The Office for Autism Grants Program 2024

The Autism Works in the Community Grants provide one-off funding to eligible organisations for activities that increase knowledge, understanding and belonging for Autistic people and autism communities in South Australia.

Applications are now open to organisations, including community groups, to provide contemporary facilities, equipment and opportunities to meet the needs of Autistic people and promote genuine autism inclusion in South Australia.

Autism Works in the Community Grants of between $2,000 and $50,000 are available for projects or initiatives to be delivered over 12 months, beginning from July 2024.

These grants are to:

  • Improve the level of knowledge and understanding of autism including Autistic strengths and support needs
  • Increase the ability of venues and events to support improved inclusion of Autistic people
  • Improve connection and belonging for Autistic people
  • Improve opportunities in volunteering or employment for Autistic individuals.

Funding Guidelines

It is important to read the Funding Guidelines before you apply. The Guidelines outline vital information including who is eligible, what can be funded, and what supporting documentation is required.

Click here for funding guidelines

Deadline for Applications

Applications for this funding round have now closed.

How to apply

Applications for this funding round have now closed.

Information Session

An online information session will be held on Thursday 7 March 2024 from 12 -1 pm. This session has reached full capacity!

Due to popular demand, another online information session has been scheduled for Wednesday 13 March 2024 from 12 - 1 pm.

Registrations are essential. To register your interest click hereExternal LinkExternal LinkExternal LinkExternal LinkExternal LinkExternal Link or email your details to officeforautism@sa.gov.au

Frequently asked questions

The Autism Works in the Community Grants Program is the 2024 grants program from the Office for Autism, Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

The Autism Works in the Community Grants Program 2024 opens on February 26, 2024. Applications close on March 28, 2024. Refer to the Funding Guidelines for details.

To be eligible for funding, organisations must be:

  • Non-government; and incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 1985; or the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006,
  • An Australian Public or Private Limited Liability Company under the Corporations Act 2001;  or
  • A Partnership registered under the Partnership Act 1891; or
  • Registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission with a comparable legal status; or
  • An Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation.

The following organisations or partner organisations are ineligible for funding:

  • Organisations that have outstanding obligations for grants previously awarded by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet or other South Australian Government departments
  • Educational institutions or related representative bodies e.g. schools and/or their parents’ associations and universities
  • Commonwealth, state or local government departments and agencies.
  • Individuals or organisations applying on behalf of an individual

The Office for Autism will offer at least one information session during the open grant application period. Upcoming information sessions will be promoted on the Office for Autism website.

An information session is scheduled for March 7, 2024, at 12 noon.  This session has reached capacity.

Due to popular demand, another online information session has been scheduled for Wednesday 13 March 2024 from 12 - 1 pm.

Registrations are essential. To register your interest click hereExternal LinkExternal LinkExternal LinkExternal LinkExternal LinkExternal Link

Contact the Office for Autism on 08 7133 7900 or email officeforautism@sa.gov.au

Use the online application formExternal LinkExternal LinkExternal LinkExternal LinkExternal LinkExternal LinkExternal LinkExternal Link, or contact the Office for Autism on 08 7133 7900 or email officeforautism@sa.gov.au for assistance with alternative application pathways.

The Office for Autism is committed to providing an inclusive application process. If you are not able to use the online application form, the Office for Autism will accept applications in alternative formats. Contact us on 08 7133 7900 or email officeforautism@sa.gov.au for more information and assistance.

To enable the assessment panel to make an informed decision, ensure you answer all questions in the online application form and provide enough information about the project, so the assessment panel understand what the funding will be used for and who will benefit.

For example:

Provide a short summary of the project – describe what the project will do, how it will do this and the anticipated outcomes (the purpose, how it will be delivered and what will be achieved)
Provide information about how the project complements your organisation’s existing programs and services.

Supporting documentation required includes, but is not limited to:

  • copy of your organisation’s Constitution
  • minutes from the most recent Annual General Meeting (must be within last two years)
  • most recent end of year financial report showing assets, annual income and expenditure (must be within last two years).
  • quotes for budget items $100 and over.

