What the Upcoming Australian Election Means for Grants — And How to Use This Time Wisely!

As Australia heads toward a federal election, a familiar shift happens in Canberra: the government enters what’s known as caretaker mode.

If you’re a business owner, founder, NFP or grants professional – this transition matters. Because when the federal government enters caretaker mode, all major funding activity hits pause. No new programs are announced. Existing grants stall in progress. And the gears of decision-making slow dramatically.

But that doesn’t mean you should do the same.

In fact, this election window is the perfect moment to rethink, regroup, and get grant ready — especially if you’re a business with growth in your sights.

Let’s unpack what the election means for federal funding, what to expect in the coming months, and what you can (and should) do while we all wait for the dust to settle.

🗳️ What Does “Caretaker Mode” Actually Mean?

Once an election is announced, the federal government moves into caretaker conventions — a set of rules and protocols that guide its conduct during the campaign period.

The aim? To ensure neutrality and stability until a new government is formed.

During this time:

• No new funding programs are announced
  
• Existing approvals are delayed or deferred
  
• Policy decisions and program changes are paused
  
• Departments avoid making major financial commitments
  

If you’ve submitted an application recently for a federal grant, chances are you won’t hear anything definitive until well after the election outcome is final.

🤔 What This Means for Grant Seekers

If you’re actively applying for grants or waiting on program launches — this waiting period can feel frustrating. But it’s important to recognise that it’s temporary, and more importantly, it’s predictable.

Here’s the good news: while the federal tap is turned off, the state and local taps are still flowing.

🗺️ Tip 1: Shift Your Focus to State-Based Grants

Every Australian state and territory continues to roll out funding programs, especially in areas like:

• Infrastructure and regional development
  
• Innovation and technology
  
• Jobs and training
  
• Energy and sustainability
  
• Community and place-based initiatives
  

These programs are often more targeted, sometimes easier to access, and can act as a stepping stone to larger federal grants down the line.

💡 Search by state on the Grant’d platform and narrow by location, sector, and size. You might be surprised by how many opportunities exist outside the federal sphere.

🛠️ Tip 2: Use the Time to Get “Grant Ready”

No matter what kind of grant you’re chasing, there’s work you can do behind the scenes now that will pay off later.

Here’s how to prepare:

✔️ Review your core documents — including ABN, financials, insurance, governance, and compliance materials
✔️ Update your business plan or pitch deck — most grant applications ask for this or a summary
✔️ Tidy your past grant writing efforts — reuse and refine your best answers, especially on impact, budget, and delivery
✔️ Set up a simple grants calendar — track upcoming deadlines and funding cycles in a centralised way
✔️ Get internal alignment — if you’re a larger business, ensure your team knows who’s responsible for grant-seeking and decision-making

📌 Grant’d makes this part easy: our platform helps you save, search, and structure your grant journey — so when applications reopen, you’re first in line, not scrambling at the last minute.

🧭 Tip 3: Keep an Eye on Policy Shifts

After the election, one of the biggest changes to watch will be funding priorities. Whether it’s a returning government or a new one, there’s usually a shift in what sectors or themes get emphasis.

Things to look out for:

• Budget reallocation across industries
  
• Expansion or retirement of major programs (like the National Reconstruction Fund)
  
• Introduction of new commercialisation or employment schemes
  
• Investment in priority sectors like defence, AI, clean energy, health, or manufacturing
  

🧠 Smart grant seekers track these changes and use them to shape their applications. Aligning with government priorities is one of the best ways to increase your chances of success.

💬 What Happens After the Election?

Once the election result is confirmed and the new government is sworn in, there’s still a transition period — typically 4–8 weeks — before:

• Funding decisions resume
  
• New ministers are briefed
  
• Delayed programs restart
  
• Policy directions become clearer
  

That means you’ll likely see grant momentum return later in the year, with a flurry of activity across October–December. If you’re ready when that happens, you’ll be ahead of the curve.

💡 Final Word

Yes, things are slowing down federally — but that doesn’t mean your momentum needs to.

This election period is a chance to sharpen your grant strategy, strengthen your internal systems, and explore funding outside the obvious channels. It’s also a chance to reconnect with your purpose and projects — and make sure you’re not just chasing money, but building impact.

At Grant’d, we exist to help you find the right opportunities, save time on research, and get application-ready without the chaos. Our platform’s AI-powered matching system is still working behind the scenes — and so are we.

If you’ve been putting off getting your grant game in order, now is the time.

👉 Want to get matched to your next grant in under 60 seconds?
[Join Grant’d and get your funding foundations sorted — no matter who wins the election.]