eSafety Commissioner – Preventing Tech-based Abuse of Women Grants Program – Round 3

Purpose and Program Overview

The Preventing Tech-based Abuse of Women Grants Program (Round 3) is a specialised Australian Government initiative administered by the eSafety Commissioner. The primary intent of the program is to enhance the safety of Australian women and children by funding targeted initiatives designed to prevent or respond directly to technology-facilitated abuse. It aims to eliminate technology-facilitated gender-based violence through the development of forward-thinking interventions.

For Round 3, the program manages an active funding pool of at least $3.5 million AUD. The scheme functions as a critical component of a broader $10 million Commonwealth commitment stretching from 2023 to 2028. This long-term capital allocation is designed to support structural, behavioural, and digital upgrades required to foster a safe digital environment across the nation.

The broader role of this grant program is to build capability, safety interventions, and specialised resources across communities, research bodies, and service sectors. It provides organisations with the resources needed to change underlying societal norms and promote safe, respectful online practices. The strategic frameworks established by funded initiatives directly support the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–32.

Key Grant Details

• Grant Amount: Individual project allocations range from $80,000 to $400,000 AUD (GST exclusive).
• Application Dates: Round 3 applications officially closed on 20 March 2026.
• Eligible Industries: Australian research bodies, community groups, and not-for-profit organisations specialising in digital safety or domestic violence prevention.
• Required Co-contributions: Explicit matching cash or in-kind contribution ratios are not mandated under the standard guidelines, though leveraged resources enhance structural value.
• Location Applicability: Nationwide applicability across all Australian states and territories.

Priority Sectors

The program guidelines explicitly establish specific investment priorities and targeted beneficiary allocations:

• First Nations Priority: Up to $600,000 of the total Round 3 funding pool is strictly fenced for projects directly benefiting First Nations women.
• Domestic and Family Violence Sector: Funding targets organisations focused on digital safety, behaviour modification, and domestic violence response systems.

Funding Scope

The financial architecture for Round 3 distributes capital across projects, demonstrating varying operational scales within a set framework:

• Funding Boundaries: A minimum threshold of $80,000 AUD up to a maximum cap of $400,000 AUD per individual project.
• Functional Streams: Supported streams cover community education, technical research, behavioural interventions, perpetrator accountability frameworks, and direct victim-support tools.
• Strategic Scope: Funding supports the deployment of actionable educational resources, service scaling, and practical digital intervention toolkits.

Eligibility Criteria

To satisfy baseline requirements for funding under the eSafety Commissioner framework, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Legal Structure: Must be a legally recognised Australian entity, typically operating as a registered not-for-profit, community group, or research institution.
• Specialisation: Entities must demonstrate clear expertise in managing digital safety or running domestic and family violence prevention programs.
• Compliance Infrastructure: Applicants must adhere to standard commonwealth grant management conditions, including appropriate workplace insurances and reporting compliance.
• Identification: Must hold an active Australian Business Number (ABN).

Eligible Activities and Expenses

The program permits grant capital to be directed toward distinct categories of operational project delivery, including:

• Community Education and Materials: Producing and distributing digital safety tools, public resources, and instructional frameworks to alter societal attitudes.
• Hiring and Personnel: Salary support for specialised educators, technical staff, researchers, and counsellors delivering the core intervention.
• Safety Interventions and R&D: Developing new tech platforms or programmatic tools designed to hold perpetrators accountable and protect online spaces.
• Service Delivery Overheads: Direct administrative expenses necessary to execute victim-support programs and capacity-building activities.

Assessment Process

This program functions as a competitive, merit-based grant opportunity. Applications are thoroughly assessed by independent selection panels against formal evaluation criteria:

• Strategic Alignment: The degree to which the proposed project directly addresses the goals of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–32.
• Project Merit: The innovativeness, safety design, and long-term viability of the digital safety intervention or resource.
• Value for Money: The optimal deployment of commonwealth funds to achieve widespread, measurable safety benefits.

Recent Program Updates

Round 3 incorporates a specific $600,000 allocation dedicated exclusively to First Nations projects to ensure equitable distribution of digital safety resources. Full program updates, guidelines, and archival data can be continually tracked via the official GrantConnect GO8231 Hub. The legislative context remains aligned with national strategies to enforce strict online safety and platform accountability.

Application Tips

• Align with the National Plan: Explicitly structure your project proposal to demonstrate direct support for the specific pillars found in the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–32.
• Address Specific Objectives: Ensure your program documentation focuses clearly on shifting behaviours, community education, perpetrator accountability, or direct victim support.
• Document First Nations Benefits: If applying under the designated priority stream, provide clear evidence of community engagement and specific outcomes for First Nations women.
• Review Historical Data: Monitor successful grant recipients from previous rounds to identify benchmarks for scale, project design, and budget structures.

Where to Get Help

Consider consulting a grant specialist like Pattens Group for a personalised eligibility assessment and expert assistance in preparing a strong, compliant and competitive application. Contact us today and get connected with Australia’s best grant specialist, boasting over 35 years of experience in the industry and a 100% success rate. For official guidelines, application details, templates, and further information, visit the official website of eSafety Commissioner – Preventing Tech-based Abuse of Women Grants Program and other associated Australian government websites.