NSW Seniors Festival Grant Program 2027

Program objective

NSW Seniors Festival 2027 theme is “Discover. Connect. Celebrate!”

The grant program encourages seniors in NSW to enjoy new experiences, continue learning, stay active and connected to their communities through:

• supporting a broad range of local community organisations
• supporting programs and activities in rural and regional NSW
• fostering partnerships with community groups and services
• providing programs and activities for diverse communities in NSW
• supporting projects that empower older people to stay connected
• assisting organisations to increase capacity of current programs and activities.

Eligibility

Who can apply

Applicants must be one of the following:

• Not for profit companies limited by guarantee, registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and/or are endorsed as deductible gift recipients (DGR) status.
• NSW associations or non-distributing co-operatives registered with NSW Fair Trading.
• Local Aboriginal Land Councils or Indigenous corporations registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations.
• NSW local councils operating under the Local Government Act 1993.
• Not-for-profit entities incorporated under an Act of Parliament.

The following are mandatory eligibility criteria:

• All applicants must have appropriate public liability insurance valued at a minimum of $10 million.
• All applicants must address the NSW National Redress Scheme sanctions.

Who the grant is targeted towards

The NSW Seniors Festival, presented by the NSW Government, is an established state-wide festival for people aged over 60, over 50 for Aboriginal people, and people with a life-long disability. 

Priority for funding under this grant program will be given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and rural and regional service providers and local councils.

Types of projects funded under this grant

All grant applicants are required to meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Applications must be for free or heavily discounted programs or activities for seniors in NSW.
• Projects must be located within NSW.
• Events to be held between 1-14 March 2027, during the NSW Seniors Festival.
• Projects must be open to people in NSW aged 60+, 50+ for Aboriginal people, as well as people with a life-long disability.

Events should align with the objectives of the NSW Seniors Festival, that is to encourage seniors to enjoy new experiences, continue learning, stay active and to connect with their communities.

Applications can be for any size or number of activities to be held during the 2027 festival period.

The NSW Seniors Festival Grant program aims for the best use and a broad distribution of funds to extend the benefit for seniors across NSW.

When the project can start and end

The project start date must be after 01/03/2027 and the project end date must be before 14/03/2027.

Who can’t apply

The following will have an organisation deemed ineligible:

• Receiving or having received government assistance from another program for the proposed project.
• Applications will not be accepted from organisations that have outstanding acquittals with DCJ. Or who have not met project requirements, including acquittal and reporting, for funding received from DCJ in the previous two years.

What your application needs to include

Prepare your application with this checklist

Before you start your application, please read the 2027 Grant Guidelines.

• Have you checked your organisation is eligible to apply for the grant?
• Does your proposed activity meet the objectives of the grant?
• Does the application address the assessment criteria?
• Have you checked that the budget does not contain any expenses not directly associated with the grant?
• Have you identified the correct people within your organisation, to be authorised signatories for the grant funding agreement, should your application be successful? 

Address the eligibility criteria

Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.

Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.

Address the assessment criteria

Eligible applications will be assessed against the following criteria:

• The application demonstrates how it meets the objectives and outcomes of the program.
• The project activities are engaging and accessible, wherever possible, to the target audience.
• The proposal should represent value for money, offering a cost-effective approach, with efficient use of resources.
• The applicant has organisational capacity and capability to deliver the project.
• A demonstrated plan to collaborate and engage with relevant stakeholders.

Start the application

The NSW Seniors Festival Grant Program 2027 is an open competitive process.

Submission of an application does not guarantee funding.

Before starting an application, please read the 2027 Grant Guidelines.

All applications are submitted through the SmartyGrants portal, an online grants management system, when you are ready to start click on the Apply Now button.

After the application is submitted

Successful applications will be decided by: DCJ Delegated Decision Maker

Applications are reviewed by an eligibility team for compliance with grant guidelines and eligible criteria.

Eligible applications are assessed by two independent assessors, randomly selected from assessment team.

Assessment team's report is reviewed by a recommendation panel, recommendations are sent to the Decision-Maker.

The delegated DCJ officer is the final decision-maker, as per the NSW Grants Administration Guide.

Applicants are then formally notified of the outcome of their application.

Submission of an application does not guarantee funding. The NSW Seniors Festival Grant 2027 Program is an open competitive round.

Anticipated assessment outcome date is 31/10/2026.

Anticipated date for funding deed execution with successful applicants is 30/11/2026.

Support and contact

If you require any assistance or have any queries relating to this grant, please contact: nswseniorsfestival@dcj.nsw.gov.au.