Notifications & Alerts

Scam Alerts

Possible scam alert

The Department of Social Services (DSS) has recently received reports of an email scam where a scammer posing as a representative of the department has emailed members of the public offering a $120,000 grant under the Social Enterprise Development Initiative program. The scammer requests the victim’s contact details, and then sends through a false ‘grant certificate’ to notify them they have been selected, which includes a falsified signature of a senior department officer. To gain access to the payment, victims are then told they need to pay a $250 fee to unlock a debit card. 

If you are contacted by one of these scam attempts, do not provide any personal or financial information. 

Scams and how to report them

If you are concerned that a phone call, SMS, voicemail or email claiming to be from the ATO, the Community Grants Hub or the Department of Social Services is not genuine, do not reply to it. We encourage you to:

  • report the scam to the National Anti Scam Centre on the Scamwatch website
  • you can also report it to the relevant government department using the contact details on their website
  • for scams relating to the Department of Social Services contact the fraud reporting hotline on 1800 054 312, or email the fraud mailbox at [email protected]
  • contact the ATO on 1800 008 540.

If you have already provided information or are concerned that a crime has or may be committed, please immediately contact the police, your bank or the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) if it relates to your passport details.

It is important to know that Departmental officers at the Department of Social Services do not:

  • cold call members of the public to promise grant funding
  • contact members of the public through social media or email to offer grant opportunities.  Legitimate grant opportunities are published on GrantConnect. Legitimate grants will never require the recipient to pay a fee to access the amounts, and debit cards are not used to disburse grant payments
  • contact members of the public seeking personal information, such as bank details, passport or license numbers.

It is a serious matter to impersonate a Commonwealth public official. It may even be a criminal offence carrying a penalty of imprisonment in some circumstances.

Further advice on scams and information on where to get help if you think you have been scammed is available from the National Anti-Scam Centre Scamwatch website.

If you think you have been scammed, find out where to get help.

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Open Grants

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Justice Reinvestment in Central Australia Program - Round 3

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Grant Category

Indigenous Communities

Closing Date & Time

AEDT

Selection Process

Closed non-competitive

Delivered on behalf of

Attorney-General’s Department
Successful initiatives under this opportunity will prevent and reduce Central Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ contact with the criminal justice system through place-based, community led measures to prevent crime, treat drug and alcohol misuse or address illegal drug use.
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WorkFoundations Paid Employment Pathways Program

Paid Employment Pathways Package - WorkFoundations

WorkFoundations Paid Employment Pathways Program

Grant Category

Employment Services

Closing Date & Time

AEDT

Selection Process

Open competitive

Delivered on behalf of

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
The WorkFoundations grant opportunity aims to fund social enterprises and businesses who can provide tailored, paid employment placements for job seekers facing challenging barriers to employment.
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National Child and Family Investment Strategy – Innovation Fund

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Grant Category

Community Development

Closing Date & Time

AEDT

Selection Process

Targeted competitive

Delivered on behalf of

Department of Social Services
The Innovation Fund will provide 3 years of funding for projects that will prepare organisations in the child and family sector for the transfer of resources to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, and shift service delivery to prevention and early supports for children and families.
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Native Title Anthropologist Grant Program 2025-2028

Australian Government crest and Attorney General’s Department

Grant Category

Indigenous Arts and Culture

Closing Date & Time

AEDT

Selection Process

Open competitive

Delivered on behalf of

Attorney General’s Department
The program is part of the Government’s wider investment in the native title system. It aligns with Government commitments to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, which sets out 4 Priority Reforms and 17 socioeconomic outcomes which aim to improve the lives of First Nations people.
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Strong and Resilient Communities Activity – Inclusive Communities (SARC – IC) Round 4 Grants

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Grant Category

Social Inclusion

Closing Date & Time

AEDT

Selection Process

Open competitive

Delivered on behalf of

Department of Social Services
The Strong and Resilient Communities - Inclusive Communities (SARC – IC) Round 4 grants aim to support vulnerable and disadvantaged people on pathways to self-reliance and empowerment through local, community-driven solutions that support them to participate socially and economically by providing grant funding for one-off, time limited projects of up to 2 years.
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Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Program: Multicultural Peak Body Funding

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Grant Category

Multiculturalism

Closing Date & Time

AEDT

Selection Process

Open competitive

Delivered on behalf of

Department of Home Affairs
The Multicultural Peak Body Funding Program grant opportunity will enable national multicultural peak bodies to work in partnership with the Australian Government to strengthen Australia’s multicultural capacity and promote a greater understanding and acceptance of Australia’s diversity
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Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031 - National Disability Conference Initiative 2025-26

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Grant Category

Services for People with Disabilities

Closing Date & Time

AEDT

Selection Process

Open competitive

Delivered on behalf of

Department of Social Services
The National Disability Conference Initiative provides funding of up to $10,000 to conference organisers to help people with disability participate in nationally focused, disability-related, conferences held in Australia.
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Assistance Grants - Access to Industry Priority Uses of Agvet Chemicals 2024-25 (Round 10)

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Grant Category

Farming

Closing Date & Time

AEDT

Selection Process

Closed non-competitive

Delivered on behalf of

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
The grant program aims to improve access for industry-identified priority uses of agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals.
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Forestry Industry - Support Plantation Establishment Round 3

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Grant Category

Agriculture

Closing Date & Time

AEDT

Selection Process

Demand-driven

Delivered on behalf of

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
This grant supports the establishment of new long rotation softwood and hardwood plantation forests and assists the sector to respond to the projected growth in demand for domestically sourced timber resources, contributing to Australia’s carbon emissions reduction commitments.
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Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program

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Grant Category

Commemorative

Closing Date & Time

AEDT

Selection Process

Open competitive

Delivered on behalf of

Department of Veterans’ Affairs
The Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program aims to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Australia’s defence personnel in wars, conflicts and peace operations, and their families.
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