This August
Navigating the world of government grants can feel overwhelming. It can be difficult to know where to begin with countless opportunities, complex eligibility requirements, and time-consuming applications. That’s why we do the legwork for you each month.
Through our partnership with Avant Group, we’re bringing you a tailored selection of competitive grants your business may be eligible for this August. Current opportunities span manufacturing, innovation, tourism, renewable energy, and the R&D Tax Incentive, across both federal and Victorian Government programs.
Here’s what’s available this month.
Federal grants
Research and Development Tax Incentive (R&DTI)
Innovation involves technical uncertainty and financial risk. This Australian Government incentive helps companies recover some of the costs associated with eligible research and development activities that create new knowledge, products, processes or services.
Companies with aggregated turnover below $20 million may receive a refundable tax offset equal to their corporate tax rate plus an 18.5% premium. Companies with turnover of $20 million or more may receive a non-refundable offset, with premiums based on their level of R&D expenditure.
Eligible activities must generally involve an outcome that cannot be determined in advance, follow a systematic experimental process and aim to generate new knowledge. Directly related supporting activities may also qualify. Businesses must maintain appropriate technical and financial records, register their activities within 10 months after the relevant income year ends and claim the offset through their company tax return.
This is particularly relevant for innovative businesses investing in product development, engineering, software, manufacturing, scientific research or process improvement where projects involve genuine technical uncertainty and experimentation.
Who it's for: Eligible Australian companies of any size or industry conducting qualifying R&D activities and incurring eligible expenditure. Individuals, sole traders, partnerships and most trusts generally cannot claim.
Venture Capital Limited Partnerships (VCLP)
Australia’s venture capital sector plays an important role in helping innovative businesses grow, but attracting sufficient investment can be challenging. This program provides tax incentives that help fund managers raise pooled capital from eligible Australian and foreign investors.
Eligible partnerships can register as a VCLP to access flow-through tax treatment. Eligible foreign investors may receive an income tax exemption on their share of qualifying profits, while fund managers may treat carried interest on the capital account rather than the revenue account.
The partnership must be newly established, have at least $10 million in committed capital and operate for between five and 15 years. It must also have an eligible general partner and a qualifying partnership agreement. Registered VCLPs can invest in eligible Australian companies or unit trusts with total assets of no more than $250 million. Investments generally need to be held for at least 12 months.
This is particularly relevant for venture capital fund managers seeking to attract investment, access tax concessions and provide growth capital to innovative Australian businesses. Applications for registration remain open on an ongoing basis.
Who it's for: New venture capital funds structured as limited or incorporated limited partnerships and established in Australia or a country with an Australian double tax agreement.
Victorian grants
Victoria – Regional Events Fund (Round 6)
Regional events play an important role in attracting visitors, supporting local businesses and strengthening regional economies. This program helps event organisers develop and deliver events that generate measurable tourism, economic and community benefits across regional Victoria.
Funding is available through three streams. Regional Event Acquisition offers negotiated funding with no specified maximum, Event Growth and Development provides up to $500,000, and Event Industry Support offers grants of up to $50,000.
The program supports eligible costs such as event acquisition and delivery, marketing and promotion, feasibility planning, innovation, capability building and operational resources. Events must attract visitors from outside the host region, encourage longer stays and align with Victorian tourism priorities. Applications are competitive, with Stream 1 requiring an Expression of Interest and consultation with Visit Victoria.
This is particularly relevant for organisers looking to attract a significant new event, expand an established regional event or strengthen a smaller event’s marketing, operational capability and potential for future growth.
Who it's for: Victorian local councils, Regional Tourism Boards, Visitor Economy Partnerships, incorporated not-for-profits, private organisations demonstrating public benefit, and eligible consortia delivering events in regional Victoria. Applicants must hold an ABN and at least $20 million in public liability insurance.
VIC - Victorian Screen Incentive (VSI)
Victoria continues to attract major film, television, animation, visual effects and digital games projects—but producing high-quality screen content locally comes with significant costs.
The Victorian Screen Incentive is a competitive state government grant designed to encourage eligible screen projects to undertake production or post-production work in Victoria. Funding is calculated as a percentage of Qualifying Victorian Expenditure and is capped at no more than 10% of eligible Victorian spending. The program operates on a rolling basis and can be combined with relevant federal screen offsets.
