Playground grants & funding in Australia
A complete, state-by-state guide to grants and funding that can pay for playgrounds, outdoor play and community recreation spaces in Australia — for schools, councils, childcare centres and community groups.
Showing 34 programs across Australia.
Stronger Communities Programme
Dept of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts
- Who can apply
- Not-for-profits, community groups, councils, schools (MP-nominated)
- Typical amount
- $2,500–$20,000 (50% co-contribution)
- What it funds
- Small capital projects incl. playground equipment, shade, outdoor gathering spaces
Must be invited by your federal MP — projects are MP-nominated, not open application.
Official program pageLocal Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LRCI)
Dept of Infrastructure (delivered by local government)
- Who can apply
- Councils (all Australian local governments)
- Typical amount
- Allocation per council
- What it funds
- Council-owned community assets incl. parks, playgrounds, recreation facilities
Councils only; confirm whether a new phase is currently open.
Official program pageGrowing Regions Program
Dept of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts
- Who can apply
- Councils, incorporated not-for-profits (regional/rural/remote)
- Typical amount
- $500,000–$15 million
- What it funds
- Community infrastructure capital works incl. parks, recreation and community hubs
Regional/rural/remote areas only; minimum $500k projects.
Official program pageThriving Suburbs Program
Dept of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts
- Who can apply
- Councils, incorporated not-for-profits (urban/suburban/peri-urban)
- Typical amount
- $500,000–$15 million
- What it funds
- Community infrastructure incl. parks, sporting/cultural hubs, libraries
Urban counterpart to Growing Regions; larger capital projects.
Official program pagePlay Our Way Program
Australian Government (Sport)
- Who can apply
- Councils, not-for-profits, sporting bodies
- Typical amount
- $50,000–$1.5M (up to $2M remote)
- What it funds
- Facilities, playing areas and spaces that get women and girls into sport
Must remove barriers for women and girls' sport participation.
Official program pageVolunteer Grants
Dept of Social Services
- Who can apply
- Not-for-profit community organisations using volunteers
- Typical amount
- $1,000–$5,000
- What it funds
- Small equipment/costs for volunteer-run groups (not playground builds)
Funds volunteer support/equipment, not capital playgrounds — a useful adjunct.
Official program pageFRRR Strengthening Rural Communities (Small & Vital)
Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)
- Who can apply
- Community groups, not-for-profits in towns under 15,000 people
- Typical amount
- Up to $10,000 (leverage stream up to $50,000)
- What it funds
- Local community infrastructure incl. small playground/recreation improvements
Remote/rural/regional only; no DGR status required.
Official program pageWorks for Queensland (W4Q)
Dept of Local Government, Water and Volunteers
- Who can apply
- Councils (65 regional councils outside SEQ)
- Typical amount
- Non-competitive allocation per council
- What it funds
- Maintenance and minor infrastructure incl. parks, playgrounds, recreation facilities
SEQ councils use the SEQ Community Stimulus Program instead.
Official program pageSEQ Community Stimulus Program (SEQCSP)
Dept of Local Government, Water and Volunteers
- Who can apply
- Councils (12 SEQ councils only)
- Typical amount
- Allocated + competitive ($100M pool)
- What it funds
- Community assets and infrastructure incl. parks and recreation works
SEQ equivalent of W4Q (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Logan, Moreton Bay…).
Official program pageLocal Government Grants and Subsidies Program (LGGSP)
Dept of Local Government, Water and Volunteers
- Who can apply
- Councils (all Queensland councils)
- Typical amount
- Competitive, per-project ($115M pool)
- What it funds
- Priority essential services and community infrastructure (can include recreation assets)
Prioritises essential infrastructure; play/recreation must be justified.
Official program pageGambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF)
Dept of Justice (Queensland Government)
- Who can apply
- Not-for-profits, community groups; school P&C/P&F (not schools directly)
- Typical amount
- Up to $35,000 per round
- What it funds
- Equipment and facility improvements incl. playground equipment and minor upgrades
Australia's largest one-off community grants program; schools apply via their P&C/P&F.
Official program pageGames On! Grassroots Infrastructure Program
Dept of Sport, Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games
- Who can apply
- Community groups, not-for-profit sport and active recreation organisations
- Typical amount
- $30M program (community + partnership tiers)
- What it funds
- New, upgraded or replacement sport and active recreation facilities
Replaces the former Get Playing / Get Playing Plus infrastructure stream.
Official program pageLocal Sport Grant Program (LSGP)
Office of Sport NSW
- Who can apply
- Incorporated not-for-profit sporting clubs/organisations
- Typical amount
- Up to $20,000
- What it funds
- Facility upgrades, equipment, covered playing areas, participation projects
Applicant must be an incorporated NFP whose primary purpose is sport.