It is important to check the Guidelines for a full list of supporting documentation required, as the requirements are different for different organisation types and depending on your project.

Organisations can apply once per round.
Organisations with regional offices can submit one application per regional office.
Partnering organisations can submit one application per partnership.
Partner organisations can submit one application per round or per regional office, if multiple regional offices.

Your organisation can expect to receive notification by mid-June, 2024.

The funding period is from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. All funds must be expended within this time period.

Your organisation must use the funds in line with the project description outlined in your grant proposal and grant agreement. If you anticipate changes to your project, please contact the Office for Autism on 08 7133 7900 or email officeforautism@sa.gov.au as early as possible to discuss any changes to your project. If you are unable to complete the project or use grant funds for purposes other than outlined in your grant agreement, you may be required to return the funds to the Office for Autism. No changes will be considered after the end date of the grant agreement.

List all project items in separate rows in the budget. Ensure you check the Guidelines for information about what items are eligible for funding. If you have many items, you can group them by types (e.g. hire of equipment). A detailed budget can be provided in an attachment.

A quote should be provided in an attachment if the item (or total of the grouped items) is $100 or over.

Your budget will change depending on your organisation’s GST registration status.

If your organisation is registered for GST, you must not include GST in your budget. This means if you receive a quote of $1,100 including GST, the amount listed in your budget should be $1,000. If your application is successful, GST will be added to your total grant monies received. For example, if the total request in your application is $5,000, you will receive $5,500 including GST.

If your organisation is not registered for GST, you must include GST in your budget. This means, if you receive a quote for Hall hire of $1,100 including GST, the amount listed in your budget should be $1,100.

Matched funding is required for projects with a requested budget of $20,000 or more, as follows:
*Metropolitan Adelaide applicants must contribute at least one dollar for every dollar of South Australian Government funding. Metropolitan Adelaide comprises the South Australian Government regions of Eastern Adelaide (including CBD), Western Adelaide, Northern Adelaide and Southern Adelaide.
*Regional and remote South Australian applicants must contribute at least one dollar for every two dollars of South Australian Government funding. Regional and remote South Australia comprises Greater Adelaide (Adelaide Hills, Barossa Light and Lower North, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island) and country Regions (Eyre and Western, Far North, Limestone Coast, Murray and Mallee, Yorke and Mid North).


*Autistic-led organisations – matched funding requirements are half that of non-Autistic-led organisations, as follows:
oMetropolitan Adelaide applicants must contribute at least one dollar for every two dollars of South Australian Government funding.
oRegional and remote South Australian applicants must contribute at least one dollar for every four dollars of South Australian Government funding.


Autistic-led organisations are defined as organisations with Autistic leadership and/or a majority of staff at all levels of the organisation are Autistic.

No. Applications received after the closing date and time will not be accepted. If you are having trouble with the application process, contact the Office for Autism on 08 7133 7900 or email officeforautism@sa.gov.au for assistance before applications close.

If the grant round is still open, contact the Office for Autism on 08 7133 7900 or email officeforautism@sa.gov.au

Yes. All items purchased with grant funding require receipts to be kept for five years. A copy of all receipts over $100 must be submitted when your organisation acquits the funding.

For partnerships, this answer should relate to the ineligible partner entity (auspice).

The Office for Autism recognises the importance of raising Autistic voices in all aspects of the work that we do and Autistic voices have been instrumental in shaping the Autism Works in the Community Grants Program 2024.

While is it not a requirement that projects, training and services delivered through the Autism Works in the Community Grants Program are Autistic-led, applications that are Autistic-led will be viewed favourably. The assessment committee understands that co-design can be implemented in various ways and will assess each application on their individual merits.

Contact Us

Contact the Grants Team on (08) 7133 7900 or email us at officeforautism@sa.gov.au

If you are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment, please contact us through:

If English is not your preferred language, please contact the Interpreting and Translating Centre on 1800 280 203 and ask to speak with the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

Please tell us if you would prefer to speak to an Aboriginal person.