Funding to help veterans and their families engage with the community
Applications open
This grant closes 28 October 2025 at 3:00 pm.
Veterans Grant
This program aims to support innovative projects that promote veterans as valued members of the ACT community, promote active healthy living, and enable veterans to participate in community activities.
Projects can have a focus on older veterans, contemporary veterans or veterans’ families, or collectively address the needs of the local veteran community.
Who this is for
This grant is for community organisations that support veterans in Canberra.
What you get
A grant of up to $15,000.
Check if you can apply
Organisations can apply if they:
- operate in the ACT
- are a non-government, legally incorporated entity, or support by an incorporated auspicing organisation
- are a registered not-for-profit or a charitable organisation
- have no overdue acquittal
- have the right insurance to cover your activity.
What you can do
The 2025-26 Veterans Grants have 3 priority areas for projects and initiatives:
- Support and participation for veterans and their families
- Communication and education
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans.
Before you apply
Apply
To apply:
1. Complete the online application form.
2. Submit your application.
Past recipients
Find out about recent grant recipients and projects.
2024-25
- The Legacy Club of Canberra Incorporated - $14,645 - 2025 Legacy Concert: A concert to allow Legacy families to enjoy a relaxed afternoon of live musical performances by local artists while enjoying the company of family and friends.
- The Cuppacumbalong Foundation Limited - $14,400 - Blacksmithing for Defence Families: Hands-on blacksmithing courses aimed at supporting the mental well-being of defence families in the Canberra region.
- Woden Valley RSL Sub-Branch Inc - $12,601 - Woden Valley RSL Sub-Branch Annual Primary Schools ANZAC and Peace Ceremony: A ceremony fostering appreciation for the ANZAC spirit and peace, attended by up to 500 students from 23 schools.
- ACT Table Tennis Association Incorporated - $15,000 - Improving Wellbeing Through Table Tennis: A table tennis program providing positive health benefits through physical activity, wellbeing, and social engagement for veterans in partnership with Soldier On.
- Australian Outward Bound Development Fund Pty Limited - $8,477 - Outward Bound's Veterans and Families Connection Weekend: A facilitated overnight camping adventure with high-ropes, climbing, and abseiling adventures, mixed with bushcraft and time to talk around a fire and reconnect with other veterans and their families.
- 42 Casts Limited - $8,500 - Veteran’s Fishing Day: A fishing and barbeque catch-up for veterans in the ACT and surrounds.
- Dogs Canberra Limited - $6,377 - Pilot Program: A program aiming to improve mental health and rehabilitate rescue dogs by matching them with veteran families and supporting their care.
2023-24
- Australian Commando Association - Australian Capital Territory - $12,665 - Veterans' Boxing Challenge.
- COTA - $5,700 - Banding Together - 2 veteran focused concerts in March and September 2024.
- Melba Tennis Club Incorporated - $15,000 - Purchase and install four permanent shade structures at Melba Tennis Club.
- The Cuppacumbalong Foundation Limited - $14,400 - A program for veterans and their families to participate in creating functional items while increasing the resilience of inter-family bonds through engagement with basic blacksmithing techniques.
- The Legacy Club of Canberra Incorporated - $6,200 - Legacy Concert.
- Veteran Gaming Australia Limited - $1,020 -Veteran and Family Social Connection Events.
- Vietnam Veterans and Veterans Federation ACT Incorporated - $14,187 - Well-being Activities 2024 Program – which includes coach trips, cooking classes, monthly social outgoings, weekly chair yoga sessions and 6 wellbeing information sessions.
- Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club Inc (Federal Chapter) - $2,203 - Equipment for the VMC Coffee Bunker.
2022-23
- Emerge & See Ltd - $10,000 - Delivering 3 programs for mental health awareness and PTSD including strategies for a total of 15 veterans and their families, in partnership with Tharwa Valley Forge. The program also includes support groups for the participants.
- Invictus Australia - $4,360 - 2-day mountain bike instruction program catering for 36 participants, that promotes social engagement and health and wellbeing.
- Rowing ACT - $5,000 - An indoor rowing program for veterans and their families with the aim of improving physical and mental health, and social engagement with opportunities for mentoring and competing.
- Solid Rock Defence Ministry Australia - $7,274 - A wellbeing program of a series of events for female veterans, including guest speakers covering different topics and a women's breakfast.
- The Cuppacumbalong Foundation - $9,000 - A program for Veterans and their families to participate in creating functional items while increasing the resilience of inter-family bonds through engagement with basic blacksmithing techniques.
- Vietnam Veterans and Veterans Federation ACT Inc - $7,616 - 3 coach trips, a family Christmas party and 2 outings to local venues for a widow’s group to enhance social engagement, improve lifestyle and encourage support and participation of members, families and Defence community.
Contact us
CSD Grants team
If you need help or have questions, contact us.
Email
CSDGrants@act.gov.au