Applying for grants and funding

Do you have a project idea that will encourage walking, riding, scooting and skating at your school, organisation or in your local area? If your project requires funding, then the information below might help you get on your way to providing a better local network of paths, bike education, improvements to end of trip and other active travel facilities and amenity, or a new public bike library – just to name a few ideas!

Remember that your local council may be able to support you. Contact your local government and ask who the best person is to talk to about accessing grants for your project idea.

Grants from the Department of Transport

Connecting Schools Grant

Connecting Schools Grant funding is available to Western Australian schools participating in the Your Move program and aims to improve their bike access, skills and infrastructure. This, in turn, supports students to get active on their way to and from school, increasing student physical activity levels, and reduces car trips and parking demand around schools. Visit the Connecting Schools Grant page for more information.

WA Bicycle Network Grants Program

The Western Australian Bicycle Network (WABN) Grants Program is a State Government initiative that provides funding to local governments to deliver active transport infrastructure to support more people to walk, wheel and ride as part of their everyday journeys and experiences. The next WABN Grants Program intake will open in July 2024.

The WABN Grants Program is administered by the Department of Transport and matches local government expenditure dollar-for-dollar (up to 50 per cent of the total project cost). Local governments apply for funding under the Program with application rounds open every one to two years, dependant on funding availability.

For more information and eligibility criteria details, visit the WABN Grants webpage. To receive updates on the WABN grants program, subscribe to WABN e-News.

WA Bike Month Grants

Taking place in October each year, WA Bike Month aims to promote and encourage people of all ages and abilities to ride bikes for transport, fun and a healthier lifestyle. WA Bike Month has run for over 30 years and continues to be valued by local governments and communities across metropolitan and regional WA.Grant funding is available to local governments, workplaces, schools, bike groups and community organisations to host events that support and inspire people to give bike riding a go.

View WA Bike Month Grants.

Commonwealth Government Grants

Black Spot Program

The Black Spot Program is part of the commitment to reduce crashes on Australian roads.

Black Spot projects target those road locations where crashes are occurring. By funding measures such as traffic signals and roundabouts at dangerous locations, the program reduces the risk of crashes. Programs of this sort are very effective, saving the community many times the cost of the relatively minor road improvements that are implemented. The Black Spot Program makes an important contribution in reducing the national road toll under the National Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan. For more information see the Black Spot Program website.

Sporting Schools

Sporting Schools is an Australian Government initiative run by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC). It offers grant opportunities for primary schools, and targeted grant opportunities for secondary schools in relation to Years 7 and 8 students. Grants support the delivery of sport-based programs (including their ‘AusBike’ bike education program) to help students build the confidence and capability to be active for life.

Whether you are looking to register your school and apply for funding, or if you are a teacher looking to deliver sporting activities in your school, you can join Sporting Schools and access more than 35 national sporting organisations and national sporting organisations for people with disability to help your school community get moving. Visit the Sporting Schools funding page for more information.

Read more about ASC’s AusBike program.

Other State Government Grants

Road Safety Commission

The Road Safety Community Grant Program supports the development and implementation of sustainable projects and one-off community activities that assist in promoting road safety across the state through the Road Trauma Trust Account (RTTA).

Have a look at the grants snapshot on the Road Safety Commission's Community Grants Portal. It describes in detail what's involved in the application process with FAQs, and various grant guideline documents.

Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries

The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) offers small grants for infrastructure projects associated with sport and recreation through their Community Sporting Recreation Facilities Fund. Head to the DLGSC website for more information.

Department of Communities

The Department of Communities provides grants to community sector organisations and local governments to plan and implement projects, events and initiatives that help to improve the lives of Western Australians. Visit the Communities grants page for more information.

Waste Authority - WasteSorted Schools Grants

A total of 43 schools across WA will share in over $122,500 in grants to champion waste reduction and recovery initiatives!

Through the WasteSorted Schools Program, these grants will empower schools with funding for education and infrastructure, enabling students to gain hands-on experiences that align with the school curriculum while fostering a culture of sustainability.

Projects funded include:

Recycling stations and Containers for Change collection bins.
Organic recycling solutions like worm farms and compost systems.
Educational signage to inspire action.
Green canteen upgrades to reduce waste.

The next grant round will open on 28 January 2025 and close on 11 March, with grants of up to $5,500 per school available in two rounds per year.

To find out more, visit the WasteSorted Schools Program website.

Lotterywest

Lotterywest offers grants to not-for-profit organisations and local government authorities, to support the things that make WA an even better place to live. Visit the Lotterywest grants page for more information.

Community Stewardship Grants

Community Stewardship Grants are available annually to support community-based projects that serve to protect and restore the local environment, enabling local community groups to undertake stewardship of natural resources in their local area. Read more about Community Stewardship Grants.

Other funding opportunities

RAC WA

The RAC are committed to helping create well-planned communities and transport options that connect people and places. They are doing that by supporting Local Governments and Town Team projects through our Reconnect WA and Connecting Communities initiatives.

Town Team Movement

Passionate about making positive change to create more vibrant places to live, work and connect? Consider starting or joining your local Town Team today.

Reconnect WA

RAC has provided almost three million dollars to local governments across WA to deliver community-based projects to help revitalise streets and public spaces. Read more information here.

Connecting Communities Fund

Each year, the RAC support metropolitan and regional community groups who are passionate about leading positive change to enhance the places they live, work and connect in. This year we looked for expressions of interest from local community groups and local governments who identified an area in their neighbourhood that needs improving. Read more about Connecting Communities.

RAC sponsorship program

Successful past projects include cycle training, setting up a community bike fleet and developing a ‘bike bus' phone app. There are regular rounds for Project Grants, and Grass Roots applications can be submitted anytime. Find out more about RAC’s sponsorship program.

Bendigo Bank

Bendigo Bank's charitable arm ‘Community Enterprise Foundation’, helps Australian communities with grants, scholarships and community focused appeals. Visit Bendigo Bank’s community funding webpage for more information.

Local Government Grants

Contact your local government to find out if there are any grants or funding that your school or organisation could access to help progress your project.

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