Grants up to $200,000 support the veteran community by improving health and social wellbeing, building community capacity, expanding projects, and increasing awareness of veteran issues.
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What is the Veteran Wellbeing Grants (VWG)?
The Veteran Wellbeing Grants (VWG) Program 2025–26 provides funding to support projects that improve the health, independence, social connection and overall wellbeing of Australian veterans and their families. Administered by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) through the Community Grants Hub, the program offers two funding streams, each designed to provide practical, accessible and meaningful support to the veteran community.
The program aims to fund projects that enhance wellbeing, build community capacity, increase connection, improve health behaviours, raise awareness of veteran issues, and expand proven activities into additional regions across Australia. All funded projects must deliver clear veteran benefit and fill gaps not already addressed by Australian, state, territory or local government programs.
This combined listing summarises the full details of both available streams:
- Stream A – Small Grants: Up to $50,000
- Stream B – Large Grants: $50,001 to $200,000
Veteran Wellbeing Grants level of support
Stream A – Small Grants
- Minimum amount: No minimum
- Maximum amount: $50,000
- Co-contribution: Not mandatory, but strongly encouraged as it may improve competitiveness.
- Intended for local, community-based, small-scale practical projects and accessibility or safety-related minor works.
Stream B – Large Grants
- Minimum amount: $50,001
- Maximum amount: $200,000
- Co-contribution: Mandatory — financial or in-kind contributions must be demonstrated and supported by written evidence.
- Designed for large-scale wellbeing projects with broader community reach, potential multi-location delivery and stronger reporting obligations.
Funding in both streams is paid in full after the grant agreement is executed.
Veteran Wellbeing Grants important dates
- Applications close: 5 February 2026 at 9:00 pm AEDT
- Assessment period: Within 11 weeks
- Approval of outcomes: Within 16 weeks
- Applicant notifications: Within 17 weeks
- Grant agreements finalised: Within 20 weeks
- Earliest project start date: 17 July 2026
- Maximum project duration: 12 months
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Veteran Wellbeing Grants objectives
The objectives of the VWG Program are to:
- maintain and improve the independence and quality of life of members of the veteran community, by providing funding for activities and projects that sustain or enhance health and social wellbeing
- deliver activities and projects not already provided by Australian, state, territory or local government funding to the veteran community to build future community capacity
- expand on existing activities and projects offered to the veteran community in new regions within Australia or in the development of new activities and projects that will be offered in more than one location
- raise awareness of the important issues faced by the veteran community.
Activities and projects eligible for Veteran Wellbeing Grants support
Both Streams (A & B)
Eligible activities include those that promote positive engagement, health, safety, social connection, skill-building and wellbeing for veterans and their families. These may include:
Wellbeing & Social Connection Activities
- Structured wellbeing programs (exercise, yoga, mindfulness, nutrition, art therapy).
- Peer support or mentoring groups.
- Social groups designed to reduce loneliness and isolation.
- Life skills and resilience workshops.
- Excursions or day activities (excluding food-related costs).
Facility Improvements & Equipment (Small-scale)
- Minor refurbishments to improve accessibility (ramps, rails, widened doorways).
- Safety equipment (e.g., defibrillators).
- Repairs to roofs, flooring, electrical systems, kitchens or bathrooms.
- Replacement of essential equipment or appliances.
- Tools and equipment for craft, woodworking or wellbeing activities.
Operational Eligible Expenses
- Project staff salaries, facilitator costs and on-costs.
- Volunteer training and expenses.
- Venue hire.
- Domestic travel and accommodation (must include itemised quote without meals).
- Digital or IT costs (including website upgrades, internet, devices).
- Ingredients for cooking programs.
Stream B Additional Scope
Stream B allows for broader-scale, multi-location, complex or high-impact projects, such as:
- Multi-region coordinated wellbeing programs
- Expansion of large-scale social, physical or mental wellbeing initiatives
- Programs supporting multiple veteran cohorts across wide areas
- Collaboration between multiple ESOs and service providers
- Projects requiring significant facilitation, staffing or outreach
Ineligible Expenditures
Across both streams, the VWG Program will not fund:
- Commemorative events or activities
- Activities already funded wholly by other government programs
- Construction of new buildings or major capital works
- Cosmetic-only works (e.g., painting) not improving access or safety
- Landscaping unrelated to accessibility
- Catering, food, drinks or alcohol (including meals in accommodation packages)
- Overseas travel or accommodation
- Routine operational costs (rent, utilities, admin costs)
- Salaries not directly related to project delivery
- Medical or clinical treatment
- Commercial or profit-generating ventures
- Vehicle running costs (fuel, registration, insurance)
- Projects not providing clear veteran benefit
- Retrospective costs or activities already completed
- Activities primarily benefiting non-veteran participants
Other Veteran Wellbeing Grants important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Veteran Wellbeing Grants support
Applicants must be either:
1. An Ex-Service Organisation (ESO)
An ESO must meet all eligibility criteria, including:
- Supporting veterans and their families through advocacy, wellbeing, social or practical services
- Not charging fees for claims or wellbeing support
- Being a legally incorporated entity
2. A non-ESO as the lead of a consortium with at least one eligible ESO
Eligible entity types
- Company
- Incorporated Association
- Cooperative
- Indigenous Corporation
- Statutory Entity
Not eligible
- Individuals
- Sole traders
- Partnerships
- Unincorporated associations (unless part of a consortium)
- Local governments
- International organisations
- Organisations on the National Redress Scheme list of non-participants
- Organisations on the WGEA non-compliant list
Not-for-profits must be ACNC-registered.
