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VIC Animal Welfare Fund Grants Program – Round 14

VIC Animal Welfare Fund Grants Program – Round 14

  • Pet Welfare stream
    • Small grants: up to $20,000
    • Large grants: up to $100,000
    • Organisations can apply for one small and one large grant
  • Low-cost Vet Clinics stream
    • Veterinary equipment, upgrades and expansions: up to $50,000, with a maximum of two applications per organisation
    • New low-cost vet clinics: up to $200,000, with one application per organisation
  • Across both streams
    • An organisation can submit no more than two applications in total
    • Round 14 is the final round of the Victorian Government’s $7 million commitment ($5 million for pet welfare and $2 million for vet clinics)
  • Applications close: 2 November 2026
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The Animal Welfare Fund Grants Program supports the welfare of companion animals in Victoria. It was set up under the Domestic Animals Act 1994 in 2011. It aims to improve animal welfare, encourage responsible pet ownership and improve animal welfare services.

Round 14 has two streams. The Pet Welfare stream helps shelters, rescue and rehoming groups, foster care networks and other not-for-profits buy equipment or expand their services. The Low-cost Vet Clinics stream helps not-for-profit and community vet clinics upgrade or expand, and supports new low-cost clinics in areas of need.

Key Requirements

Pet Welfare projects must relate to at least one of these companion animals: cats, dogs, horses and other equines, rabbits, caged birds, guinea pigs, ferrets, rats or mice. They must address at least one priority area:

  • Surrender prevention that keeps pets in their homes by addressing behaviour, financial or housing challenges
  • Upgrading or extending facilities to improve animal welfare
  • Improving reunification and rehoming rates
  • Education on responsible pet ownership, including ethics, sentience and duty of care
  • Training, services, systems or equipment that make rehoming more efficient and effective
  • Animal relief services during an emergency or crisis

Low-cost Vet Clinic projects must upgrade or expand an existing not-for-profit or low-cost clinic, or set up a new low-cost clinic in an area of need. Applicants must provide evidence of low-cost service provision. New clinic applications must also show how they’ll reach communities in need, and engaging early with authorities on permits is highly recommended.

For both streams

  • Projects must be in Victoria
  • Successful applicants must hold suitable public liability insurance
  • Grants aren’t awarded until after the caretaker period. The incoming government may choose not to proceed with this round

More detail on each stream’s priority areas and conditions is available in the Round 14 Pet Welfare and Low-cost Vet Clinics guidelines.

What is eligible for funding?

  • Pet Welfare: equipment, and upgrades or expansions to services that improve companion animal welfare across the six priority areas
  • Vet equipment, upgrades and expansions: equipment and facility or service upgrades for not-for-profit and community vet clinics
  • New low-cost vet clinics: setting up new low-cost clinics in areas of need

What companies are eligible for funding?

All applicants must have an ABN.

  • Pet Welfare: not-for-profit organisations, meaning incorporated bodies or ACNC-registered organisations, that care for companion animals, run animal shelters, deliver responsible ownership education, operate community foster care networks, or provide animal relief in emergencies
  • Low-cost Vet Clinics: community vet clinics, not-for-profit organisations and registered veterinary practitioners

Individuals and sole traders can’t apply, except registered vets under the vet clinic stream. Government organisations and organisations that support trespass or break Victorian law are also excluded. Vet clinics that don’t offer discounted or low-cost services aren’t eligible.

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.