Are you a health care provider operating in the NSW Hunter, New England and Central Coast areas, and adversely impacted by the severe weather events in May 2025?  Then you may be eligible for a $1,000 grant from the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network (PHN).

Eligible Businesses

General Practices, Pharmacies, Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS) and Allied Health Providers who have a fixed practice premise located in the Hunter New England and Central Coast areas affected by the weather event.

Allied Health providers eligible to apply include:

• Psychology
• Physiotherapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Podiatry
• Dietetics
• Exercise Physiotherapists
• Speech Pathology

Note: other allied health providers will be considered on a case-to-case basis.

Applicants must have suffered a service closure impacting their service delivery from a premise located within the listed LGAs during the period of the event.

Note that telehealth providers without a physical premise in the affected area are not eligible.

Learn more

Click here to learn more and apply for the PHN Business Continuity Support Grants

Note applications close 10 June 2025

Wayne Wanders is an experienced Business Advisor and Outsourced CFO who can help to scale and grow your business profitably. Wayne may also be able to assist you in preparing any grant application. 

Contact Wayne on wayne@arealcfo.com.au or 0412 227 052.

Click on the below buttons to access free Resources developed by Wayne Wanders, A Real CFO to help your business scale and grow profitably

And Wayne is always posting about new grants, funding options and other resources on LinkedIn that can help your business scale and grow profitably.  Click on the below links and connect with Wayne or follow A Real CFO on LinkedIn.

Want a confidential discussion on your business situation, help with your grant application or to learn more about my Outsourced CFO Services, simply email me at wayne@aRealCFO.com.au or call me on 0412 227 052

Are you a business with online sales, how would like to win up to $10,000 in free shipping + more as part of the Sendle and ReadyToShip Small Business Growth Fund?

And there are benefits for everyone else who applies including some discounts of Sendle standard shipping rates.

Who is eligible?

Online sellers who operate through a website, eCommerce marketplace, or social media store are eligible to apply.  Your business must hold an active ABN, be operating in Australia for at least 12 months with annual turnover less than $1.5m. 

Learn More

Click here to Learn more

Note applications close 13 June 2025

Wayne Wanders is an experienced Business Advisor and Outsourced CFO who can help to scale and grow your business profitably. Wayne may also be able to assist you in preparing any grant application. 

Contact Wayne on wayne@arealcfo.com.au or 0412 227 052.

Click on the below buttons to access free Resources developed by Wayne Wanders, A Real CFO to help your business scale and grow profitably

And Wayne is always posting about new grants, funding options and other resources on LinkedIn that can help your business scale and grow profitably.  Click on the below links and connect with Wayne or follow A Real CFO on LinkedIn.

Want a confidential discussion on your business situation, help with your grant application or to learn more about my Outsourced CFO Services, simply email me at wayne@aRealCFO.com.au or call me on 0412 227 052

If you are a small independent hospitality business in Sydney or Melbourne, and want some funding, then the Backing International Small Restaurants Grant program may be what you are looking for.  This program will provide 15 grants of $23,000 to support the venue for long term business sustainability.

Are you Eligible?

To be eligible for the Backing International Small Restaurants program you:

• Any restaurant, pub, bar, café with food service in Greater Sydney or Greater Melbourne
• Be currently open for business, in operation for more than one year and have a brick and mortar location/storefront
• Be a small/independently-owned restaurant, café, bar or pub with food offering and not part
• of a franchise with more than 5 locations
• Have an annual revenue in 2024 of less than $2m. 

Here are the 2024 recipients from Sydney.  Rising Sun Workshop – Newtown; Rebels N Misfits – Darlinghurst; Little Lagos Bistro & Bar – Newtown; Don Adan Coffee – Mosman;  I Should be Souvlaki – Newtown.

Assessment Criteria

Each hospitality business will be evaluated on:

• Clear use of grant funds and its impact on the restaurant.
• Grant funds must be able to be deployed quickly in a 5-month timeframe
• Contribution to historic, cultural, or community identity  
• Explanation of hardships that the restaurant has endured
• Owned and/or operated by or serving members of the community who have been disproportionately impacted by economic challenges or disasters 

What can the moneys be used for?

