Animal Welfare Fund Grants Program
Grants are available to not-for-profit and community organisations that:
- rehome pets
- provide low-cost veterinary services
- provide free or low-cost desexing programs.
About the Grant Program
The Animal Welfare Fund Grants Program was established under the Domestic Animals Act 1994 in 2011 to support improvement of companion animal welfare in the Victorian community.
The program aims to:
- improve companion animal welfare
- improve responsible pet ownership
- provide better animal welfare services to companion animals and the Victorian community.
The program provides grants to animal shelters, organisations promoting responsible animal ownership education, community foster care networks, not-for-profit and low-cost veterinary services and groups that provide relief facilities and services during an emergency.
These grants recognise that companion animals play a significant role in the lives of Victorians.
The Victorian Government is currently delivering the following commitments:
- $5 million over 4 years, provided in the 2023–24 State Budget, to support pet shelters and animal rescue and rehoming organisations
- $2 million over 4 years, provided in the 2023–24 State Budget, to support not-for-profit and community veterinary clinics.
- $5 million over 4 years, provided in the 2020–21 State Budget, to support animal rehoming services to meet the costs of veterinary treatments, purchase of specific equipment and/or services to deliver training or rehabilitation for an animal.
Current grants
Round 12 grants
Online applications for round 12 grant funding will open on 25 February 2025 and close at 11:59pm on 25 March 2025.
Round 12 of the program offers:
- grants to not-for-profit organisations, shelters and community foster care networks to support the rehoming of companion animals
- grants to not-for-profit and community vet clinics to allow them to maintain and expand their services, and allow new low-cost clinics to be set up in areas of need around Victoria.
The following competitive grants will be offered to deliver round 12 funding:
- Grants for rehoming pets (small grants) – up to $20,000 (GST-free) to not-for-profit organisations, animal shelters and community foster care networks wishing to purchase equipment or upgrade or expand their services to benefit the welfare of companion animals. For delivery over 12 months.
- Grants for rehoming pets (large grants) – up to $100,000 (GST-free) to not-for-profit organisations, animal shelters and community foster care networks wishing to purchase equipment or upgrade or expand their services to benefit the welfare of companion animals. For delivery over 12 months.
- Grants for veterinary equipment, upgrades and expansions – up to $50,000 (GST-free) to not-for-profit and community veterinary clinics wishing to purchase equipment, or upgrade or expand their facility or services to benefit the welfare of companion animals. For delivery over 12 months.
- Grants for the establishment of new, low-cost veterinary clinics – providing up to $200,000 (GST-free) to organisations and registered veterinary practitioners wishing to establish new, low-cost veterinary clinics in areas of need in Victoria. For delivery over 24 months.
For more information contact awvgrants@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Round 12 grant guidelines
Applicants are encouraged to read the Round 12 program guidelines before commencing an application.
- Round 12 Program Guidelines: Grants for rehoming pets
[PDF File - 418.5 KB] - Round 12 Program Guidelines: Grants for rehoming pets - accessible
[MS Word Document - 728.6 KB] - Round 12 Program Guidelines: Grants for low-cost vet clinics [PDF File - 438.6 KB]
- Round 12 Program Guidelines: Grants for low-cost vet clinics - accessible [MS Word Document - 726.0 KB]
Apply for a round 12 grant
Eligible organisations wishing to apply for round 12 funding can do so online from 25 February 2025 until 11:59pm on 25 March 2025.
These links open up a secure online application form:
To return to a saved application, click on the ‘Access Saved Application’ button.
Subscribe to our news alertsIndividual Pet Rehoming grants
Online applications for round 4 of the Individual Pet Rehoming grants are now closed, as applications amounting to the full $1.278 million allocation have now been submitted. Submitted applications are being processed in the order of receipt and applicants will be notified of the outcome of the application process via email upon completion.
Future Animal Welfare Fund grants will be offered. To receive an email alert on commencement of each new round, please register for Animal Welfare Victoria’s news alerts.
Subscribe to our news alertsLatest grants awarded
Round 11 grants
The Minister for Agriculture, on behalf of the government, offered round 11 grant funding not-for-profit and community organisations that improve the welfare of animals.
These are the details of the successful round 11 (2024) applicants and their projects.
