Recfishwest Community Safety Grants

The purpose of Recfishwest Community Grants is to provide funding for small scale projects which benefit recreational fishing safety in Western Australia.

Incorporated fishing clubs and community groups are encouraged to submit an application for funding through the Recfishwest Community Grants scheme.

Applications for funding must cover at least one of the following recreational fishing safety

priority areas:

• Publicity and engagement
• Safety equipment:
• Safety training
• innovation in the safety space

A maximum of $15,000 will be made available for any one project, with preference given to projects less than $5,000 and to projects from a wide range of regions.

More than one application may be submitted from your group provided each project is quite distinct from the others, and you have the capacity to deliver them.

All applicants are encouraged to discuss their projects with Recfishwest prior to submission.

Recfishwest’s safe fishing panel will be responsible for approval of funding applications.

Guidelines for applicants

• Grants available to incorporated bodies only.
• Unincorporated organisations may apply through a sponsoring organisation, which is an incorporated body, co-operative, or association that has an ABN.
• Have an Australian Business Number (ABN) or have written advice from the Australian Taxation Office that the Withholding Tax does not apply to the grant payment.
• Expenditure must be accounted for as per Recfishwest’s acquittal form.
• Must be completed on an official community safety grants funding application form, which will include:

• • Full description of project
  • Community Benefit
  • Other Support and Ongoing Maintenance
  • Administration Details
  • Declaration signed by a member of the organisation’s executive

Grant funding cannot be spent on:

• The costs associated with the establishment and maintenance of an organisation;
• Staff
• The hire of equipment owned by organisations’ or groups members (may be shown as contribution in kind).
• Core business of one or more Government organisations. I.e. Reprinting brochures produced by Department of Fisheries.

• General operating or travel costs not directly associated with a project/event
• Projects assessed as having little value or no benefit to public recreational fishing safety in Western Australia
• Projects that commence before approvals are announced, no retrospective projects.

Role of Recfishwest

Administration of all applications received will be reviewed by Recfishwest to ensure that all guidelines are met.  All applications will be presented to the Recfishwest Safety Panel (the Panel) for approval.

The Panel will assess and approve/decline applications received based on the guidelines of the Community Grant Scheme up to the allocation amount of $50,000 with a maximum of $15,000 per project with preference given to projects up to $5,000.

Administration and Provision of Funds

Recfishwest will be responsible for:

• Calling for Expression of Interest – opens 3^rd July 2026
• Assessment of applications received
• Advising applicants of approved/declined applications
• Developing contracts to successful applicants
• Allocation of funds to successful applicants

Successful applicants will be responsible for:

• Carrying out the project as outlined in project contracts
• Promotion of project including;
  • Tagging Recfishwest into posts on social media platforms (where appropriate);
  • Providing Recfishwest with communication material relevant to the project such as photos/video;
  • Participating in events Recfishwest may organise that are relevant to promoting the project;
  • Providing Recfishwest the opportunity to be quoted in media stories related to the project
• Completing project acquittal within 12 months of grant being provided.

Project management reporting

Recfishwest will be responsible for liaising with the successful applicants during the duration of the 12 month funding period to assess the project’s timeline.

Closing Date

An Expression of Interest period for community grants will open  Friday 3^rd July, 2026 with an six (6) week application period, closing Thursday 13^th August, 2026.

2026	Activity
3rd July	Applications open. Application form made available on the Recfishwest website and promoted through Recfishwest communication channel
13th August	Applications close at midnight (AWST)
1st September	Applications assessed by the Panel against the funding criteria and approves funding recommendations.
24th September	Successful and unsuccessful applicants notified. Funding agreements issued and signed. Successful applicants submit tax invoices.
30th September	Grant payments processed and distributed
Next 12 months	Recfishwest works with recipients to promote funded projects, monitor progress and acquit grants in accordance with funding agreements.