The grant funds must be used towards critical business needs that support the restaurant for long term business sustainability.

Potential uses could include critical improvements needed to sustain operations such as enhancing digital capabilities, building outdoor dining spaces, purchasing new equipment and making other physical improvements. Utility costs are a potential use but must not exceed 15% of the grant.

Applicants are required to provide an outline of their planned use of funds in their application.

Note: Rent, salaries, loan repayments, food supplies, and alcohol are not eligible grant fund uses.

Learn more

Click here to learn more about the Backing International Small Restaurants program

Note applications close 30 June 2025

Wayne Wanders is an experienced Business Advisor and Outsourced CFO who can help to scale and grow your business profitably. Wayne may also be able to assist you in preparing any grant application. 

Contact Wayne on wayne@arealcfo.com.au or 0412 227 052.

Click on the below buttons to access free Resources developed by Wayne Wanders, A Real CFO to help your business scale and grow profitably

And Wayne is always posting about new grants, funding options and other resources on LinkedIn that can help your business scale and grow profitably.  Click on the below links and connect with Wayne or follow A Real CFO on LinkedIn.

Want a confidential discussion on your business situation, help with your grant application or to learn more about my Outsourced CFO Services, simply email me at wayne@aRealCFO.com.au or call me on 0412 227 052

Tennis Australia in conjunction with the Australian Open runs the startup program AO Startups.  It is targeted to solving large problems in sport, health and entertainment to build, test or pilot on the world stage with Tennis Australia and the Australian Open.

And applications for this the next intake are now open.  Focus is on:

• The Quantified Human – Technology with a focus on health, wellness and the quantified athlete
• The Event Experience – Technology powered by AI that drives automation in stadia, media, fan engagement and event management
• The Padel & Pickleball Experience – Opportunities focused on growing the commercialisation of the sport of Padel and Pickeball
• The Wildcard – If you are building product or experiences outside our three core streams, yet will revolutionise sport, entertainment, health or sustainability, then apply as a Wildcard

Benefits

The benefits of the AO Startups program include:

• Gain critical exposure and learning through piloting and proof of concept of your technology at the AO or other Tennis Australia channels
• Build brand credibility through official designation as an “AO Startup”
• Get access to specific Tennis Australia executives, VC’s and industry leaders to accelerate your journey to sustained success
• Achieve product-market fit through advice and testing across all areas of our sport and events
• Possible investment via WildCard Ventures.

Learn More

Click here to learn about AO Startups program

Note applications for intake 6 close 28 May 2025

Wayne Wanders is an experienced Business Advisor and Outsourced CFO who can help to scale and grow your business profitably. Wayne may also be able to assist you in preparing any grant application. 

Contact Wayne on wayne@arealcfo.com.au or 0412 227 052.

Click on the below buttons to access free Resources developed by Wayne Wanders, A Real CFO to help your business scale and grow profitably

And Wayne is always posting about new grants, funding options and other resources on LinkedIn that can help your business scale and grow profitably.  Click on the below links and connect with Wayne or follow A Real CFO on LinkedIn.

Want a confidential discussion on your business situation, help with your grant application or to learn more about my Outsourced CFO Services, simply email me at wayne@aRealCFO.com.au or call me on 0412 227 052

Yoga for Good Foundation Grants are available to inspire yoga teachers and organisations with worthy goals to do good in their community via yoga.

The average amount of funding that is applied for is up to $10,000, but can be as high as $20,000.

If you are awarded funding, that may involve you agreeing to be one of their brand ambassadors, and they will promote your work via their website, eNewsletters and Social media channels – helping you raise your profile and awareness for the project.

Click here to learn more and apply

Current round of applications close 31 May 2025

Wayne Wanders is an experienced Business Advisor and Outsourced CFO who can help to scale and grow your business profitably. Wayne may also be able to assist you in preparing any grant application. 

Contact Wayne on wayne@arealcfo.com.au or 0412 227 052.

