Livestock Transport Industry Transition Program Round 2

Maximum grant per applicant is $40,000 (GST exclusive).
Matched funding is required on a 1:1 cash basis, with $1 from the applicant for every $1 of grant funding requested.
In-kind contributions do not count toward the matched funding requirement.
The grant can fund up to 50% of eligible expenditure to the $40,000 maximum.
Activities are expected to start around November 2026 and must be completed by 31 May 2027.
Applications close July 13th, 2026

Livestock Transport Industry Transition Program Round 2 provides support for eligible livestock transport businesses impacted by the phase out of live sheep exports by sea, including businesses transporting essential export-related goods. Funding can be used for planning, professional and technical advice, training, and co-funded investment to modify or acquire assets needed to transition to other transport-related activities.

Grants are available up to $40,000 (GST exclusive) per applicant, with a 1:1 cash co-contribution required and no in-kind counted. Applicants must be able to demonstrate they have actively participated in the live sheep exports by sea industry at some point since 1 July 2020, and meet entity and registration requirements including an ABN and GST registration. Activities are expected to start around November 2026 and must be completed by 31 May 2027.

Key Requirements

Support business transition away from live sheep exports by sea by enabling planning, advice, training, and co-funded investment that helps the business move into other transport-related work.
Demonstrate participation in the relevant supply chain since 1 July 2020 by providing evidence of transporting live sheep intended for export by sea or delivering essential export-related goods within that supply chain.
Meet matched funding requirements by providing a cash co-contribution of $1 for every $1 requested, noting the grant covers up to 50% of eligible expenditure and in-kind does not count
Deliver activities within the required timeframe with an expected start around November 2026 and completion by 31 May 2027

What is eligible for funding?

Engage qualified or accredited professional services including financial, business planning, or technical services.
Participate in accredited or industry-recognised training programs.
Retrofit or upgrade existing sheep livestock trailers, trucks, or equipment.
Acquire specialised transport trailers.
Improve on-depot infrastructure or systems.
Enhance digital, traceability, and compliance technologies and systems.
Implement safety improvements.
Undertake other reasonable and relevant activities included in a livestock transport business plan that support transition away from live sheep exports by sea

What companies are eligible for funding?

Eligible entities include:

Company
Cooperative
Incorporated Association
Indigenous Corporation
Partnership (including where an individual who is not GST registered applies on behalf of a GST registered partnership, with a partnership agreement provided)
Person
Sole Trader
Key considerations for applicants:
Must have an ABN and be registered for GST.
Must be a resident of Australia for operational and tax purposes and have an Australian financial institution account.
Must have legal capacity to enter a binding agreement with the Australian Government.
Must provide evidence of active participation in the live sheep exports by sea industry at some point since 1 July 2020.
Round 1 impacts eligibility if the applicant has already received the maximum $40,000 (GST exclusive) across rounds

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging an accredited government grants consultant, such as Avant Group.

Competitive grants often require significant business case development and project analysis to support the application, this may include detailed presentations supporting the project’s merit, projected sales, cost-benefit analysis and more.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documents and will provide the following as needed to support your grant submission.

Grant application writeup including a detailed presentation illustrating how the grant funding will contribute to your project, how the funding will contribute to the project’s budget, a project milestone plan, delivery timeline, impact on employment if applicable and a breakdown of the management and leadership team for the project

Industry analysis presentation
Competitor Analysis Presentation
Marketing and Sales Analysis Presentation
3-5 year Cashflow Forecast
3-5 year Balance Sheet Forecast
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Grant Funding
End-to-end grant application including information collating, analysis and application writing
CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) cost-benefit analysis
Stakeholder relations and Risk Mitigation Plans
Any other relevant forecasting that will support your application

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.

This grant is open

Apply for this grant below:

OR