Disaster Resilience Grants

Design Element

Round Three 2025-26 changes

Who can apply

Eligible entities (e.g. ABN entities, First Nations organisations and Not-for-profit organisations) can develop a proposal. Lead Agencies submit Applications to NEMA on behalf of their jurisdictions.

Eligible activity types and domains

Support both infrastructure and other projects, but with focus on infrastructure (dedicated funding of $138 million). Projects are aligned to disaster resilience domains (Built, Social, Natural, Economic).

Project delivery timeframe

Increase from three to five years for infrastructure projects only.

Minimum project value

Minimum total project cost of $0.5 million for infrastructure projects only.

Application caps/limits

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Introduction of caps considering the relative populations and number of Applications previously submitted by each jurisdiction. Maximum number of Applications that can be submitted to NEMA is:

• Western Australia – 50
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands – 5
• Christmas Island – 5

Waivers of co-contribution requirements

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The option to apply for a partial or full waiver of the 50 per cent co-contribution requirement has been replaced by a tiered approach to co-contributions that reduces the co-contribution requirement for certain applicant types and project locations – see below.

Co-contribution requirement

Tiered approach:

• 50 per cent for most Applicants;
• 10 per cent of eligible project costs for First Nations organisations and local councils located in ‘very remote’ and ‘remote’ locations listed in Appendix A of the Guidelines; and
• 20 per cent of eligible project costs for other ‘low rate-based’ local councils listed in Appendix B of the Guidelines, and not-for-profit organisations.
• All parties named on an Application (i.e. the Applicant and any delivery partners) must contribute to the project financially, in-kind and/or through historical investments.

Selection criteria

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1. Contribution to disaster risk reduction, resilience and/or knowledge.
2. Alignment with national and state/territory/local disaster resilience and risk reduction plans, strategies and frameworks.
3. Capacity, capability and resources to deliver the project.

Evidence required (Max. file size must be less than 10MB)

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For all project types:

• evidence of the Applicant type (e.g. ABN, not-for-profit registration or ORIC registration) for eligibility and co-contribution purposes;
• a clear business case for the proposal, including a project plan, budget and risk management plan commensurate with the size and scale of the project;
• evidence of consultation or compelling reasons for not consulting, where required;
• cost estimates prepared by a quality surveyor or other relevant professional (e.g. actuarial or accounting advice that verifies project costs are accurate and realistic) for project valued over $1 million; or
• quotes or cost estimates prepared by the Applicant for projects valued under $1 million.

In addition, for infrastructure projects:

• a cost benefit analysis;
• copies of relevant designs and approvals (e.g. schematic plans, planning permits, development and building approvals, etc.); and
• evidence that the Applicant either owns the land/infrastructure being built/upgraded upon or has the landowner’s permission to use the land/infrastructure.

Additionally for joint Applications:

• letters of support from each delivery partner listed in the Application.

Additionally for multi-jurisdictional and national projects:

• confirmation in writing from the Lead Agencies in relevant states and territories that they have no objections in principle to the project being implemented in their jurisdictions.

Failure to provide this information may result in a Project Proposal being ruled ineligible (e.g. if evidence of entity type is not provided) or be taken into account in assessing an Application (e.g. if evidence of consultation, cost estimates or partner support is missing in circumstances where they are required).

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Applicants may provide up to eight additional (optional) attachments per project in support of their Project Proposal.

Business as usual

‘Business as usual’ activities are not eligible for DRF funding. As part of this change, Applicants must justify why the project activity is not ‘business as usual’.