Official program pageCommunity Building Partnership (CBP)
NSW Government (administered via local MPs)
- Who can apply
- Not-for-profit community organisations and councils
- Typical amount
- $10,000–$100,000
- What it funds
- Small local infrastructure incl. playgrounds, parks and community facilities
Capital works/free-standing equipment; co-contribution expected for councils.
Official program pageEveryone Can Play Grant Program
NSW Dept of Planning / Office of Sport
- Who can apply
- Councils (and agencies managing play spaces)
- Typical amount
- Matched funding
- What it funds
- New or upgraded inclusive play spaces meeting the Everyone Can Play guideline
Councils must match funding and apply the inclusive-design guideline.
Official program pageLocal Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSIF)
Sport and Recreation Victoria
- Who can apply
- Victorian councils / Alpine Resorts (with local clubs)
- Typical amount
- $40,000–$500,000
- What it funds
- Sports courts, change rooms, lighting, playgrounds and skate parks
Councils apply in partnership with local clubs.
Official program pageGrowing Suburbs Fund (GSF)
Victorian Government (Suburban Development)
- Who can apply
- Outer-metro / interface growth-area councils
- Typical amount
- Up to $2 million per project
- What it funds
- Local infrastructure incl. parks, playgrounds, sporting facilities, community centres
Only Melbourne's fastest-growing outer/interface councils.
Official program pageTiny Towns Fund
Regional Development Victoria
- Who can apply
- Community groups and councils in towns under 5,000 people
- Typical amount
- $5,000–$50,000
- What it funds
- Community facilities incl. playgrounds, splash parks, bike trails, hall upgrades
Cannot fund dedicated sporting infrastructure — multi-use community spaces only.
Official program pageCommunity Recreation and Sport Facilities Program (CRSFP)
Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing (ORSR)
- Who can apply
- Not-for-profit sport/recreation clubs & associations; some council partnerships
- Typical amount
- Up to $750,000 per project
- What it funds
- Major upgrades/development of community sport & active-recreation facilities
Standalone playgrounds excluded — must be part of a broader sport-rec project.
Official program pageActive Club Program (ACP)
Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing (ORSR)
- Who can apply
- Incorporated not-for-profit active-recreation/sport clubs (min 20 members)
- Typical amount
- $1,500 or $3,000
- What it funds
- Equipment and participation enablers; capital/facility works not eligible
Good for play/sport equipment, not built infrastructure.
Official program pageGrants SA (Charitable and Social Welfare Fund)
Department of Human Services (SA)
- Who can apply
- Incorporated not-for-profits & Aboriginal Community-Controlled Orgs serving disadvantaged communities
- Typical amount
- Commonly up to ~$50,000
- What it funds
- Community participation/wellbeing projects; can include community spaces
SA's gambling-community-benefit equivalent.
Official program pageCommunity Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund (CSRFF)
Dept of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC)
- Who can apply
- Local governments and incorporated not-for-profit sport/recreation/community orgs
- Typical amount
- Projects $7,500–$500,000+ (up to 1/3 of cost)
- What it funds
- Basic sport & active-recreation infrastructure
WA's flagship facilities grant; playgrounds best bundled into a broader scope.
Official program pageLotterywest Grants
Lotterywest (statutory WA Government lottery)
- Who can apply
- Not-for-profit organisations and local government authorities in WA
- Typical amount
- No fixed cap — small to multi-million
- What it funds
- Community, recreation, cultural and play/outdoor-space infrastructure
Major WA funder of play/outdoor-space infrastructure; very flexible.
Official program pageRegional Economic Development (RED) Grants
WA Regional Development Commissions
- Who can apply
- Local governments, not-for-profits, community groups, businesses in regional WA
- Typical amount
- Tens of thousands to several hundred thousand
- What it funds
- Locally driven regional projects incl. community infrastructure
Regional WA route where projects show economic/community benefit.
Official program pageActive Infrastructure Grants Program
Active Tasmania (Dept of State Growth)
- Who can apply
- Councils, incorporated sport/rec clubs, not-for-profit community organisations
- Typical amount
- $25,000–$500,000 (15% co-contribution)
- What it funds
- Development/upgrade of sport & active-recreation facilities
Tasmania's main sport & rec facilities capital grant.
Official program pageMinor Facilities Upgrade Program
Active Tasmania (Dept of State Growth)
- Who can apply
- Councils, incorporated sport/rec clubs and not-for-profit community organisations
- Typical amount
- Minor grants (contribution required)
- What it funds
- Upgrades to existing facilities — minor infrastructure, surfaces, safety, accessibility
Lower-cost companion to the Active Infrastructure Grants Program.
