Community and not-for-profit organisations support positive animal welfare outcomes in WA by rehoming and fostering surrendered, neglected and abandoned companion animals. Similarly, rescue and rehabilitation groups support wildlife displaced or injured by events such as bushfire and urbanisation. Veterinarians also provide free and low-cost animal health services to support animal welfare in disadvantaged communities.
Grant information
The Animal Welfare Grant Program, administered by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), offers grants of up to $50,000 (GST free) to eligible organisations in each grant round. There are four rounds of grants in total, with one to be run each financial year (2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25).
Applications for round 4 of grant funding are now open.
Potential applicants may include, but are not necessarily restricted to:
- animal shelters
- wildlife carers, rescue groups and rehabilitation centres
- companion animal foster care and rescue networks
- veterinary clinics, universities and local governments that provide low-cost or free services in relation to desexing, microchipping and the provision of veterinary care.
Eligibility
Specific eligibility criteria can be found in the program guidelines, under the documents link to the right of this page. If you are not sure if your organisation could be eligible to apply, please email animal.welfare@dpird.wa.gov.au.
Application process
Applications for round 4 of grant funding are now open.
Applications can now be submitted online via SmartyGrants.
Applications close on 13 May 2024.
Before applying, applicants should read:
- guidelines and priorities for round 4
- application tips
- example simple and complex application forms, available under the documents link to the right of this page.
All eligible applications will be assessed by DPIRD according to the criteria in the program guidelines and applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application in due course.
Grants awarded to date
The Minister for Agriculture and Food, on behalf of the WA Government, offered 16 grants in round 1, 24 grants in round 2 and 34 grants in round 3 for not-for-profit activities that improve the welfare of companion animals and wildlife in WA.
More information
A list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) can be found in the Documents link on this page.
For further information on the grant program, or to register your interest in future rounds, please email animal.welfare@dpird.wa.gov.au. Please include the subject header ‘Animal Welfare Grant Program’.