South Australia

Name of program: Building Upgrade Finance

What’s it for? 

• to assist building owners with environmental upgrades to non-residential buildings.

Who’s it for?

• building owners
• Councils

Who’s funding it? Building Better Finance (supported by ARENA)

What can be funded?

Typically projects funded fall into three categories:

1. 1. Generation of renewable energy and emissions reduction (eg: solar PV, end of trip facilities etc.)
   2. Improvement of energy and / or water efficiency (eg: efficient plant and equipment – lighting, air conditioning, boilers and lifts; rainwater tanks, water efficient fixtures and fittings etc.)
   3. Minimisation of waste (eg: waste infrastructure systems)

Conditions?

• Upgrade Finance is enabled by council, who places an Upgrade Charge against the property, with loan repayments being collected in a similar way to council rates. The security provided by the Upgrade Charge allows lenders to offer attractive terms, which helps businesses increase their competitiveness by reducing operational costs through improved building performance.

To be eligible the building must be an existing, non-residential building, located in a participating council area.

• Eligible works under Building Upgrade Finance are those that improve the energy, water or environmental efficiency or sustainability of a building. Heritage upgrades may also be eligible.

When does funding close? OPEN

Learn more: Here

Contact for information: [email protected]

How do I apply? Click here

Name of program: Global Expansion Program

What’s it for? 

• to help grow international sales by overcoming export barriers, building export capability and implementing practical export growth activities, to achieve export outcomes within the next 12 to 18 months.

Who’s it for?

• eligible South Australian businesses

Who’s funding it? SA Department of State Development

What do you get?

• Successful applicants may receive funding of up to $50,000 (excluding GST), plus independent business reviews and tailored export support

What do you get?

Funding may support activities, including:

• Export strategy development and market entry planning.
• International market research and validation.
• Export advisory services.
• Branding, marketing and communications for international markets.
• Digital marketing, eCommerce development and localisation.
• Intellectual property, legal and regulatory advice.
• Business matching, partner identification and distributor development.
• International trade exhibitions and promotional activities.
• Product adaptation and market-specific compliance requirements.

Conditions

• Eligible businesses must have an exportable product or service, be currently exporting or able to demonstrate export readiness, and be able to show how participation in the program will contribute to increased export capability, market access and export sales.

When does funding close? Thursday 29 October 2026

Learn more: Here

Have a question? Email [email protected]

How do I apply? Click here

• Cost of Living Concession - helps people on low or fixed incomes with their general living expenses - eg. energy bills
• Emergency Electricity Payment Scheme - provides an emergency payment to help electricity customers in financial hardship
• Energy bill concessions - help to pay your electricity bill if you are on a low or fixed income
• Energy bill relief - help to pay electricity bills for households and eligible small businesses
• Home Dialysis Electricity Concession - available for people with kidney disease that receive dialysis treatment at home
• Medical Heating and Cooling Concession - helps people on a fixed or low income who have a medical condition which requires the frequent use of heating or cooling in the home 
• No Interest Loans (NILs) - funds for essential goods and services including household appliances (like fridges, air conditioning units, etc), and for costs associated with natural disasters
• SA Concessions Energy Discount Offer - gives you extra discounts if your retailer is Origin Energy and you already receive the standard energy concession

Name of program: Small Projects Funding

What’s the intended outcome? 

• to improve the liveability of communities in Outback SA

Who’s it for?

• Incorporated Associations established to represent their community, have membership, and are operating within the requirements of the Associations Incorporation Act 1985

Who’s funding it? The Outback Communities Authority

What can be funded?

• Scoping study/project
• Necessary plant/machinery as part of an overall project to meet an essential community service 
• Small infrastructure projects e.g., fixed shelters etc.
• Seed funding to establish an ongoing event or social enterprise
• Programs with a particular focus that encourage community participation e.g., youth programs, skills development 

Conditions?

• Project applications should demonstrate broad benefit to the community and must be delivered within the Outback region

When does funding close? Applications received at any time 

How do I apply? Click here

Name of program: South Australian Venture Capital Fund (SAVCF)

What’s the purpose? 

• to help build dynamic and innovative early-stage companies to accelerate their growth to a national and global scale
• to strengthen the competitiveness of local early-stage entrepreneurs and companies to attract private sources of co-investment from national and international investors

Who’s it for?

• entrepreneurs and companies

Who’s funding it? Artesian Venture Partners

What can be funded?

• a portion of the SAVC Fund is available for Seed stage investments (including in clean energy) of up to $400K per company into early-stage South Australian startups, which can be made with or without co-investor participation.

Conditions?

• requires the company to have 50% of its assets and 50% of its staff located in South Australia during a period that ends 12 months from the initial investment date.

When does funding close? Applications received at any time 

How do I apply? Click here

Thanks for use of the photo by Jay Wennington on Unsplash