Click on the below buttons to access free Resources developed by Wayne Wanders, A Real CFO to help your business scale and grow profitably

And Wayne is always posting about new grants, funding options and other resources on LinkedIn that can help your business scale and grow profitably.  Click on the below links and connect with Wayne or follow A Real CFO on LinkedIn.

Want a confidential discussion on your business situation, help with your grant application or to learn more about my Outsourced CFO Services, simply email me at wayne@aRealCFO.com.au or call me on 0412 227 052

The QLD Ignite Spark Program supports Queensland-based small to medium sized businesses that are creating new and innovative products or services.

Funding of $50 000 to $75 000 (excluding GST) is available for projects with a duration of up to twelve months with a matched funding contribution as outlined below:

Tier 1 – For applicants headquartered in South East Queensland, a 20 per cent matched funding contribution is required.

Tier 2 – For Indigenous businesses and/or applicants headquartered in a Queensland region a 10 per cent matched funding contribution is required.

Business Eligibility

To be eligible for funding, applicant organisations must at the time of application:

• be a business headquartered in Queensland with an ABN and registered for GST
• have no more than 50 full-time-equivalent employees (or a subsidiary of a group of companies that has more than 50 full-time-equivalent employees)
• not have received funding for the proposed project activity from either the state, federal or local government

To be eligible for funding, at the time of application, projects must:

• have an existing functional prototype for a product and/or service that is scalable to meet industry/market demand
• must demonstrate that the product or service is ready to be validated and not currently in the market

Eligible Projects

Eligible Ignite Spark Program projects must relate to developing an innovative product and/or service in the following context:

• innovative solutions to existing problems
• new to world innovation
• innovation diffusion (a unique application of a technology that is significantly different to any previous innovation in the market)
• innovation in the Indigenous context – identified by the applicant as innovative to cultural and community practices

Ineligible projects include:

• clinical trials
• development of a product and/or service for internal use of the applicant organisation only
• development of a concept for a new business
• any improvement of an existing product and/or service that is already in market
• minor modification/improvement of an existing product and/or service already in an overseas market for the Australian market
• commercialisation/entry into market or expansion into new markets if the product and/or service is already in market.

Eligible Project Expenditure

Ignite Spark Program expenditure must be related to project specific commercialisation activities and fall within the following eligible cost categories:

• salary expenditure (including salary-related on-costs) for employees directly contributing to the delivery of the project (capped at 20% of the total project cost)
• minor market driven modifications
• industry compliance testing
• product validation including design for manufacturing assembly and design for manufacturing at scale
• small scale production of prototype for showcasing and demonstration purposes
• third party technical services supporting testing and validation
• third party services providing advice, strategy and planning relating to intellectual property protection and/or intellectual property protection costs
• equipment not exceeding $9,000 per item (capped at 10% of the total project cost)
• consumables, economy travel, accommodation and subsistence costs.

It is expected that all Ignite Ideas funding will be expended in Queensland, unless it can be demonstrated that expenditure outside Queensland is essential to ensure successful delivery of the project.

Costs not eligible include:

• costs to commercialise products and/or services
• marketing, promotional and business development costs
• capital works and/or physical infrastructure including any buildings, telecommunications and IT networks
• business as usual costs

Application Process

There is a 2 stage application process.  The first stage is lodging an expression of interest.  Selected stage Expression of Interest applicants will be asked to lodge a full application.

Note Organisations and their related parties are limited to one application per funding round.

Expression of Interest applications for Ignite Spark Program close at 10am on 5 May 2025.

Learn More

To learn more and lodge your expression of Interest for the QLD Ignite Spark Program click here

Wayne Wanders is an experienced Business Advisor and Outsourced CFO who can help to scale and grow your business profitably. Wayne may also be able to assist you in preparing any grant application. 

Contact Wayne on wayne@arealcfo.com.au or 0412 227 052.