This program is best suited to commercially ready projects that are already fully financed and have demonstrated interest in release or distribution. Minimum Victorian expenditure thresholds apply: generally $8 million for physical productions and $500,000 for digital games, animation, post-production or visual effects projects. Funding is typically paid after the project is completed.
Who it's for: Production companies, post-production studios, animation and visual effects businesses, and digital game developers with the relevant project rights and plans to undertake substantial eligible work in Victoria.
VIC BushBank Program – Private Land Stream
Victoria’s native habitats play an important role in supporting wildlife and capturing carbon, but restoring degraded private land can require significant funding and long-term planning. This program helps landowners establish and permanently protect native vegetation on suitable properties.
The Victorian Government has allocated $30.9 million to the private land stream, with project funding and incentive payments determined by site size, restoration costs, biodiversity value and carbon benefits. Significant co-funding may also be required from landowners or external partners.
Eligible activities include site preparation, native tree and shrub planting, assisted regeneration, weed and pest management, and ongoing maintenance. Projects require a Native Vegetation Restoration Plan and permanent protection through a Trust for Nature conservation covenant. Expressions of Interest are assessed competitively, with the next selection round closing 31 July 2026.
This is particularly relevant for Victorian landowners with degraded or marginal land who want to create wildlife habitat, improve biodiversity and participate in long-term carbon storage initiatives.
Who it's for: Private individuals or entities owning eligible Victorian freehold land with at least 20 hectares available for woody vegetation restoration..
Victorian Production Fund (VPF) - Games
Developing an original video game requires more than a strong concept. Studios also need the funding, specialist skills and commercial strategy to move a project from prototype to market.
The Victorian Production Fund — Games supports Victorian game developers across pre-production, production and post-production. Funding can be used for development staff, technical and creative consultants, legal and accounting advice, marketing, localisation, porting and other activities needed to prepare a game for release or expand an existing title.
Grants are capped at $300,000 per development stage or $500,000 across the entire project. Applicants must contribute at least 50% of the relevant stage budget through cash, external funding, eligible in-kind work or a combination of these sources.
It is worth noting that this is a competitive program. Applicants will need to demonstrate the game’s creative and commercial potential, a realistic pathway to market and how the project will contribute to Victoria’s games and screen sector.
Who it's for: Victorian game developers, creators and studios developing original games for PC, console, mobile, virtual reality, augmented reality or extended reality, from early-stage development through to post-release expansion.
Victorian Land Systems Fund – Supply Chain Uplift Program (SCUP)
Victoria’s defence industry is expanding, but businesses may need stronger capabilities to compete for work within Hanwha Defence Australia’s domestic and international supply chains. This program helps Victorian businesses become defence-ready and pursue opportunities linked to major Australian land systems projects.
Eligible businesses can apply for grants of between $2,000 and $100,000, excluding GST, covering up to 50% of eligible project costs. Applicants must provide a 1:1 cash co-contribution, with applications assessed on a rolling basis until 30 June 2027 or available funding is exhausted.
The program supports activities such as business certifications, tender preparation, industry-specific compliance, minor facility upgrades, equipment fit-outs, supply chain collaboration, defence research and development, technology transfer and product development. Proposed projects must strengthen the applicant’s Victorian operations and help the business enter or expand within Hanwha’s supply chain.
This is particularly relevant for Victorian defence businesses seeking to improve their systems, meet security and compliance requirements, develop new products or compete for contracts associated with Hanwha’s defence programs.
Who it's for: Victorian businesses with an ABN and an established operating presence in the state that have registered through Hanwha’s BenchOn portal. Preference is given to businesses with 200 or fewer employees, although larger companies may be considered case by case.
Not sure where to start?
The most common reason businesses miss out on grants isn't ineligibility, it's not knowing the opportunity existed, or not having the time to put together a strong application.
That's where we come in. Our team works with businesses across all sectors to identify the right opportunities, assess eligibility, and manage the application process from start to finish. If any of these grants look relevant to your situation, get in touch even an initial conversation can help clarify what's worth pursuing.