Grants & Funding

Local Jobs Program Grant

The Australian Government is inviting organisations through an open competitive process to apply to deliver services under the Local Jobs Program over 2 years from 2025–26 to 2026–27.

Local Jobs Program Grant

Local Jobs Program Grant

The Australian Government is inviting organisations through an open competitive process to apply to deliver services under the Local Jobs Program over 2 years from 2025–26 to 2026–27.

The Local Jobs, Local People grant opportunity provides total funding of $10 million (GST exclusive) and will offer grant amounts from $50,000 to $250,000.

The objectives of the grant opportunity are to:

  • deliver short-term activities to address the priorities identified in the Local Jobs Plan for the relevant Employment Region(s), and:
  • offer activities leading to ongoing, secure employment or that build clear pathways to employment for community members who experience barriers to employment such as:
    • First Nations peoples
    • mature age Australians over 45
    • migrants, refugees and humanitarian visa holders
    • young people up to 24 years of age, and/or
  • help realise the opportunity for local employment in sectors that are critical to Australia’s growth such as:
    • Construction
    • Manufacturing
    • Care and Support
    • Digital and Emerging Technologies
    • Energy Transition.

We are keen to receive proposals that include local businesses. In particular, proposals that demonstrate partnerships with small and medium sized businesses that have current or emerging employment opportunities, and bridge the gap between local people looking to participate in the labour market and employers’ workforce needs.

Eligibility:

For applicants to be eligible you must:

  • have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • be located in Australia
  • have a bank account with an Australian financial institution
  • be a legal entity with the capacity to enter into a legally binding agreement or contract.

And be one of the following entity types:

  • Company
  • Co-operative
  • Incorporated Association
  • Indigenous Corporation
  • Local Government Entity
  • Partnership
  • Sole Trader
  • Statutory Entity.
Grant Activity Timeframe:

Assessment of applications - Within 7 weeks from the closing date

Approval of outcomes of selection process - Within 12 weeks from the closing date

Notification to applicants - Within 14 weeks from the closing date

Negotiations and award of grant agreements - Within 23 weeks from the closing date

Earliest start date of grant activity - Early 2026

End date of grant activity - 30 June 2027

Instructions for Application Submission:

To apply, you must:

  • complete the online application form on GrantConnect
  • provide all the information requested
  • address all eligibility criteria and assessment criteria
  • include all necessary attachments
  • submit your application to the Community Grants Hub by 9:00 pm AEST on 24 September 2025.
Other Instructions:

Please use:

  • Local Jobs Program - Local Jobs, Local People Grant - Questions and Answers - version 2
Apply here

Acknowledgement of Country

Greatest Good acknowledges Australia's First Peoples as the Traditional Owners, Custodians and Cultural Knowledge Holders of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We honour the continuing connections to culture, kin and communities.