Click on the below buttons to access free Resources developed by Wayne Wanders, A Real CFO to help your business scale and grow profitably

And Wayne is always posting about new grants, funding options and other resources on LinkedIn that can help your business scale and grow profitably.  Click on the below links and connect with Wayne or follow A Real CFO on LinkedIn.

Want a confidential discussion on your business situation, help with your grant application or to learn more about my Outsourced CFO Services, simply email me at wayne@aRealCFO.com.au or call me on 0412 227 052

The QLD Ignite Ideas Fund Round 13 supports Queensland-based small to medium businesses that have high-growth potential to undertake commercialisation projects.

There are 2 tiers of funding available.

Tier 1 – Up to $100,000 (excluding GST) for projects of up to 12 months duration.

Tier 2 – Greater than $100,000 and up to $200,000 (excluding GST) for projects of up to 24 months duration.

Both tiers get access to the Ignite+ program. This provides support across sales and marketing, customer acquisition, competitor analysis, intellectual property (IP)/legal support, financial structure, connections to mentors and sponsors, and access and introductions to business and investment networks.  

Eligibility

To be eligible for funding, applicant organisations must at the time of application:

• be a business headquartered in Queensland with an ABN and registered for GST
• have no more than 50 full-time-equivalent employees (or a subsidiary of a group of companies that has more than 50 full-time-equivalent employees)
• not have received funding for the proposed project activity from either the state, federal or local government

If applying for tier 1, the applicant organisation and/or related parties must:

• not have received an Ignite Ideas Fund grant previously
• make a cash contribution to the project that is at least equal to 20% of the value of funding sought.

If applying for tier 2, the applicant organisation and/or related parties must:

• not have received an Ignite Ideas Fund tier 2 grant previously
• not be applying for a product or service that has previously received Ignite Ideas funding
• have successfully completed any project funded under tier 1 of the Ignite Ideas Fund (if relevant)
• make a cash contribution to the project that is at least equal to the amount of funding sought

Eligible Projects

The project must relate to commercialising an innovative product or service.  The projects must:

• have an existing minimal viable product for a product or service that is scalable to meet industry/market demand
• demonstrate that the product or service is ready for market entry
• demonstrate that the product or service is not currently in market.

The following projects are not eligible for support under this program:

• clinical trials • product or service development
• development of a concept for a new business
• any improvement of an existing product or service that is already in market
• minor modification/improvement of an existing product or service already in an overseas market for the Australian market
• commercialisation/entry into market or expansion into new markets if the product or service is already in market.

Eligible Expenditure

Ignite Ideas Fund expenditure must be related to project specific commercialisation activities and fall within the following eligible cost categories:

• salary expenditure (including salary-related on-costs) for new employees directly contributing to the delivery of the project
• salary expenditure (including salary-related on-costs) for founders and existing employees directly contributing to the delivery of the project (capped at 20% of the total grant)
• services provided by (unrelated) external parties
• equipment not exceeding $10,000 per item (capped at 10% of the total grant)
• consumables, economy travel, accommodation and subsistence costs.

It is expected that all Ignite Ideas funding will be expended in Queensland, unless it can be demonstrated that expenditure outside Queensland is essential to ensure successful delivery of the project.

Costs not eligible include:

• FDA/TGA or other regulatory approval costs
• capital works and/or physical infrastructure including any buildings, telecommunications and IT networks
• business as usual costs
• costs associated with the production of products for sale, employee allowances, bonuses and fringe benefits

Application Process

There is a 2 stage application process.  The first stage is lodging an expression of interest.  Selected stage Expression of Interest applicants will be asked to lodge a full application.

Note Organisations and their related parties are limited to one application per funding round.

Learn More

To learn more and lodge your expression of Interest for the QLD Ignite Ideas Fund click here

Expression of Interest applications for Ignite Ideas Fund Round 12 close at 10am on 26 May 2025.

Wayne Wanders is an experienced Business Advisor and Outsourced CFO who can help to scale and grow your business profitably. Wayne may also be able to assist you in preparing any grant application. 

Contact Wayne on wayne@arealcfo.com.au or 0412 227 052.

