WA Industry Capacity Building Fund

Purpose and Program Overview

The Industry Capacity Building Fund is a Western Australian Government initiative delivered under the WA Screen Industry Strategy. The program is designed to help local screen businesses scale up production capabilities, strengthen local infrastructure, and create long-term employment opportunities in the State’s screen sector.

The fund is delivered by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries in partnership with Screenwest, and forms part of a $43.5 million, 10-year strategy running to 2028-29 to support investment growth, job creation, and economic diversification through the screen industry. The Industry Capacity Building Fund specifically responds to rising production demand by giving eligible businesses the capital needed to invest in larger-scale projects.

This round is backed by an $11.2 million Cook Labor Government commitment to screen industry workforce and capacity development. Since the broader program launched in 2025, almost $3 million has already been allocated to nine screen businesses operating across unit services, special effects, props, catering, costume, lighting, camera rentals, and production support facilities.

Key Grant Details

• Grant amount: Up to $1 million per eligible business
• Applications open: Open now.
• Applications close: 5:00 PM (AWST), Monday, 3 August 2026
• Eligible industries: Businesses operating in screen production support sectors, including construction, rigging, lighting, equipment rentals, props, costumes, and special effects
• Delivery partner: Screenwest, on behalf of the WA Government
• Co-contribution: Not specified in the published media statement; applicants should confirm requirements via the official Screenwest guidelines
• Location/state applicability: Western Australia only; businesses must operate within the State’s screen industry supply chain

Priority Sectors

The fund prioritises businesses in critical production support areas, including:

• Construction
• Rigging
• Lighting
• Equipment rentals
• Props
• Costumes
• Special effects

These sectors have been identified as facing rising demand as WA’s screen production pipeline grows, including activity linked to the new Perth Film Studios.

Funding Scope

• Maximum funding per business: $1 million
• Funding stream: Single capacity-building stream targeting infrastructure, equipment, and workforce capability in priority production support sectors
• Program timeframe: Operates under the 10-year WA Screen Industry Strategy (2024-25 to 2028-29), with this funding round closing on 3 August 2026
• Cumulative program investment: $11.2 million committed to workforce and capacity development, with almost $3 million already disbursed to nine businesses in the program’s earlier phase

Specific minimum funding thresholds, streaming by project size, and detailed disbursement schedules are not outlined in the public media statement. Applicants should consult the official Screenwest program guidelines for full financial parameters.

Eligibility Criteria

Based on published details, businesses seeking funding are expected to meet the following general requirements:

• Be a registered business operating in Western Australia.
• Operate within an eligible screen industry production support sector (e.g. construction, rigging, lighting, equipment rentals, props, costumes, special effects)
• Demonstrate capacity to use funding to scale up production capability or infrastructure.
• Hold a valid Australian Business Number (ABN) and meet relevant GST registration requirements.
• Comply with applicable insurance, licensing, and regulatory obligations relevant to the screen industry.

Full eligibility criteria, including any turnover thresholds or business size requirements, should be confirmed directly through Screenwest’s official application documentation, as these are not detailed in the public announcement.

Eligible Activities and Expenses

The fund supports investment in activities that build production capacity, including:

• Capital equipment purchases (e.g. camera, lighting, or rigging equipment)
• Infrastructure upgrades supporting larger-scale production work
• Workforce capability development relevant to production support services
• Expansion of services in construction, props, costume, or special effects departments
• Equipment rental fleet growth to meet increased production demand

Assessment Process

The Industry Capacity Building Fund is understood to be competitive, with funding allocated to businesses best positioned to address capacity gaps in priority sectors. While the published statement does not detail a formal scoring matrix, applications are likely to be assessed against:

• Strategic alignment with the WA Screen Industry Strategy
• Demonstrated industry demand and capacity gap addressed
• Value for money and expected return on investment
• The capability of the business to deliver and sustain the proposed upgrade

Applicants should refer to the official Screenwest guidelines for the specific assessment criteria and weighting applied to this round.

Recent Program Updates

• The current round opened in 2026, backed by an $11.2 million Cook Labor Government investment in screen workforce and capacity development.
• Since the program’s 2025 launch, almost $3 million has already supported nine screen businesses across unit, special effects, props, catering, costume, lighting, camera rentals, and production support facilities.
• The fund operates under the broader WA Screen Industry Strategy, a 10-year, $43.5 million framework launched in August 2024 to support investment growth and job creation through to 2028-29.
• The funding round coincides with rising production activity in WA, including recent productions filming at the newly opened Perth Film Studios.

Application Tips

• Confirm eligibility against the official Screenwest program guidelines before preparing an application.
• Identify clearly how the requested funding will scale up production capacity or address a specific capability gap in the business.
• Prepare supporting documentation in advance, including business registration details, financial records, and evidence of industry demand.
• Align the proposal with the objectives of the WA Screen Industry Strategy, particularly capacity growth and job creation.
• Demonstrate the business’s ability to deliver, sustain, and scale the proposed investment beyond the funding period.
• Submit well ahead of the closing deadline of 5:00 PM (AWST) on 3 August 2026 to allow time to address any application issues.

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 the Industry Capacity Building Fund and other associated Australian government websites.