Successful rehoming pets small grant applications for round 11, 2024
Organisation | Project title | Grant amount |
|---|---|---|
Beyond Racing Ltd | Purchase of 2 Equissage Cycloid Vibration Therapy (CVT) Systems | $15,440.00 |
Bunjil's Rest Equine Inc | 2 x Rehabilitation Stables | $13,980.00 |
Give a Kitty a Home Rescue Inc | Holding / Recovery Cages | $17,129.20 |
Helping Hands Animal Rescue Inc | Enclosures | $12,230.00 |
Kiwi's New Life Bird Rescue | Galah enclosure | $3,120.00 |
Launch Housing | Pets & People Project | $20,000.00 |
Maneki Neko Cat Rescue Inc | Neonate Kitten Program | $6,998.00 |
New Life For Animals Rehoming Centre Inc | Rehabilitation, training and housing enclosures | $2,670.00 |
New Life For Animals Rehoming Centre Inc | Emergency Evacuation Preparation | $1,822.00 |
RSPCA Victoria | Disaster Deployment Kit | $8,926.53 |
2nd Chance cat rescue | Kitten Season | $3,792.00 |
Second Chance Animal Rescue | Animal Shelter Industrial Cleaning revamp | $20,000.00 |
South Gippsland Animal Aid | SGAA Cat Equipment | $19,379.32 |
Successful rehoming pets large grant applications for round 11, 2024
Organisation | Project title | Grant amount |
|---|---|---|
Beagle Rescue Victoria | Rescue Vehicle Upgrade | $66,892.00 |
Bluey and Alice Bunny Refuge | Building Bonds for Bunnies: The Adoption Room Project | $50,383.00 |
Cat Protection Society of Victoria | CPSV Zen Cat Enclosures | $40,000.00 |
Equorum Ltd | Paddock Improvements at Equorum | $75,169.00 |
Geelong Animal Welfare Society | Feline Isolation Wards - Stainless Steel Cages - Code Compliance | $72,378.52 |
Greyt Greys Rescue Incorporated | Fostering Rehoming: Strengthening Greyhound Adoption Initiatives | $45,000.00 |
Lort Smith Animal Hospital | Creation of off lead enrichment area for shelter dogs | $35,000.00 |
One at a Time Pet Rescue | Quarantine and Isolation Care Centre for Vulnerable Cats and Kittens | $27,750.00 |
Pet Medical Crisis | Pawsing Surrenders, Preventing Rehoming | $100,000.00 |
Project Meow Ltd | Cat and kitten accommodation refurbishment | $52,039.37 |
Project Underdog Rescue Inc. | Refuge & Respite for Feline Friends | $63,533.00 |
Rabbit Runaway Orphanage | Repair/Upgrade to Facility & Enclosures | $51,189.00 |
Racing 2 Rehome Incorporated | Climate-Controlled Canine Caravan | $23,550.00 |
RSPCA Victoria | Burwood East Kennel Upgrade | $100,000.00 |
Second Chance Animal Rescue | Emergency Pet Support Services | $99,000.00 |
Victorian Animal Aid Trust | Shelter Dogs Running Yards | $45,208.00 |
Westside Community Desexing Inc | WCD Supporting Victorian Seniors Ageing Well | $50,000.00 |
Successful veterinary equip, upgrades and expansions grant applications for round 11, 2024
Organisation | Project title | Grant amount |
|---|---|---|
Geelong Animal Welfare Society | Warm Air Blanket System | $4,432.15 |
Geelong Animal Welfare Society | Microscope | $826.00 |
Lort Smith Animal Hospital | Purchase of enclosures to support upgrade to small mammal ward | $30,000.00 |
RSPCA Victoria | Anaesthetics Equipment | $18,104.00 |
Second Chance Animal Rescue | Surgical X-Ray Equipment upgrade | $44,550.00 |
Westside Community Desexing Inc | WCD On the Road | $50,000.00 |
Successful veterinary clinics establish new low-cost grant applications for round 11, 2024
Organisation | Project title | Grant amount |
|---|---|---|
The Lost Dogs Home | Mobile Low-Cost Veterinary Clinic | $197,032.00 |
The Pet Rescue Project | The Pet Rescue Project - A Low-Cost Mobile Surgical Suite | $105,203.00 |
Previously successful grant applicants
View details of applicants that have previously been awarded grants