NRMA Insurance Help Fund – Innovation Stream

Purpose and Program Overview

The NRMA Insurance Help Fund: Innovation is a national climate resilience grant program supporting locally developed solutions that help communities anticipate, prepare for, respond to and recover from climate-related risks. It focuses on practical innovations addressing resilience, adaptation and the impacts of extreme weather.

The 2026 Innovation Stream provides a total funding pool of $500,000 across eight grants. It forms part of NRMA Insurance’s multi-year Help Fund commitment to climate resilience and is delivered with Climate Salad, which provides tailored support to successful recipients.

The program is designed to help both established organisations scale proven climate-resilience solutions and emerging founders implement solutions in Australian communities. Young founders, First Nations innovators and founders from underrepresented communities are particularly encouraged to apply.

Key Grant Details

• Grant amount: $25,000 or $100,000, depending on the funding stream.
• Total funding pool: $500,000 excluding GST.
• Applications open: 14 August 2026.[2]
• Applications close: 9 September 2026, before 11:59 pm AEST.
• Eligible applicants: Australian-based entities with a valid ABN or ACN and an eligible climate-resilience solution.
• Co-contribution: No mandatory co-contribution is specified in the published terms and conditions.
• Eligible delivery locations: NSW, ACT, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. Solutions implemented in Victoria are not eligible.
• Program period: October 2026 to June 2027, including an eight-month tailored support program.

Priority Sectors

The program does not nominate fixed industry sectors. It is open to a broad range of sectors where an applicant can demonstrate that its solution directly improves climate resilience for Australian communities, businesses, infrastructure or systems.

Relevant solution areas may include climate technology, flood and hazard intelligence, energy resilience, environmental monitoring, agriculture, adaptation planning and preparedness tools, provided the project meets the program’s climate-resilience requirements.

Emerging Founder Grant $25,000 Four For emerging and early-stage founders with solutions ready for implementation in Australian communities.

Funding must be used only for the approved climate-resilience project. Eligible project costs may include implementation, technical development, partnerships, testing and impact measurement.

Recipients should use best efforts to commence projects by October 2026 and complete them by 30 June 2027, unless NRMA Insurance agrees otherwise. An acquittal report is required within six weeks of project completion and no later than 30 June 2027.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should meet the following core requirements:

• Be an Australian-registered entity with a valid ABN or ACN.
• Propose a solution that directly addresses climate resilience, including the ability to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, recover from and adapt to climate-related shocks and stresses.
• Deliver the proposed solution in NSW, ACT, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania or the Northern Territory.
• Not implement the grant-funded solution in Victoria.
• Be able to deliver the project during the October 2026 to June 2027 program period.
• Confirm compliance with applicable Australian laws and regulations.
• Submit a complete online application addressing the published selection criteria before the deadline.
• Be prepared to provide further information or supporting documents if requested during assessment.

Individuals, religious organisations conducting religious activities, political organisations and charities with political policies are not eligible.

No minimum or maximum turnover threshold, employee limit or insurance-policy requirement is stated in the published program terms. Grant recipients registered for GST must complete a Recipient Created Tax Invoice before payment.

Eligible Activities and Expenses

The program supports approved costs directly associated with delivering the proposed climate-resilience solution, including:

• Implementation and deployment activities.
• Technical development and solution refinement.
• Testing, trials and validation activities.
• Partnerships required to deliver the project.
• Measurement of project outcomes and community impact.
• Scaling established solutions or implementing emerging solutions in eligible Australian communities.
• Mentoring, expert guidance, peer learning and networking through the eight-month Climate Salad support program.

The published terms note that certain items cannot be funded; applicants should review the official FAQs and application materials before submitting a budget.

Assessment Process

The program is competitive. Applications are assessed through a three-stage selection process involving the NRMA Insurance Help Fund program management team, Climate Salad and relevant selection panels.

Shortlisted applicants will be notified on 21 September 2026 and invited to an online pitch session on 6 October 2026. Successful recipients are scheduled to be notified on 9 October 2026, although the formal terms provide for outcome notification by email on or before 19 October 2026.

Published assessment considerations include:

• Impact: The solution should strengthen climate resilience and create measurable community benefits.[2]
• Innovation: The project should offer a new or distinctive response to climate risk, supported by evidence or testing.
• Team capability: Applicants should demonstrate an experienced, committed and suitably diverse team.
• Project readiness: The proposal should have a clear, achievable implementation plan within the program timeframe.
• Sustainability: Applicants should show financial viability and a path beyond the grant period.
• Strategic alignment: The project should align with NRMA Insurance’s focus on resilience and deliver long-term value for communities.

Recent Program Updates

The Innovation Stream is now in its second year. The 2026 round expands the program into two distinct streams, supporting both established organisations through Growth Grants and early-stage innovators through Emerging Founder Grants.

The current round makes $500,000 available across eight grants. This follows the inaugural program, which supported five climate technology ventures working on areas such as flood forecasting, energy resilience and environmental monitoring.

Application Tips

• Confirm that the entity has a valid ABN or ACN and that the project will be implemented only in eligible states and territories.
• Read the selection criteria, terms and conditions, and program FAQs before preparing the application and budget.
• Clearly explain the climate risk being addressed, the proposed solution and the measurable resilience benefit for communities.
• Provide evidence of testing, traction or technical credibility where available, particularly for innovation claims.
• Present a practical project plan that can commence in October 2026 and be completed by 30 June 2027.
• Demonstrate delivery capability, relevant partnerships, financial sustainability and a clear path beyond the grant period.
• Prepare supporting documents early, as NRMA Insurance may request additional material at any stage of assessment.

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 Pattens Group to connect with an Australian grant specialist with more than 35 years of industry experience and a stated 100% success rate. For official guidelines, application details, templates and further information, applicants should visit the NRMA Insurance Help Fund Innovation Stream website, review the published terms and conditions and selection criteria, and use the official online application form.