This grant is open
Apply for this grant below:
Call our office on 03 8567 7500Business hours 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday
(Australian Eastern Standard Time)
OR
Fill out an assesment form today Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) National Prevention, Early Intervention, Treatment and Workforce/System Enablers
$129,722,263 (GST exclusive) is available over three years, delivered across four streams covering national AOD prevention, early intervention, treatment and workforce/system enablers. Indicative maximum allocations are up to 60% for Stream 1, up to 40% for Stream 2, up to 20% for Stream 3 and up to 20% for Stream 4. No co-contribution is required.
Applications close 26 October 2026.
This grant opportunity forms part of the Drug and Alcohol Program, which supports the Australian Government's commitment to building safe and healthy communities by reducing the impact of drug and alcohol use on individuals, families and communities.
Funding is delivered across four national streams spanning prevention, early intervention, treatment and workforce and system capability. The program aims to prevent and minimise the health, social, cultural and economic harms of AOD use, reduce initiation and risky use, identify emerging or risky use early, improve access to evidence-informed integrated treatment, and strengthen the workforce, research, data systems and partnerships needed to deliver consistent, coordinated, trauma-informed and culturally safe support.
The intended outcome is reduced prevalence of harmful AOD use, including AOD related deaths.
Key Requirements
Applicants must nominate one primary stream that best aligns with the core purpose of their proposed activities. Where activities could align to more than one stream, applicants should select the stream reflecting the main intent and outcomes. Separate applications are required for each stream sought.
Relevant personnel must maintain a Working with Children check or Working with Vulnerable People registration. Organisations must maintain ASQA registration where delivering nationally recognised training, current accreditation under the National Quality Framework for Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services where applicable, mandatory Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competence induction and refresher training, and AODTS NMDS data reporting where applicable.
Applicants must demonstrate compliance with the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework, the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 and the Multicultural Access and Equity Policy.
Applications must attach bank verification and a completed Attachment Pack comprising the Activity Work Plan, Indicative Activity Budget and Risk Management Plan. Full eligibility conditions, stream definitions, performance indicators and application templates are set out in the official grant opportunity guidelines, which applicants should review before preparing a submission
What is eligible for funding?
Stream 1: National AOD Prevention
Education and awareness campaigns in schools, tertiary settings, community, outreach and sport-based settings; development and distribution of evidence-based prevention resources including digital and non-digital materials; prevention activities reaching broad populations and priority groups; initiatives improving awareness of AOD risks, harm reduction strategies and treatment pathways; and programs reducing stigma.
Stream 2: National AOD Early Intervention
Routine assessments, relationship-based engagement and targeted screening for at-risk groups; brief interventions, counselling and targeted supports; referral pathways and awareness campaigns; harm reduction support; and activities improving early identification and engagement of priority populations.
Stream 3: National AOD Treatment
Digital and hybrid assessment, counselling and therapeutic supports; online and face-to-face group-based treatment and recovery programs; telehealth-enabled clinician-led interventions; scalable national digital platforms; and evidence-based digital tools supporting assessment, treatment planning and ongoing therapeutic support.
Stream 4: National AOD Workforce/System Enablers
Workforce development and training including cultural safety and lived experience peer workforce; national program data collection and management; sector-wide leadership, coordination and collaboration; and integration of lived-experience perspectives into workforce, policy and system development. This stream does not fund direct client service delivery.
Eligible expenditure includes salaries and related costs of professional and administrative staff, printing and resource development, training development and delivery, website and IT management, data infrastructure, delivery, monitoring and evaluation, approved domestic and international travel, approved vehicle leasing, performance reporting costs, administration and telephone costs, and research, data collection and surveys.
What companies are eligible for funding?
Eligible entity types are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporations registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006, companies, corporate state or territory entities, non-corporate state or territory entities, cooperatives, incorporated associations, sole traders, statutory entities, partnerships and unincorporated associations. Trustees applying on behalf of a trust must have an eligible entity type.
Consortium applications are acceptable where a lead organisation is solely accountable to the Commonwealth and is an eligible entity type.
Primary Health Networks are not eligible regardless of entity type, with a separate grant opportunity expected for PHN-funded AOD activities. Also ineligible are organisations on the National Redress Scheme non-participating list, employers of 100 or more employees non-compliant with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012, overseas organisations without an eligible entity type, Corporate and Non-Corporate Commonwealth Entities, Non-Corporate Commonwealth and State or Territory Statutory Authorities, Local Governments and individuals.
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 a professional government grant writer consultant. Avant Group is Australia’s largest independent grants advisory firm. Find out more about our government grant writing and consulting service here.
How can I get help understanding if I’m eligible for this grant? 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.