Veteran Wellbeing Grants assessment criteria
Criterion 1: Project Description, Need, Target Cohort and Location
1.1 Project or activity to be undertaken
Applicants must describe in detail:
- What will be delivered (activities, programs, refurbishments).
- Frequency, duration, structure and components of the project.
- For facility works: scope, tasks, access/safety improvements.
- (Stream B allows up to 3000 characters, Stream A 1000 characters.)
1.2 Need for the project
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Evidence-based need, using research, consultation or stakeholder input.
- Gaps in current services not addressed by government funding.
- Risks or issues affecting veterans and how the project addresses them.
- For facility upgrades: how the works improve veteran access or use.
1.3 Target cohort
Applicants must identify:
- Cohorts served (women veterans, younger veterans, transitioning ADF members, First Nations veterans, at-risk cohorts).
- Number of participants expected.
- If non-veterans are involved, proportion of veterans vs others.
1.4 Location
Applicants must explain:
- Where the project is being delivered
- Why that location was chosen
- Any regional, remote or underserved community considerations
Criterion 2: Outcomes, Alignment with Program Outcomes, and Success Measures
2.1 Expected outcomes
Applicants must describe:
- Specific health, wellbeing, social or safety improvements
- Community engagement increases
- Longer-term benefits for veterans and families
2.2 Alignment with VWG Program outcomes
Stream A: Must address at least two VWG program outcomes.
Stream B: Must address at least three VWG program outcomes.
Program outcomes include:
- Sustainability beyond the funded period
- Increased social and community engagement
- Improved health behaviours and safer environments
- Tailored support for vulnerable cohorts
- Cross-organisational collaboration
- Increased awareness of veteran issues and services
2.3 Project success
Applicants must explain how they will measure and demonstrate success through:
- Participant surveys (pre/post wellbeing)
- Attendance, completion rates and engagement data
- Feedback from veteran participants
- Analysis of behavioural or social improvements
- Reporting arrangements and evidence collection
Criterion 3: Organisational Capacity, Partnerships and Risk Management
3.1 Past experience
Applicants must provide examples demonstrating:
- Experience running similar projects or wellbeing initiatives
- Proven results and positive outcomes achieved
- Delivery capacity and capability
3.2 Links to the veteran community and partnerships
Applicants must outline:
- Strong veteran community connections
- Relationships with ESOs, community hubs, service providers
- How partnerships will support project delivery
- Evidence of commitment (letters of support strongly recommended)
3.3 Project delivery and risks
Applicants must identify:
- Delivery plan for completion within 12 months
- Operational, logistical, financial or staffing risks
- Mitigation plans ensuring project continuity
- Compliance for child-related or vulnerable-persons work (if relevant)
Criterion 4 (Stream B only): Performance Measures and Monitoring
Required only for applications of $100,000 or more.
Applicants must demonstrate capacity to meet mandatory measurable targets, including:
- At least 75% of participants completing the program
- Feedback collected from at least 50% of veteran participants, with 95% positive feedback
- At least 50% of veterans demonstrating improvements aligned to project objectives
- Less than 10% variance on forecast costs
Applicants must also set up to three additional project-specific targets and describe data collection, management and reporting methods.
How do I get the Veteran Wellbeing Grants?
To be competitive in Stream A or Stream B, applicants should demonstrate:
- A clear, well-scoped project with direct veteran benefit
- Strong alignment to VWG objectives and outcomes
- Evidence-backed community need
- A realistic and detailed budget with itemised quotes
- Capacity to deliver within 12 months
- Strong organisational experience or consortium capability
- Meaningful partnerships and community support
- A clear evaluation and reporting plan
- For Stream B: mandatory co-contributions with written proof
- For large projects: robust risk management and sustainability plans
- Compliance with all ACNC, ASIC, Redress Scheme, WGEA requirements
- Public liability insurance (if activities involve people)
- For facility works: all necessary approvals, owner consents and drawings
Information to prepare for the Veteran Wellbeing Grants application
Applicants will need to prepare:
- Project description, objectives and target cohort details
- Evidence of need and identified service gaps
- Project location information
- Itemised budget and quotes
- Bank account verification
- Public liability insurance
- Building approvals (if applicable)
- Letters of support (recommended for both streams)
- Risk management plan
- Organisational policies and strategic documents (may be requested)
- Co-contribution evidence (mandatory for Stream B)
- Performance measurement plan (mandatory for $100k+ projects in Stream B)
- Evaluation plan or quote (required for $100k+ Stream B projects)
Applying for the Veteran Wellbeing Grants
Applications must be submitted electronically through GrantConnect using the correct form for the correct stream. Applicants may submit multiple applications but must propose fundamentally different projects.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Veteran Wellbeing Grants resources
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