PLEASE NOTE: The Community Grants Hub system will be unavailable from 4.30pm, Saturday 7 December to 2.00am, Sunday 8 December AEDT. Submission of applications should take place outside the outage period.
The Department of Social Services (DSS) has recently received reports that members of the public have been contacted via phone by an individual or individuals offering a $7,600 government grant.
Some members of the public have reported the caller claims to be calling from the ‘Australian Grants Commission’ or the ‘Australian Government Grant Department’. The caller instructed the member of the public to go to their local post office, and gave them a phone number to call for further instructions.
These claims are false and these individuals do not represent DSS or the Commonwealth.
DSS officers do not:
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.
If approached in this manner, do not give any personal information. If you are uncomfortable with the nature of the call or approach, simply hang up.
We encourage you to report incidents of this nature. You can visit Scamwatch on www.scamwatch.gov.au to report to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), and you can contact the DSS fraud reporting hotline on 1800 133 611.
If you contact DSS in the first instance, we will obtain as many details as possible from you about the incident, including your contact details. If appropriate, DSS will refer it to the police or other relevant authority including the ACCC.
If you have already provided information to a caller 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.
The Agricultural Trade and Market Access Cooperation (ATMAC) Program funds projects that help to open, improve and/or maintain access to overseas markets for Australian agricultural products by building stronger relationships with trading partners, neighbouring countries and international organisations. View grant
The Safe Places Emergency Accommodation program will provide capital grants to eligible organisations to deliver new emergency and crisis accommodation for women and children experiencing domestic and family violence. View grant
The Murray-Darling Basin Economic Development Program (Round 2) provides grants for economic development projects in 31 eligible communities impacted by water recovery under the Basin Plan. View grant
The National Disability Conference Initiative grant opportunity provides grants to eligible conference organisers to provide accessibility measures that will maximise the inclusion and participation of people with disability in nationally-focused, disability-related, conferences held in Australia. View grant
The Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program aims to preserve Australia’s wartime heritage and to involve people throughout the nation in a range of projects and activities that highlight the service and sacrifice of Australia’s service personnel in wars, conflicts and peace operations. View grant
The program aims to improve access for industry-identified priority uses of agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals. View grant