Deadline: 15-Jul-2026
The Business Advisory Grants program provides financial support to community housing organisations in Western Australia to improve internal capability, strengthen business operations, and prepare for growth in social and affordable housing delivery. The program offers grants of up to $50,000 (excluding GST) to support time-limited organisational development projects that improve readiness, governance, and long-term housing service delivery.
The funding is designed to help registered and emerging community housing organisations build sustainable systems, improve operational capacity, and prepare for future expansion rather than cover ongoing operational expenses.
Overview of the Business Advisory Grants Program
The Business Advisory Grants program supports community housing organisations across Western Australia by funding activities that strengthen organisational capability and improve preparedness for delivering social and affordable housing services.
The program focuses on helping organisations develop stronger internal systems, improve management practices, and address key operational challenges that may limit growth.
The grant supports projects that improve areas such as:
- Organisational capability.
- Financial management.
- Business planning.
- Asset management.
- Risk management.
- Registration preparation.
- Readiness for social and affordable housing delivery.
The program is intended for organisations seeking to improve their ability to deliver quality housing services and expand their impact within Western Australia.
Purpose of the Business Advisory Grants
The main purpose of the Business Advisory Grants is to support organisational development within the community housing sector.
The program helps organisations:
- Strengthen internal governance and management structures.
- Improve financial sustainability.
- Develop strategic business plans.
- Improve asset and property management systems.
- Manage organisational risks more effectively.
- Prepare for community housing registration requirements.
- Build capacity for future housing delivery opportunities.
The funding supports activities that create long-term organisational improvements rather than short-term operational assistance.
Funding Amount and Project Duration
Eligible organisations can apply for:
- Up to $50,000 excluding GST under Round 1.
- Projects lasting up to 12 months.
- Extensions of up to 18 months may be considered where a clear need is demonstrated.
Funding is provided for approved projects only and must be used according to the agreed Funding Agreement and approved budget.
Who Is Eligible to Apply?
Eligible applicants include community housing organisations operating or developing services in Western Australia.
Applicants may include:
- Registered Community Housing Organisations across all registration tiers.
- Aboriginal Community Housing Organisations.
- Aboriginal Controlled Community Organisations.
- Emerging community housing organisations preparing for registration.
- Aspiring community housing organisations working toward delivering housing services in Western Australia.
Applicants should demonstrate a clear commitment to strengthening their capability and improving their readiness for social and affordable housing delivery.
Eligible Project Areas
The Business Advisory Grants program supports projects that improve organisational capacity and housing delivery readiness.
Eligible activities may include:
Organisational Capability Development
Projects that improve:
- Governance structures.
- Leadership capability.
- Internal processes.
- Organisational systems.
- Service delivery frameworks.
Finance and Business Planning
Projects that support:
- Financial management improvements.
- Long-term business planning.
- Financial sustainability strategies.
- Improved budgeting and reporting systems.
Asset Management
Projects that improve:
- Property management systems.
- Asset planning processes.
- Maintenance strategies.
- Housing portfolio management capability.
Risk Management
Projects that help organisations:
- Identify operational risks.
- Develop risk management frameworks.
- Improve compliance systems.
- Strengthen organisational resilience.
Registration Assistance
Funding may support emerging organisations preparing for:
- Community housing registration.
- Compliance requirements.
- Governance improvements.
- Housing service delivery readiness.
What the Grant Does Not Fund
The Business Advisory Grants program is not intended to support normal operating expenses or ongoing organisational costs.
Funding cannot be used for:
- Rent.
- Utilities.
- Insurance.
- General IT support.
- Office supplies.
- Existing staff salaries.
- Capital works.
- Construction activities.
- Property purchases.
- Property acquisition.
- Retrospective expenses.
- Activities already funded through another funding source.
The program does not replace existing operational funding and is focused specifically on building organisational capability.
How the Business Advisory Grants Program Works
Applicants should follow these steps when preparing their funding request:
1. Confirm Eligibility
Applicants should ensure they:
- Meet the definition of an eligible community housing organisation.