Click on the below buttons to access free Resources developed by Wayne Wanders, A Real CFO to help your business scale and grow profitably

And Wayne is always posting about new grants, funding options and other resources on LinkedIn that can help your business scale and grow profitably.  Click on the below links and connect with Wayne or follow A Real CFO on LinkedIn.

Want a confidential discussion on your business situation, help with your grant application or to learn more about my Outsourced CFO Services, simply email me at wayne@aRealCFO.com.au or call me on 0412 227 052

In May I am presenting 4 live and FREE workshops designed specifically for SME’s, startups and scaleups.

These are all around the money side of your business.  Covering fundraising, grants, support programs and how to manage the money.  And when I have presented some of these in the past they have been fully booked, so if these are of interest to you, register early.

And as an added bonus if you want some one-on-one assistance after these workshops, I can probably provide this to you for free under the NSW Govt’s Business Connect Program.

The specific FREE workshops are:

May 7 How to Fund your Business Growth, in the Sydney CBD

This workshop is designed to help entrepreneurs and business owners understand the different types of funding available to them and how to position your business for a successful fund raise.  Learning outcomes include:

• Questions to start thinking about in funding your business.
• Understand some basic fundraising concepts.
• Understand over 10 different types of funding for your business.
• How to position your business to have a successful fund raise.

Click here or on the image to the left to register for the How to Fund your Business Growth FREE workshop.

FYI last time I presented this workshop it was fully booked, so make sure you register your spot early.

I attended Wayne’s “How to fund your business growth” last year with a number of other business owners. First, no workshops until I attended Wayne’s workshop had touched the basics as well as in-depth knowledge in funding types and opportunities.

Being an early-stage startup founder, even though you start fully bootstrapped in the beginning, it is so important that you receive the right guideline from the right person at the right time. By doing so, you are aware of the possible pathways you may be able to take in the later stage of your startup without going astray”. Linda K

May 9 Grants and Support Programs for Small Business, in the Sydney CBD

This workshop is designed to help small business owners explore practical strategies for navigating the limited grant and support programs. We’ll guide you on how to identify applicable grants, understand eligibility criteria, and effectively address application requirements.  Learning outcomes include:

• How to research and find suitable grants for your business.
• Essential tips for preparing competitive grant applications.
• Overview of major grant and support programs and eligibility.
• Brief insights into export grants, commercialisation support, and R&D tax incentives.

Click here or on the image to the left to register for the Grants and Support Programs for Small Business FREE workshop.

FYI both times I have presented this workshop it was fully booked, so make sure you register your spot early

“My business partner and I attended Wayne’s “Grants and Support Programs for Small Business” workshop and found his depth of expertise and clear, actionable guidance invaluable. He broke down complex grant criteria into simple steps, offered practical tips on both competitive and non‑competitive programs, and tailored his advice to our needs. His engaging style and real‑world examples felt like a one‑on‑one consultancy. I wholeheartedly recommend Wayne Wanders to any small business owner seeking expert support and lasting results” Vincent L

May 12 Export Grants and Support Programs for Small Business, in the Parramatta CBD

This workshop is designed to help small business owners explore practical strategies for navigating the limited grant and support programs. We’ll guide you on how to identify applicable grants, understand eligibility criteria, and effectively address application requirements.  Learning outcomes include:

• How to research and find suitable grants for your business.
• Essential tips for preparing competitive grant applications.
• Overview of major grant and support programs and eligibility.
• Brief insights into export grants (if you want a deeper dive into the commercialisation support, and R&D tax incentives you should register for the May 9 workshop in the Sydney CBD)’

Click here or on the image to the left to register for the Export Grants and Support Programs for Small Business FREE workshop.

FYI this is another workshop that was fully booked last time I presented this, so make sure you register your spot early.

“Wayne’s presentation on grants and support programs for small businesses was really informative. I learned about several services available to me that I hadn’t come across before. Highly recommend!”  Ann-Mary R

May 15 How Successful Businesses Scale and Grow Profitably, in the Sydney CBD

You see it time and time again, great people with great business ideas, products and services, struggle to start up, scale up and grow profitably. If you want to be in the small minority of businesses who successfully scale up and grow profitably, you need to learn how to properly manage your finances.  Learning outcomes include:

• Know the top 4 reasons for why businesses fail.
• Learn how to properly manage your finances.
• What you can do to avoid this these mistakes.

