Church Grants
Australia
Closed roundIndependently reviewed

Safe Places for Faith Communities 2025-26

NSW Government

NSW non-profit sharing organisations need legal and institutional authority to implement security measures at places where faith communities gather, including worship, seminaries, theological colleges or other specialist religious educational institutions, retreat, cemetery and memorial sites. Recipients in 2023-24 or 2024-25 may seek different security measures. Evidence of need, appropriate insurance and licences, and acquittal of prior grants that are due for acquittal are required. Published Pathway A and B ranges overlap at exactly A$50,000; confirm the risk-assessment requirement at that amount. Excluded costs include started capital works, general building improvements, security guards, weapons, living accommodation, and core or recurrent operating costs. One year of maintenance for new grant-funded security equipment may be supported. The guidelines list chapels and prayer rooms as excluded; confirm any place-specific exception with the funder. Confirm co-contribution and organisation-versus-site award rules with the funder.

Verified source record

Check the official source before making a decision.

An independent reviewer reopened the official source and checked the material fields. This remains guidance, not a legal eligibility decision, and the funder’s current rules control.

Church-specific reading

What appears relevant

NSW non-profit sharing organisations need legal and institutional authority to implement security measures at places where faith communities gather, including worship, seminaries, theological colleges or other specialist religious educational institutions, retreat, cemetery and memorial sites. Recipients in 2023-24 or 2024-25 may seek different security measures. Evidence of need, appropriate insurance and licences, and acquittal of prior grants that are due for acquittal are required. Published Pathway A and B ranges overlap at exactly A$50,000; confirm the risk-assessment requirement at that amount. Excluded costs include started capital works, general building improvements, security guards, weapons, living accommodation, and core or recurrent operating costs. One year of maintenance for new grant-funded security equipment may be supported. The guidelines list chapels and prayer rooms as excluded; confirm any place-specific exception with the funder. Confirm co-contribution and organisation-versus-site award rules with the funder.

Safety & securityCemeteries & memorials

Unclear or confirm with the funder

Questions still needing an authoritative answer

  • Which exact legal entity must apply, and whether incorporation or an ABN is mandatory.
  • Whether DGR status, an auspice or a particular denominational affiliation is required.
  • Which worship, religious, property or existing-cost exclusions apply to this project.
  • Whether co-contribution, owner consent or internal church approvals must be evidenced.

Your next step

Turn these questions into a practical checklist.

Use the private readiness check to identify the entity, approvals, documents and funding conditions to resolve before you approach the funder.

Start the readiness check

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Next editorial action

What we will verify next

Retain as closed final-round guidance: submissions ended at 4pm AEDT on 30 January 2026; no later application round is confirmed. Existing awardees should confirm co-contributions, award limits and audit obligations with Multicultural NSW, and plan project completion and expenditure by 30 June 2027.