Deadline: 28-Jul-2026
The Victorian Veterans Council, in partnership with the Victorian Government, is inviting eligible not-for-profit organisations and government entities to apply for the Anzac Day Proceeds Fund 2026–27. The program provides grants of up to $150,000 for state-wide organisations and up to $50,000 for sub-branches or regional organisations to support veteran welfare, wellbeing, inclusion, and community-focused initiatives across Victoria.
Priority is given to projects supporting veterans who are women, First Nations, LGBTIQA+, culturally and linguistically diverse, living with disability, or experiencing service-related mental health impacts, as well as initiatives linked to post-1990 Australian Defence Force operations, sustainability, and collaboration.
About the Anzac Day Proceeds Fund 2026–27
The Anzac Day Proceeds Fund supports organisations delivering welfare and wellbeing services for Victoria’s ex-service community.
The funding is intended to strengthen programs and services that improve the lives of veterans and their communities while addressing emerging or underserved needs within the veteran population.
Projects should demonstrate a clear connection to veteran welfare or wellbeing and provide meaningful benefits to the ex-service community in Victoria.
Funding Available
Funding limits depend on the type and geographic reach of the applicant organisation.
Key funding amounts include:
- State-wide organisations: Up to $150,000, excluding GST
- Sub-branches or regional organisations: Up to $50,000, excluding GST
- Project duration: Projects must be completed within 12 months of approval
The Victorian Government may approve a lower amount than the amount requested in an application.
Main Program Priorities
The Anzac Day Proceeds Fund prioritises projects addressing the needs of specific veteran communities and strengthening long-term welfare outcomes.
Priority areas include:
- Veteran welfare and wellbeing
- Women veterans
- First Nations veterans
- LGBTIQA+ veterans
- Veterans from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- Veterans with disability
- Veterans affected by service-related mental health impacts
- Veterans connected to post-1990 Australian Defence Force operations
- Sustainable projects that can continue beyond grant funding
- Collaborative initiatives and partnerships
- Community-based veteran support
- Ex-service community wellbeing
Applicants should clearly explain how their proposed project aligns with one or more of these priorities.
Who Can Benefit from the Funding?
Projects should primarily benefit members of Victoria’s ex-service community.
Beneficiaries may include:
- Current and former Australian Defence Force personnel where relevant to the program
- Veterans
- Veteran families and communities where activities contribute to veteran welfare
- Women veterans
- First Nations veterans
- LGBTIQA+ veterans
- Veterans from culturally diverse communities
- Veterans living with disability
- Veterans experiencing mental health impacts related to military service
Projects should clearly identify the target group and explain how activities will improve their welfare or wellbeing.
Support for Women Veterans
The program places particular emphasis on initiatives addressing the needs and experiences of women veterans.
Projects may focus on improving access to services, community participation, wellbeing support, social connection, or other relevant welfare needs.
Applicants should clearly demonstrate how the project responds to barriers or challenges experienced by women within the veteran community.
Support for First Nations Veterans
Projects supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans are also prioritised.
Initiatives should demonstrate culturally appropriate approaches and meaningful engagement with First Nations veterans or communities where relevant.
Applicants should explain how the project will improve participation, access, wellbeing, or community connection.
Support for LGBTIQA+ Veterans
The program encourages projects that strengthen inclusion and wellbeing for LGBTIQA+ veterans.
Projects may help address social isolation, barriers to services, community connection, wellbeing needs, or other relevant challenges.
Applications should clearly explain how activities will create meaningful and inclusive outcomes.
Support for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Veterans
Veterans from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds may face specific barriers when accessing services or participating in community programs.
Projects may seek to improve:
- Service accessibility
- Community engagement
- Social inclusion
- Communication
- Cultural responsiveness
- Connection with veteran support networks
Applicants should demonstrate how their project responds to identified needs within these communities.
Support for Veterans with Disability
Projects supporting veterans living with disability are a priority under the fund.
Initiatives may focus on accessibility, participation, social connection, wellbeing, inclusion, or improved access to veteran services.
Applicants should ensure that proposed activities are appropriately designed to respond to the needs of participants.
Service-Related Mental Health Support
The program prioritises projects addressing mental health impacts associated with military service.
Projects may support improved wellbeing, connection, access to appropriate services, or community-based support for veterans experiencing service-related mental health challenges.
Applicants should clearly demonstrate how activities contribute to veteran welfare and wellbeing.
Post-1990 Australian Defence Force Operations
Projects relating to veterans who served in Australian Defence Force operations after 1990 are also encouraged.
