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Apply Now: Safe Places for Faith Communities Grant Program (Australia)

Deadline: 30-Jan-2026

The Safe Places for Faith Communities Program provides grants to faith-based organizations in New South Wales to improve safety, resilience, and community wellbeing at places of worship. Funding supports security measures, incident preparedness, and recovery initiatives, with grants ranging from under $50,000 (Pathway A) to above $50,000 (Pathway B, requiring risk assessment).

Overview of the Program

The Safe Places for Faith Communities Program, funded and administered by Multicultural NSW, aims to support faith communities to gather safely while maintaining their religious heritage. The program emphasizes a resilience-based approach to safety, funding initiatives that protect people and property, build community cohesion, and strengthen safety and security through prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. Projects are designed to foster inclusive and resilient communities across New South Wales.

Funding Details

  • Grant Amounts:

    • Pathway A: Up to $50,000; no evidence-based security risk assessment required.

    • Pathway B: $50,000 or more; requires supporting evidence-based security risk assessment.

  • Purpose: Improve safety, resilience, and community wellbeing at faith-based gathering places.

  • Focus Areas: Security planning and capability, protection measures, incident management, and wellbeing and recovery initiatives.

Who is Eligible?

  • Organization Type: Non-profit sharing organizations managing places of worship or other eligible faith-based locations.

  • Location: Must be based within New South Wales.

  • Authority: Applicants must hold legal and institutional authority to implement proposed security measures.

  • Insurance and Compliance: Must hold public liability, workers compensation, and volunteer insurance; all prior Multicultural NSW grants must be acquitted.

Key Objectives and Priorities

  • Enable faith communities to safely profess, practice, and maintain their faith and heritage.

  • Reduce risks to people and property.

  • Build community resilience, wellbeing, and cohesion.

  • Strengthen safety and security through prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.

  • Fund initiatives that are practical, cost-effective, and measurable in outcomes.

How to Apply

  1. Confirm your organization is a non-profit sharing body managing a faith-based location in NSW.

  2. Determine the funding pathway: Pathway A (<$50,000) or Pathway B (≥$50,000 with risk assessment).

  3. Prepare a project plan detailing security measures, objectives, expected outcomes, and measurement strategies.

  4. Provide a balanced and accurate budget, disclosing co-contributions and past/current funding sources.

  5. Ensure all legal, insurance, and compliance requirements are met.

  6. Submit the application according to Multicultural NSW guidelines before the deadline.

Why It Matters

This program empowers faith communities to:

  • Safely gather and maintain religious practices without fear.

  • Strengthen preparedness and response capacity for potential risks.

  • Enhance community cohesion and resilience.

  • Reduce potential damage to people and property through proactive security measures.

Tips and Common Mistakes

  • Ensure clear demonstration of need for funding and expected outcomes.

  • Include cost-effective and measurable project plans.

  • Pathway B applicants must provide a credible, evidence-based security risk assessment.

  • Verify all insurance, licences, and prior grant acquittals are in order.

  • Avoid incomplete budgets, missing co-contributions, or unmeasured outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  1. Who can apply? Non-profit sharing organizations managing faith-based gathering places in NSW.

  2. What funding pathways exist? Pathway A (<$50,000, no risk assessment) and Pathway B (≥$50,000, requires risk assessment).

  3. What is the purpose of the grants? Improve safety, resilience, and community wellbeing at faith-based locations.

  4. What insurance and licences are required? Public liability, workers compensation, and volunteer insurance.

  5. How are outcomes measured? Applicants must demonstrate measurable program outcomes and provide reporting plans.

  6. Can previous grant recipients apply? Yes, provided all prior Multicultural NSW grants have been acquitted.

  7. Are co-contributions required? Applicants should confirm co-contributions in their project budget.

Conclusion

The Safe Places for Faith Communities Program enables faith organizations in New South Wales to strengthen safety, resilience, and community cohesion. With tailored funding pathways, clear objectives, and practical support for prevention, preparedness, and recovery, the program ensures that faith communities can gather securely and inclusively while maintaining their religious heritage.

For more information, visit NSW Government.