Click here or on the image to the left to register for the How Successful Businesses Scale and Grow Profitably FREE workshop.

Interestingly, this is probably the most important of the 4 workshops I am presenting in May, but as it is not as sexy as grants or fund raising, many skip this one.  But there is no point getting the grant or the fundraising, if you can’t manage the cash properly and you burn this cash before you should

I look forward to seeing you at one of these workshops.

Wayne Wanders is an experienced Business Advisor and Outsourced CFO who can help to scale and grow your business profitably. Wayne may also be able to assist you in preparing any grant application. 

Contact Wayne on wayne@arealcfo.com.au or 0412 227 052.

Click on the below buttons to access free Resources developed by Wayne Wanders, A Real CFO to help your business scale and grow profitably

And Wayne is always posting about new grants, funding options and other resources on LinkedIn that can help your business scale and grow profitably.  Click on the below links and connect with Wayne or follow A Real CFO on LinkedIn.

Want a confidential discussion on your business situation, help with your grant application or to learn more about my Outsourced CFO Services, simply email me at wayne@aRealCFO.com.au or call me on 0412 227 052

The Startmate Accelerator is a 12-week program that runs twice per year.  It provides startups with the resources to take your startup to the next level:

• An investment of AUD$120,000 for 8% equity (valuing your business at $1.5m)
• Mentors and advisors
• workshops and curated resources

Note need to be full time on this program.  There was 16 places on the 2025 Summer Australian cohort.

Learn More

To learn more and apply for the Startmate Accelerator, click here.

Note applications close 18 May 2025 Winter cohort

Wayne Wanders is an experienced Business Advisor and Outsourced CFO who can help to scale and grow your business profitably. Wayne may also be able to assist you in preparing any grant application. 

Contact Wayne on wayne@arealcfo.com.au or 0412 227 052.

Click on the below buttons to access free Resources developed by Wayne Wanders, A Real CFO to help your business scale and grow profitably

And Wayne is always posting about new grants, funding options and other resources on LinkedIn that can help your business scale and grow profitably.  Click on the below links and connect with Wayne or follow A Real CFO on LinkedIn.

Want a confidential discussion on your business situation, help with your grant application or to learn more about my Outsourced CFO Services, simply email me at wayne@aRealCFO.com.au or call me on 0412 227 052

Launched in partnership with the NSW Government, the Techstars Tech Central Sydney Accelerator is situated in Sydney’s innovation hub, Tech Central.   It is a 13-week program that provides startups with:

• An initial investment of US$20,000 for 5% equity at the beginning of the accelerator (valuing your business at $USD400,000), plus a US$100,000 uncapped SAFE note converting to equity on the same terms as other investors at your first-priced funding round.
• mentors and network of corporate partners, investors, and alumni.
• workshops and curated resources,
• free parks from Techstars partners such as AWS Google, Stripe etc

Note there are only 12 places on the 2025 Australian cohort.

Learn More

To learn more and apply for he Techstars Tech Central Sydney Accelerator, click here.

Note applications close 11 June 2025

Wayne Wanders is an experienced Business Advisor and Outsourced CFO who can help to scale and grow your business profitably. Wayne may also be able to assist you in preparing any grant application. 

Contact Wayne on wayne@arealcfo.com.au or 0412 227 052.

Click on the below buttons to access free Resources developed by Wayne Wanders, A Real CFO to help your business scale and grow profitably

And Wayne is always posting about new grants, funding options and other resources on LinkedIn that can help your business scale and grow profitably.  Click on the below links and connect with Wayne or follow A Real CFO on LinkedIn.

Want a confidential discussion on your business situation, help with your grant application or to learn more about my Outsourced CFO Services, simply email me at wayne@aRealCFO.com.au or call me on 0412 227 052