This priority recognises the changing profile of Australia’s veteran community and the need for services that respond to the experiences of more recent generations of veterans.
Applicants should explain how their activities address the specific needs of this group.
Sustainable Projects
The fund places value on projects that can continue producing benefits beyond the grant period.
Applicants should consider how their initiative can remain sustainable after funding ends.
A sustainability plan may include:
- Continued organisational support
- Volunteer involvement
- Future funding sources
- Partnerships
- Integration into existing services
- Community ownership
- Ongoing referral networks
- Long-term use of project resources
Projects should avoid relying entirely on continued grant funding where possible.
Collaborative Partnerships
The program encourages initiatives that build partnerships between organisations.
Collaboration may involve:
- Ex-service organisations
- Community groups
- Government services
- Health and wellbeing providers
- Local organisations
- Veteran support services
- Social enterprises
- Other relevant stakeholders
Partnerships can help expand project reach, improve service coordination, share expertise, and strengthen long-term sustainability.
Who Is Eligible to Apply?
Applicants must be incorporated not-for-profit organisations, eligible government entities, or other qualifying legal entities that meet the program requirements.
Eligible applicants may include:
- Incorporated associations
- Not-for-profit companies
- Government entities
- Eligible social enterprises
- Other eligible incorporated not-for-profit entities
Applicants must demonstrate a focus on delivering welfare or wellbeing services to the ex-service community in Victoria.
General Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Have an Australian Business Number
- Be an incorporated not-for-profit organisation or another eligible legal entity
- Be based in Australia
- Be financially solvent
- Provide welfare or wellbeing services to Victoria’s ex-service community
- Have no outstanding Victorian Government grant reports
- Meet all documentation and grant requirements
- Demonstrate that the proposed project aligns with program objectives
Applicants should confirm organisational eligibility before preparing a submission.
Can Unincorporated Groups Apply?
Yes. Unincorporated organisations may be able to apply through an approved auspice arrangement.
An auspice organisation is an eligible incorporated entity that takes formal responsibility for administering the grant on behalf of an unincorporated group.
The auspicing organisation may be responsible for:
- Receiving grant funds
- Financial administration
- Compliance
- Reporting
- Managing contractual obligations
Applicants using an auspice arrangement should ensure that responsibilities are clearly agreed before submission.
Project Duration
Approved projects must be completed within 12 months of funding approval.
Applicants should develop a realistic work plan that fits within this timeframe.
Project schedules should clearly identify:
- Start date
- Key activities
- Milestones
- Participant engagement
- Expected outputs
- Completion date
- Reporting requirements
Projects Must Not Start Before Funding
Projects cannot have started before the approved funding period.
Applicants should therefore avoid beginning funded activities before receiving formal approval.
The proposed project timeline should clearly demonstrate that implementation will commence only after approval.
Multiple Applications
Organisations may submit multiple applications for separate commemorative services, subject to the relevant funding limits.
Each application should represent a distinct activity or service and provide a clear budget and project rationale.
Applicants should ensure that multiple submissions do not duplicate the same activities or expenses.
What Should an Application Include?
Applications should provide sufficient information to demonstrate organisational eligibility, project need, program alignment, and expected impact.
Applicants should prepare information on:
- Organisation details
- Legal status
- Australian Business Number
- Financial status
- Veteran welfare or wellbeing experience
- Project description
- Target beneficiaries
- Program priorities addressed
- Proposed activities
- Expected outcomes
- Project timeline
- Budget
- Partnerships
- Sustainability
- Required supporting documents
Information should be clear, accurate, and consistent throughout the application.
How Applications Are Assessed
Applications will be assessed based on several core factors.
These include:
- Applicant eligibility
- Alignment with program priorities
- Relevance to veteran welfare and wellbeing
- Quality of information provided
- Expected project benefits
- Capacity to deliver the project
- Sustainability
- Collaboration where relevant
- Compliance with grant requirements
Meeting eligibility requirements does not guarantee funding.
Previous Funding Does Not Guarantee Future Support
Organisations that have previously received funding from the Anzac Day Proceeds Fund are not automatically guaranteed funding in future rounds.
Each new application will be considered according to the current program requirements, available funding, and assessment process.
Previous recipients should therefore provide complete and competitive applications rather than relying on earlier funding history.
Possibility of Reduced Funding
The Victorian Government may offer a grant amount lower than the amount originally requested.
Applicants should therefore consider whether their project could still proceed if partial funding is offered.
