Notifications & Alerts

Scam Alerts

Possible scam alert

The Department of Social Services (DSS) has recently received reports of an email scam where a scammer posing as a representative of the department has emailed members of the public offering a $120,000 grant under the Social Enterprise Development Initiative program. The scammer requests the victim’s contact details, and then sends through a false ‘grant certificate’ to notify them they have been selected, which includes a falsified signature of a senior department officer. To gain access to the payment, victims are then told they need to pay a $250 fee to unlock a debit card. 

If you are contacted by one of these scam attempts, do not provide any personal or financial information. 

Scams and how to report them

If you are concerned that a phone call, SMS, voicemail or email claiming to be from the ATO, the Community Grants Hub or the Department of Social Services is not genuine, do not reply to it. We encourage you to:

  • report the scam to the National Anti Scam Centre on the Scamwatch website
  • you can also report it to the relevant government department using the contact details on their website
  • for scams relating to the Department of Social Services contact the fraud reporting hotline on 1800 054 312, or email the fraud mailbox at fraud@dss.gov.au
  • contact the ATO on 1800 008 540.

If you have already provided information or are concerned that a crime has or may be committed, please immediately contact the police, your bank or the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) if it relates to your passport details.

It is important to know that Departmental officers at the Department of Social Services do not:

  • cold call members of the public to promise grant funding
  • contact members of the public through social media or email to offer grant opportunities.  Legitimate grant opportunities are published on GrantConnect. Legitimate grants will never require the recipient to pay a fee to access the amounts, and debit cards are not used to disburse grant payments
  • contact members of the public seeking personal information, such as bank details, passport or license numbers.

It is a serious matter to impersonate a Commonwealth public official. It may even be a criminal offence carrying a penalty of imprisonment in some circumstances.

Further advice on scams and information on where to get help if you think you have been scammed is available from the National Anti-Scam Centre Scamwatch website.

If you think you have been scammed, find out where to get help.

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Open Grants

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Multicultural Grassroots Initiatives

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Grant Category

Multiculturalism

Closing Date & Time

AEDT

Selection Process

Open competitive

Delivered on behalf of

Department of Home Affairs
The Multicultural Grassroots Initiatives grant opportunity will provide funding to community-led grassroots organisations that embrace Australia’s multicultural diversity and help multicultural communities to become an active part of Australia’s economic and social development.
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Decorative

National Justice Reinvestment Program Round 3

Decorative

Grant Category

Indigenous Communities

Closing Date & Time

AEDT

Selection Process

Open non-competitive

Delivered on behalf of

Attorney General’s Department
The National Justice Reinvestment Program aims to reduce contact with the criminal justice system and incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults and young people through support for place-based and community-led justice reinvestment initiatives across Australia.
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image of sheep in a field

Future Drought Fund Long-term Trials of Drought Resilient Farming Practices Program Round 2

image of sheep in a field

Grant Category

Drought

Closing Date & Time

AEDT

Selection Process

Open competitive

Delivered on behalf of

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
The Program provides $40.3 million for projects that contribute to improved drought and climate resilience for farmers through innovative, evidence-based trials to support adoption and transformational change. Eligible applicants can apply for $3 million up to $8 million for the 6-year program.
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Future Drought Fund Resilient Landscapes Program

image of 3 people talking in a field

Grant Category

Drought

Closing Date & Time

AEDT

Selection Process

Open competitive

Delivered on behalf of

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
These grants will allocate up to $40m (GST exclusive) over 6 years to 2029–30 for new projects between $2m to $6m. Projects will demonstrate practices, technologies or approaches to improve landscape function and ecosystem services, manage natural resources, and build drought and climate resilience.
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decretive

Social Cohesion Measures - Australian Palestinian, Muslim and Arab Communities (APMAC) Support Projects

decretive

Grant Category

Multiculturalism

Closing Date & Time

AEDT

Selection Process

Open competitive

Delivered on behalf of

Department of Home Affairs
The Australian Palestinian, Muslim and Arab Communities (APMAC) grant opportunity is a part of the Australian Government’s $25 million package to support Australian Palestinian, Muslim and other communities who have been affected by the Hamas-Israel conflict.
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Researcher using drone controller with fly view glasses monitor plant growing in Agriculture farm., Photos - Envato Elements

AgConnections – Skilled Agricultural Work Liaison pilot program

Researcher using drone controller with fly view glasses monitor plant growing in Agriculture farm., Photos - Envato Elements

Grant Category

Agriculture

Closing Date & Time

AEDT

Selection Process

Targeted competitive

Delivered on behalf of

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

The purpose of this program is to increase skilled students from a broad range of disciplines entering the agriculture sector.

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Crisis and Transitional Accommodation Program open now

Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) – Crisis and Transitional Accommodation Program (CTAP)

Crisis and Transitional Accommodation Program open now

Grant Category

Housing and Homelessness

Closing Date & Time

AEDT

Selection Process

Open competitive

Delivered on behalf of

Department of Social Services
The CTAP is a capital works program funding the building, remodelling or purchase of new or expanded crisis and transitional accommodation for women and children experiencing family and domestic violence (FDV) and older women at risk of homelessness.
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Happy black businessman colleague with disability talking while working at pet friendly office. Photos - Envato Elements

Disability Employment Centre of Excellence

Happy black businessman colleague with disability talking while working at pet friendly office. Photos - Envato Elements

Grant Category

Services for People with Disabilities

Closing Date & Time

AEDT

Selection Process

Open competitive

Delivered on behalf of

Department of Social Services

The Disability Employment Centre of Excellence will develop best practice, evidence-based information to help providers deliver high quality effective employment services and supports to improve disability employment outcomes.

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Biosecurity. It's everyone's business

Indigenous Ranger Biosecurity Program - Ranger Capability Building Grants – Round 3

Biosecurity. It's everyone's business

Grant Category

Indigenous Employment and Business

Closing Date & Time

AEDT

Selection Process

Targeted competitive

Delivered on behalf of

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

These grants will provide up to $2.2M (GST exclusive) for Ranger organisations with existing biosecurity surveillance fee-for-service contracts with the Department, to enhance their capacity to undertake important biosecurity work across

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sad woman cemetery holding bouquet roses

Marking (First World War) Private Graves Grants Program

sad woman cemetery holding bouquet roses

Grant Category

Veterans

Closing Date & Time

AEDT

Selection Process

Demand-driven

Delivered on behalf of

Department of Veterans' Affairs
Throughout Australia, individuals and groups are working to identify private unmarked graves of First World War veterans and marking these graves to recognise their service. This grant program contributes to the cost of establishing a grave marker on currently unmarked private graves.
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cover image

Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program

cover image

Grant Category

Commemorative

Closing Date & Time

AEDT

Selection Process

Open competitive

Delivered on behalf of

Department of Veterans’ Affairs
The Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program aims to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Australia’s defence personnel in wars, conflicts and peace operations, and their families.
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Expansion of the Community Child Care Fund-Restricted (CCCFR) non-competitive grant opportunity (for specified services)

Grant Category

Indigenous Education

Closing Date & Time

AEST

Selection Process

Closed non-competitive

Delivered on behalf of

Department of Education

The CCCFR expansion program aims to establish new early childhood education and care (ECEC) services in mainly remote and very remote areas to increase participation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in culturally appropriate ECEC.

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