COVID funding support for businesses Australia-wide

Last updated 2 December 2021.

Whilst Victoria and NSW have been the focus for a lot of Government support from the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, many parts of Australia continue to be impacted by the pandemic. Business owners have had to change their strategy, adapt to the new environment and operate in a variety of new and different ways.

Whether that has meant working remotely, trading by takeway only or providing services via the internet, businesses have been resilient and are doing everything they can to come out in the best position possible. Whilst some may have pivoted, others are still struggling.

To financially support businesses all across the country, the federal and individual state and territory governments continue to provide funding through grants and a variety of programs.

We have provided a list of all of the current financial assistance available for employers across Australia. For more information on each support measure, including eligibility and to apply, click on the title of the grant or program in our list below.

To view the full list on the Business Victoria website, click the button below:

If you have any questions regarding any of the available support, or would like assistance determining your eligibility, we can help. Please give us a call on 03 5443 0344 or email afs@afsbendigo.com.au

All states and territories:

• JobMaker Hiring Credit scheme – An incentive for businesses to employ additional young job seekers aged 16 to 35 years of age.
• Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements – Support for businesses and Group Training Organisations to take on new apprentices and trainees.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT):

• COVID-19 Disaster Payment – Support for individuals who cold not work due to an ACT COVID-19 public health order.
• COVID-19 Small Business Hardship Scheme Act – Support of up to $10,000 in the form of a credit for small businesses impacted by the current lockdown.
• Payroll tax exemption – Wages paid to new employees who are apprentices or trainees employed after 1 August 2020 are exempt from payroll tax from the start of their employment until 30 June 2022.

New South Wales (NSW):

• COVID-19 Disaster Payment – Support for individuals if you couldn’t work due to a NSW COVID-19 public health order.
• Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate – A rebate to help pay for government fees and charges.
• NSW Performing Arts COVID Support Package – Funding to help performing arts venues, producers and promoters recover from the impacts of the restrictions.
• COVID-19 Tax Relief Measures – Various tax relief measures for eligible NSW businesses impacted by COVID-19.

Northern Territory:

• COVID-19 Disaster Payment – Support for individuals if you couldn’t work due to a Northern Territory COVID-19 public health order.
• Trade Support Scheme – COVID-19 Quick Response Grants – Receive funding based on a 50-50 co-contribution to create or expand
• Visitation Reliant Small Business Support Program – A one off payment for businesses reliant on interstate visitation.

Queensland:

• Major Tourism Experiences Hardship Grant – Two payments for major Queensland tourism businesses facing significant hardship as a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions.
• Queensland COVID-19 cleaning rebate – Supports small businesses that have been listed as an exposure site by Queensland Health.
• Queensland Tourism Business Financial Counselling Services – Provides tourism businesses with free support and advice to help them through the impacts of COVID-19.
• Support for tourism operators and hospitality providers – Various fees and charge relief is available for tourism operators and hospitality providers impacted by the lockdowns.
• COVID-19 Disaster Payment – Support for individuals if you couldn’t work due to a Queensland COVID-19 public health order.

South Australia:

• COVID-19 Business Hardship Grant SA – A one off grant for South Australian businesses impacted by COVID-19.
• COVID Clean Infection Control Training – An accredited program providing business owners, supervisors and employees with infection control training.

Tasmania:

• COVID-19 Micro and Small Business Border Closure Critical Support Grant Round 2 TAS – Funding for Tasmanian micro and small businesses that have suffered severe hardship as a result of the lockdowns and border restrictions that are in place in other states.
• Business Growth Loan Scheme – Provides businesses with concessional loans to help them develop and transition to sustainable post-COVID-19 operating models.
• Rapid Response Skills Initiative – Provides up to $3,000 towards the cost of training for eligible people who have lost casual, full-time or part-time work in the last 12 months due to retrenchment, downsizing or business closure.

Victoria:

• COVIDSafe Outdoor Activation Voucher Program VIC – A voucher of $2,000 to help VIC businesses, not-for-profits, community organisations and trader associations reopen in a COVIDSafe way.
• COVID-19 Disaster Payment – Support for individuals if you couldn’t work due to a Victoria COVID-19 public health order.
• Coronavirus Payroll Tax Relief – Various tax relief measures for Victorian businesses impacted by COVID-19.
• COVIDSafe Deep Cleaning Rebate – Provides small and medium-sized businesses with a rebate to help offset the costs of hiring professional cleaning services to conduct a decontamination clean.
• Jobs Victoria Fund – Support for employers that are ready to take on new staff and have been affected by COVID-19.
• Seasonal Worker Program and Pacific Labour Scheme – The Victorian Government is covering the majority of costs associated with quarantine arrangements for Pacific workers to undertake mandatory hotel quarantine in Tasmania before arriving in Victoria to support agriculture businesses.

Western Australia (WA):

• Apprenticeship and Traineeship Re-engagement Incentive – Provides financial assistance to businesses who employ an apprentice or trainee whose training contract was terminated or cancelled by a previous employer on or after March 1 2020.