Digital Restart Fund

This program aims to support digital and information and communications technology initiatives across the government sector, and for that purpose, to fund projects that:

• Develop and implement digital and information and communications technology products or services that, for the purpose of improving the delivery of services by government agencies and related interactions.

• Develop and implement digital and information and communications technology products or services that are capable of being used by multiple government agencies in a cost effective manner.
• Optimise existing technologies, applications, computer systems or processes used by government agencies to improve the functionality and operational life of those technologies, applications, computer systems or processes.
• Provide persons employed in or by a government agency with education, training and information relating to digital and information and communications technology.

Eligible applicants include businesses across New South Wales.

See the guidelines for full details of organisations eligible for DRF support.

Eligible projects include those that fall into one of the following categories:

• Life events, life journeys: The project improves the customer experience of those accessing a service or product due to a significant event during the individual’s life, such as having a baby; recording related interactions between individual and entities connected with the delivery of services by a government agency; and implementing solutions to rectify impediments to service delivery.
• State digital assets: A product or service that can be used across more than one NSW Government agency to ensure a consistent experience, reduce duplication and save costs.
• Front line systems modernisation (legacy): The project optimises existing technologies, applications, computer systems or processes to improve the functionality and operational life of those technologies, applications, computer systems or processes.
• Capability building: The project provides new approaches to the learning and skill development of NSW Government employees in a risk-free environment that fosters exploration, innovation and best practices relating to the customer-service experience.

See the guidelines for full details of projects and activities eligible for DRF support.

Projects will be assessed against the following criteria:

1. Strategic alignment to ensure the project aligns with the department’s objectives and existing government priorities.
2. Feasibility/ Deliverability assessment to ensure the project can be delivered with reasonable effort given existing capabilities.
3. Economic viability to ensure the project is expected to produce a net economic benefit to the State, improving economic growth and productivity (We look at cost-benefit analysis and score them against other projects).
4. Affordability assessment to ensure that project costs are reasonable and accurate.
5. Desirability (Social impact) assessment to ensure that the investment will generate a positive impact on citizen and/or internal user experience. Business cases should link to NSW’s social impact policy.
6. Projects are then weighted to allow for comparisons between projects for prioritisation. This step confirms the project’s priority against other projects submitted to ERC for approval.

Applicants can look at the Investment Prioritisation Calculation Table for the current weighting calculations. Over time, the scoring and weighting may change depending on government priorities and to ensure equity of funding.

See the guidelines for full details of the assessment criteria.

Applicants must:

• Read and understand the guidelines.
• Ensure eligibility for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria will not be considered.
• Provide complete information requirements

Applicants must know how to prepare a business case.

• Projects following the seed funding pathway require a Lean Business Case.
• Projects that follow the scale funding pathway require a Full Business Case.

See the guidelines to know how to prepare a business case and for full details of information requirements.

Applicants may contact the Digital Restart Team via email.

Register your interest here with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this program and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.