A well-structured budget may identify:
- Essential activities
- Optional activities
- Minimum viable project costs
- Other potential funding sources
- Co-contributions or partnerships
This can help demonstrate financial flexibility.
Why the Anzac Day Proceeds Fund Matters
Veterans may experience diverse welfare, health, employment, inclusion, social connection, and community participation needs after military service.
These needs can vary depending on:
- Service experiences
- Age
- Gender
- Cultural background
- Disability
- Mental health
- Location
- Transition from defence service
The Anzac Day Proceeds Fund helps community and government organisations respond to these needs through targeted, practical, and locally relevant initiatives.
How to Prepare an Application
Applicants should develop a clear proposal demonstrating need, eligibility, impact, and alignment with the fund’s priorities.
A practical process includes:
- Confirm organisational eligibility: Check legal status, Australian Business Number, financial solvency, and grant reporting requirements.
- Identify the veteran need: Clearly define the welfare or wellbeing issue the project will address.
- Identify target participants: Explain which veteran communities will benefit.
- Connect with priority groups: Demonstrate relevance to women, First Nations, LGBTIQA+, culturally diverse veterans, veterans with disability, or those experiencing service-related mental health impacts where applicable.
- Develop project activities: Clearly describe what will be delivered during the 12-month period.
- Define expected outcomes: Explain what changes or benefits the project will produce.
- Develop partnerships: Identify other organisations that can strengthen implementation where appropriate.
- Prepare a sustainability plan: Explain how project benefits may continue beyond the funding period.
- Prepare the budget: Keep requests within the relevant $150,000 or $50,000 funding limit.
- Collect supporting documents: Ensure all required organisational and project documentation is available.
- Check project timing: Confirm that the project has not already started.
- Review the application: Make sure all information is complete and clearly aligned with program priorities.
Tips for Preparing a Strong Application
A strong application should demonstrate a clear understanding of Victoria’s veteran community and the specific needs being addressed.
Applicants should:
- Clearly identify the veteran welfare issue.
- Demonstrate evidence of community need.
- Align the project with priority groups.
- Present realistic and measurable outcomes.
- Develop a clear 12-month implementation plan.
- Demonstrate organisational capacity.
- Build meaningful partnerships where relevant.
- Present a realistic budget.
- Explain how the project can continue or create lasting benefits.
- Ensure all grant reporting obligations are up to date.
- Avoid beginning project activities before approval.
Common Application Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should carefully check the eligibility and funding requirements before submission.
Common weaknesses may include:
- Applying without eligible legal status
- Not having an Australian Business Number
- Having outstanding government grant reports
- Failing to demonstrate a focus on Victoria’s ex-service community
- Providing unclear project outcomes
- Failing to connect the project with program priorities
- Requesting more than the relevant funding limit
- Proposing a project longer than 12 months
- Starting the project before funding approval
- Providing weak sustainability plans
- Failing to demonstrate partnerships where collaboration would strengthen the project
- Submitting incomplete documentation
- Assuming previous funding guarantees future support
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can state-wide organisations apply for?
State-wide organisations may apply for up to $150,000 excluding GST.
How much can regional organisations or sub-branches apply for?
Sub-branches and regional organisations may apply for up to $50,000 excluding GST.
How long can funded projects run?
Projects must be completed within 12 months of approval.
Who can apply?
Eligible applicants include incorporated not-for-profit organisations, not-for-profit companies, government entities, eligible social enterprises, and other qualifying entities providing welfare or wellbeing services to Victoria’s ex-service community.
Can an unincorporated group apply?
Yes. Unincorporated groups may apply through an approved auspice arrangement with an eligible incorporated organisation.
Which veteran groups are prioritised?
Priority groups include women veterans, First Nations veterans, LGBTIQA+ veterans, veterans from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, veterans living with disability, and veterans affected by service-related mental health impacts.
Does previous funding guarantee another grant?
No. Previous recipients are not guaranteed future funding, and each application is assessed against current program priorities and requirements.
Conclusion
The Anzac Day Proceeds Fund 2026–27 provides significant support for organisations delivering veteran welfare and wellbeing activities across Victoria.
State-wide organisations may apply for up to $150,000, while regional organisations and sub-branches may request up to $50,000, with projects required to be completed within 12 months.
Strong applications should demonstrate clear benefits for Victoria’s ex-service community, particularly priority veteran groups, while presenting realistic activities, measurable outcomes, collaboration, financial responsibility, and a credible plan for sustainability beyond the grant period.
For more information, visit Victorian Government.