Grants, awards and scholarships
The department offers grants, awards, scholarships and assistance to Victorian individuals and businesses each year, aiming to help stimulate innovation, growth and investment.
Grants and assistance
Find grants and assistance offered by the department through Grants Victoria.
The department provides grants and assistance to businesses to support the development of areas such as research, management and export.
Fellowships
The Victorian Government provides various fellowships each year, with the aim of strengthening Victoria's innovation capability and global networks while developing individual capabilities. These include the Victorian Fellowships and the Victorian Postdoctoral Research Fellowship.
More information about these fellowships can be found on the Business Victoria website.
Agriculture
Young farmers scholarship program
Young farmers in Victoria can access scholarships of up to $10,000 to help boost skills and implement new on-farm initiatives.
Food Source Victoria
Food Source Victoria offers grants for food producers and businesses to develop growth plans, support export growth and create quality jobs. It also offers scholarships for professionals in regional agri-food businesses.
Wine growth fund
The Wine growth fund offers grants that support initiatives to develop the Victorian wine industry.
Rural women's award
The Rural women's award recognises the contribution Victorian women make to primary industry and rural communities.
Cultural and creative economy
Grants and support
Creative Victoria offers a range of grants and support to develop Victoria's creative industries. Programs and initiatives are available to support individual creative practitioners, small and large organisations, and programs and events.
To remain informed about funding opportunities, go to the Creative Victoria website and submit the form at the bottom of the page.
iAwards
The iAwards are the premier awards program for innovation in the Australian digital economy and are sponsored by the Victorian Government. The awards recognise and reward the efforts of home-grown, innovative problem solvers.
Victorian Premier's Design Awards
The Victorian Premier's Design Awards recognise and reward Victorian designers and businesses using design effectively and sustainably.
Victorian Premier's Literary Awards
The Victorian Premier's Literary Awards celebrate and promote Australian writers. The suite of awards culminates with the Victorian Prize for Literature, Australia's most valuable award for writing.
Local government
Growing Suburbs Fund
The Growing Suburbs Fund supports investment in critical local infrastructure in Melbourne's diverse and fast-growing interface councils.
Since 2015, the Growing Suburbs Fund (GSF) has invested $275 million in critical infrastructure for Victoria's fastest-growing councils. This includes:
- Funding 221 community infrastructure projects
- Creating more than 7,500 jobs
- Leveraging more than $755 million in investment.
Living Libraries Infrastructure Program
The Living Libraries Infrastructure Program helps Victorian councils and regional library corporations to provide high-quality library infrastructure to meet their communities’ changing needs.
Funding is provided to support projects that deliver and demonstrate benefits for the community and/or aim to improve engagement and access to learning opportunities.
Community Infrastructure Loans Scheme
The Community Infrastructure Loans Scheme supports the delivery of community infrastructure by providing Victorian councils with access to low-interest subsidised loans of between $500,000 and $10 million per project.
Municipal Emergency Resourcing Program
The Municipal Emergency Resourcing Program's (MERP) ongoing annual funding of $4.6 million supports strategic emergency management work undertaken by rural, regional and interface councils.
Roadside Weeds and Pest Program
The Roadside Weeds and Pests Program (RWPP) provides funding support to councils to plan and implement control activities for weeds and pests on rural roadsides.
Tourism, sports and major events
Events funding
The Victorian Government provides funding for a range of business events, major events and regional events, through its tourism marketing and events company, Visit Victoria.
The Significant Sporting Events Program through Sport and Recreation Victoria also provides funding to help sporting, community and event organisations to deliver significant sporting events in Victoria.
Regional Development Victoria (RDV) grant programs
Infrastructure projects under the visitor economy stream of the regional infrastructure fund must attract increased visitors to the region and deliver an improved experience for those who visit and reside in regional Victoria.
Sports grants
Sport and Recreation Victoria provides a wide range of grants and funding programs to increase participation and maximise the economic and social benefits provided by sport and recreation to all Victorians.
Tourism Demand Driver Infrastructure Program
The Australian Government, through the Tourism Demand Driver Infrastructure (TDDI) Program, has allocated funding for the development of tourism infrastructure. The department administers Victoria's allocation. Applications for this year are now closed.
Victorian Racing Industry Fund
The Victorian Racing Industry Fund (VRIF) provides grants to the Victorian racing industry for improvements at racing and training venues and for selected programs designed to further stimulate industry growth and development.
Precincts, suburbs and regions
Let’s Stay Connected Fund
The Let’s Stay Connected Fund has been developed to help communities to stay connected during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and beyond.
Mining and resources
TARGET initiative
The TARGET minerals exploration initiative is a Victorian Government initiative designed to increase investment in exploration for base metals and gold in Victoria.
Trade and investment
Governor of Victoria Export Awards (GOVEA)
The Governor of Victoria Export Awards celebrate the innovation and hard work of exporters across a range of sectors including agribusiness, business services, creative industries, digital technologies, e-commerce, education and training, environment, health and biotechnology, manufacturing, minerals, energy and regional development.
Study Melbourne Scholarships
There are a variety of scholarships for international students in Victoria.
Victorian International Education Awards
The Victorian International Education Awards are an initiative of the Victorian Government to support the international education sector and raise awareness of the sector’s benefits to the broader community and recognise the outstanding accomplishments of the students, staff and institutions that make up Victoria’s thriving international education sector.
View the 2020 Victorian International Education Award finalists and winners.
Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards
The Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame recognises excellence in manufacturing. There are a number of categories under which manufacturers can submit nominations including the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Honour Roll.-->
Page last updated: 2 February 2021