Official program pageCommunity Support Fund (Community Support Levy)
Dept of Treasury and Finance (TAS)
- Who can apply
- Feeds downstream grants for community groups & clubs
- Typical amount
- ~$10M fund p.a.
- What it funds
- Community development, sport and recreation equipment
Reaches playgrounds/clubs indirectly via the grants it bankrolls.
Official program pageFacility and Capital Equipment (FACE) Grant
NT Dept of People, Sport and Culture (Active NT)
- Who can apply
- Eligible NT incorporated sport and active-recreation orgs and not-for-profits
- Typical amount
- Up to $100,000/yr (min project $10,000)
- What it funds
- Infrastructure for accessible/affordable sport & rec — builds, upgrades, capital equipment
NT's core sport & rec facilities/infrastructure grant.
Official program pageCommunity Benefit Fund — Major Community Grants
NT Dept of Tourism and Hospitality
- Who can apply
- Not-for-profit organisations with a physical presence in the NT
- Typical amount
- Major grants stream (check caps)
- What it funds
- Services, leisure activities and community facilities/amenities
NT's pokies-funded community grant.
Official program pageCommunity Sport Facilities Program
ACT Sport and Recreation
- Who can apply
- ACT sport bodies, incorporated not-for-profit sport/rec/community orgs, licensed clubs
- Typical amount
- Construction $5,000–$1,000,000 (up to $2M over 2 yrs)
- What it funds
- New facilities, upgrades, accessible design and multi-use spaces
ACT's main sport & rec facilities capital grant.
Official program pageCommunity Support and Infrastructure Grants
ACT Government (Community Services)
- Who can apply
- Incorporated entities, registered not-for-profits and charities in the ACT
- Typical amount
- Up to $10,000 per project
- What it funds
- Capacity building, non-fixed infrastructure/equipment, minor capital works
Small grant for minor community-infrastructure and equipment.
Official program pageBendigo Bank Community Grants
Bendigo Bank / Community Enterprise Foundation
- Who can apply
- Local not-for-profit groups in Community Bank catchment areas
- Typical amount
- Varies by branch (often $1,000–$10,000+)
- What it funds
- Local community initiatives incl. facilities, equipment and recreation infrastructure
Run locally per Community Bank branch — check your local branch.
Official program pageBunnings Community Grants
Bunnings (Wesfarmers)
- Who can apply
- Eligible community groups and not-for-profits across Australia
- Typical amount
- Up to $10,000
- What it funds
- Practical local community projects; garden/outdoor improvements
Complements store-level fundraising and DIY support.
Official program pageAustralia Post Community Grants
Australia Post
- Who can apply
- Incorporated not-for-profit organisations (DGR not required)
- Typical amount
- Up to $10,000
- What it funds
- Locally led projects improving community connection and wellbeing
Frame a play space around social connection to fit the funding focus.
Official program pageApplying for a grant? We'll give you what assessors want
A strong application needs a credible, ready-to-go project. We supply the fixed-price quote, equipment specifications, professional 2D & 3D concept images and AS 4685 / AS 4422 compliance details to attach to your submission — at no cost and no obligation.
Frequently asked
What grants are available for playgrounds in Australia?
Funding comes from three levels: federal programs (e.g. Stronger Communities Programme, Growing Regions), state sport-and-recreation and community-infrastructure grants in every state and territory, and private/philanthropic funders (FRRR, Bendigo Bank, Bunnings, Australia Post). This page lists the major programs for each, with who can apply and indicative amounts.
Can schools apply for playground funding?
Often not directly — many community and gambling-benefit funds require the school's P&C or P&F to apply on its behalf (for example, Queensland's Gambling Community Benefit Fund). Federal programs like the Stronger Communities Programme are MP-nominated. Check each program's eligibility before applying.
How much funding can you get for a playground?
It ranges widely — from small community grants of $1,000–$20,000 up to council and regional infrastructure programs of $500,000 or more. Most playground projects combine one or two grants with some local contribution or fundraising.
Does Kidzspace help with grant applications?
Yes. While we don't write the application, we provide the building blocks assessors want to see — a fixed-price quote, detailed equipment specifications, professional 2D and 3D concept images, and compliance details (AS 4685 / AS 4422). Good supporting material makes an application look credible and ready.
When should I apply for a playground grant?
Align your application with the program's funding round and make sure your quote is current. Start early — concepts and quotes take a little lead time, and many programs are competitive or only open for a few weeks each round.