Secure Communities Partnership Program

Key dates

18 February 2026: Grants open for eligible local councils.
12 November 2025: Grants open for eligible small and family businesses.

Program updates

9 February 2026: Expanded program eligibility including additional options for supporting evidence for demonstrated impact from crime.

The Secure Communities Partnership Program funds safety measures to deter crime against small and family businesses, creating safer and more vibrant business areas.

By supporting the installation of vital safety and security infrastructure, the program helps protect businesses from crime and economic losses. These measures will create safer public commercial precincts and business strips, improving the operating environment for small and family businesses across Queensland.

Multiple rounds of funding will be available for small businesses.

The Secure Communities Partnership Program is an initiative of the Queensland Government's Small and Family Business First Action Statement.

Round 2

Small businesses and local councils can apply for funding to implement crime prevention measures.

Small businesses

Available funding

Small and family businesses who have been directly impacted by crime or operate in an area impacted by crime in the last 5 years can apply for grants of between $5,000 and $20,000 (excluding GST). You must co-contribute at least 50% towards total project costs.

Eligibility criteria

At the time of applying, and for the duration of the funded project, your business must:

  • have less than 20 employees (by headcount—see definition below)^
  • have a turnover in the last financial year (2024–25) of $10 million or less—'turnover' is aggregated turnover as defined in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
  • have been directly impacted by crime in the past 5 years or be operating in a location within a 250 metre radius of offences impacting nearby commercial premises within the past 5 years (see 2.6(f)(1) in the program guidelines for specific requirements)
  • be operating, and have an active Australian Business Number (ABN)^
  • have a minimum trading history of 1 year
  • be registered for GST^ (as per your Australian Business Register (ABR) record)
  • have a registered Queensland headquarters location^ (as per your ABR record)
  • not be insolvent or have owners/directors that are currently bankrupt or undischarged from bankruptcy^
  • not be a subsidiary of a group of companies that has 20 or more employees in total.^

^ Your business must maintain this eligibility for the duration of the grant funded project.

Use the eligibility checker before you apply.

Headcount

Headcount includes:

  • all full-time, part-time and casual employees including non-executive directors
  • anyone who receives a salary or wage from your business.

Do not include business owners, directors or contractors in your headcount figure.

How to apply

Submit your project application detailing:

  • how proposed crime deterrents will reduce the cost and impact of crime on your business
  • how you will address security vulnerabilities by adopting proven security measures and equipment.

Refer to the program guidelines and frequently asked questions for more information.

You must apply for a Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business SmartyGrants applicant account (if you don't already have an account).

Submit your application

Submit your application through the SmartyGrants portal.

Small business – Apply now

Application dates

Applications opened on Wednesday 12 November 2025 and close at 5pm, Tuesday 30 June 2026, unless funding is exhausted earlier.

Local councils

Available funding

Queensland councils can apply for up to 2 grants of up to $400,000 per project to deliver local projects. A round budget of $8 million in funding is available.

Eligibility criteria

Councils may submit up to 2 infrastructure project proposals that fall within the following categories:

  • physical infrastructure upgrades
  • surveillance and alarm systems
  • perimeter and property defence improvements.

At least 50% of the total project costs must be spent on goods and services sourced from local small businesses and/or the Local Buy network.

Refer to the program guidelines and frequently asked questions for more information.

Submit your application

Submit your application through the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers (DLGWV) eGrants portal.

Local councils – Apply now

Note: DLGWV is administering the local councils grant directly to local governments on behalf of the Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business.

Application dates

Applications opened on Wednesday 18 February 2026 and close at 5pm, Tuesday 31 March 2026.

Program guidelines

Read the program guidelines.

Previous rounds

Round 1

More information

View our small business grants schedule to learn if you are eligible for other support.

You can also subscribe to the Business Queensland Connect newsletter or follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with the latest information for Queensland small businesses.

Contact us

Small business – Check your eligibility

To be eligible for this grant, your business must meet the eligibility criteria and other conditions of the program.