- Operate or plan to deliver housing services in Western Australia.
- Require support for organisational development activities.
- Can demonstrate how the project will improve future housing delivery capability.
2. Identify Organisational Needs
Applicants should identify areas where additional support is required, such as:
- Governance improvement.
- Business planning.
- Financial systems.
- Risk management.
- Registration preparation.
- Housing service expansion.
3. Develop a Project Proposal
Applications should clearly explain:
- The organisational challenge or opportunity.
- The proposed solution.
- Project goals and expected outcomes.
- How funding will improve organisational capability.
- The project timeline and budget.
4. Submit the Application
Applicants must provide all required information and supporting documentation.
Applications should demonstrate:
- Clear project objectives.
- Strong organisational benefits.
- Value for money.
- Alignment with community housing priorities.
5. Deliver the Approved Project
Successful applicants must:
- Use funds only for approved activities.
- Follow the Funding Agreement requirements.
- Complete the project within the approved timeframe.
- Seek approval before making significant budget or project changes.
Important Funding Conditions
Applicants should be aware of the following requirements:
- Funding cannot be used for costs incurred before the Funding Agreement is signed.
- Expenses must be included in the approved project budget.
- Changes to approved activities or costs require formal approval through a variation process.
- Funding is limited to eligible organisational development activities.
- Projects must demonstrate a clear benefit to community housing delivery.
Why the Business Advisory Grants Matter
The program plays an important role in strengthening Western Australia’s community housing sector.
The funding helps organisations:
- Improve their ability to deliver social and affordable housing.
- Develop stronger internal systems.
- Increase operational readiness.
- Prepare for future growth opportunities.
- Improve services for people needing secure and affordable housing.
By supporting organisational capability, the program helps create a stronger and more sustainable community housing network across Western Australia.
Tips for a Strong Grant Application
Applicants can improve their applications by:
- Clearly explaining the organisational need.
- Linking the project to future housing delivery goals.
- Providing measurable outcomes.
- Demonstrating how the project will create long-term benefits.
- Preparing a realistic budget.
- Explaining why external support is required.
- Showing how the project improves community housing capability.
Common Application Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Requesting funding for general operating expenses.
- Including costs outside the approved budget.
- Applying for retrospective expenses.
- Proposing capital works or property purchases.
- Failing to explain the connection between the project and housing delivery.
- Submitting unclear project outcomes.
- Using grant funding for activities already supported by another funding source.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Business Advisory Grants program?
The Business Advisory Grants program provides funding to community housing organisations in Western Australia to improve internal capability and prepare for growth in social and affordable housing delivery.
How much funding is available?
Eligible applicants can receive up to $50,000 excluding GST under Round 1.
Who can apply for the grant?
Registered Community Housing Organisations, Aboriginal Community Housing Organisations, Aboriginal Controlled Community Organisations, and emerging community housing organisations working toward registration or housing delivery in Western Australia may be eligible.
Can funding be used for rent, utilities, or office costs?
No. The grant does not cover general operating expenses such as rent, utilities, insurance, IT support, or office supplies.
Can existing staff wages be funded?
No. Salaries for existing staff are not eligible under the program.
How long can funded projects run?
Projects can generally run for up to 12 months. Extensions of up to 18 months may be considered where there is a demonstrated need.
Can organisations use funding for costs already incurred?
No. Funding cannot be used for expenses incurred before the Funding Agreement is signed.
Conclusion
The Business Advisory Grants program provides targeted support for Western Australian community housing organisations seeking to strengthen their capability and prepare for future growth. By funding organisational development activities such as business planning, financial improvement, asset management, risk management, and registration preparation, the program helps build a stronger foundation for delivering social and affordable housing.
Eligible organisations should focus their applications on projects that create lasting improvements, strengthen internal systems, and increase their ability to support communities across Western Australia.
For more information, visit Community Housing Futures WA.