Quick answer: The Secure Communities Partnership Program is a Queensland Government grants program that helps small and family businesses, and groups of businesses sharing a precinct or property, pay for security upgrades that deter crime. Round 3 is open now. The small business stream offers $1,500 to $20,000 and closes at 5pm on 23 April 2027, or earlier if the funding pool runs out. The shared security stream offers $20,000 to $200,000 for larger, multi-business projects and closes at 5pm on 29 January 2027. Both streams require you to contribute half of the eligible project cost yourself.
What is the Secure Communities Partnership Program
The Secure Communities Partnership Program is run by the Queensland Government to help small and family businesses invest in practical security measures, things like alarm systems, better lighting, access control and surveillance, that make it harder for crime to happen and easier to respond when it does. It is part of a broader $40 million Queensland Government commitment to supporting business security across the state, delivered across several funding rounds since the program began.
Round 3 is split into two separate grant streams, and it is worth understanding both before deciding which one fits your situation.
The first stream, Small Business Security Grants, is aimed at an individual small or family business wanting to upgrade security at a single site. The second stream, Shared Security Grants, is aimed at larger, more collaborative projects, security infrastructure that benefits several small businesses at once, such as shared surveillance across a shopping strip, arcade or commercial precinct. This second stream is open to small businesses and to property or precinct owners and managers, not only to local councils, which is a broader pool of eligible applicants than some earlier Secure Communities rounds.
Round 3’s eligibility criteria also differ in one important way from the program’s second round. Round 2 asked applicants to demonstrate that their business had been directly affected by crime, or was operating in an area affected by crime within the last five years. Round 3’s published eligibility criteria do not carry that same requirement. In practice, this means a wider range of genuinely eligible small businesses across Queensland, not only those that can point to a specific past incident or a declared crime hotspot, can now apply for funding to get ahead of security risks rather than only responding after the fact.
How much funding is available
Small Business Security Grants (Round 3): Grants of $1,500 to $20,000 (excluding GST), depending on the type of project. You need to contribute 50 per cent of the eligible project cost yourself, which means the total eligible project cost needs to sit between $3,000 and $40,000 (excluding GST) for the grant amounts to work out correctly. There are two different minimum thresholds depending on what you are funding:
For mobile business security, security fitted to a vehicle, trailer, cart or similar mobile asset, the minimum eligible project cost is $3,000, which works out to a minimum grant of $1,500.
For a fixed business premises, or a project that combines fixed and mobile security, the minimum eligible project cost is $5,000, giving a minimum grant of $2,500.
At the top end, a project with an eligible cost of $40,000 would receive the maximum $20,000 grant, with your business covering the other $20,000.
Shared Security Grants (Round 3): Grants of $20,000 to $200,000 (excluding GST) for larger projects that benefit at least two eligible Queensland small and family businesses at once. The same 50 per cent co-contribution rule applies, so the total eligible project cost for this stream needs to sit between $40,000 and $400,000 (excluding GST). This stream is competitive, meaning not every eligible application will be funded, and applications are assessed and ranked against each other rather than approved in the order they arrive.
Neither stream funds the full cost of a project. Budgeting for your half of the cost upfront, and being realistic about what you can genuinely afford to co-invest, is an important part of deciding whether to apply, and for how much.
Who qualifies
For the Small Business Security Grants stream, as a small or family business you generally need to:
Have 19 or fewer employees, counted by headcount, across the business.
Have had a turnover of $10 million or less in the 2025 to 2026 financial year.
Be actively trading, with your main activity being the supply of goods or services to customers, rather than, for example, purely holding investments.
Hold an active Australian Business Number and be registered for GST, as recorded on the Australian Business Register.
Have at least one year of trading history behind you.
Be headquartered in Queensland, according to the Australian Business Register.
You need to keep meeting these criteria not just when you apply, but for the whole life of the funded project.
If you do not own your business premises, a property owner, lessor, body corporate, trustee, property manager or similar authorised entity can apply on behalf of an eligible tenant business, provided the security works directly benefit that tenant and the applicant can show they have the authority to carry out the project, can enter into a funding agreement, and are solvent. These property-side applicants also need to meet the same ABN, GST registration and one-year trading requirements as a business applicant.
For the Shared Security Grants stream, the same small business criteria above apply if a business is applying directly. Alternatively, a property or precinct-led applicant, a commercial property owner, lessor, trustee, property-holding entity, property manager, or similar eligible entity, can apply, as long as the completed project will provide a direct and material security benefit to at least two eligible Queensland small and family businesses, and the applicant meets the additional requirements set out in the program guidelines.
Who does NOT qualify
Based on the published Round 3 criteria, the following are excluded:
Businesses with 20 or more employees, or small businesses that form part of a larger group with 20 or more employees overall, even where the individual business applying is itself small.
Businesses that are insolvent, in external administration, or facing deregistration, or where an owner or director is an undischarged bankrupt.
Businesses or property applicants that have already been approved and funded under an earlier round of the Secure Communities Partnership Program, for the same project or purpose.
For the Shared Security Grants stream specifically: Queensland or Australian Government departments and agencies, and local government bodies, with a narrow exception for a separately constituted, commercially active council-owned entity that otherwise meets the eligibility requirements.
Also for the Shared Security Grants stream: projects where the main beneficiaries are residential, recreational, sporting, social, community or member-only activities, rather than small and family businesses.
What the funding can be used for
Both streams fund practical, physical security measures rather than general business costs. Eligible project types include:
Alarm systems.
Access control and entry management systems.
Surveillance and detection equipment, such as cameras and sensors.
Lighting and other environmental security improvements, for example lighting a laneway or car park that is otherwise dark and exposed.
Physical security items, such as security screens, reinforced doors or similar hardening measures.
For the Small Business Security Grants stream specifically, mobile business security is also eligible, covering security fitted to a vehicle, trailer, cart or other mobile business asset, which is a useful option for mobile traders, market stallholders and similar businesses that do not operate from a single fixed site.
For the Shared Security Grants stream, the equivalent categories are physical security and site-hardening infrastructure, access control, alarm and monitored security systems, security lighting and environmental security improvements, and surveillance and detection infrastructure, scaled to a project that serves multiple businesses rather than one.
Key dates
Applications for both Round 3 streams are open now. The Queensland Government has not published an exact date on which Round 3 applications first opened, but both streams are confirmed live and accepting applications.
The Small Business Security Grants stream closes at 5pm on 23 April 2027, or earlier if the funding pool is exhausted before then. Because this stream is assessed on a rolling basis rather than purely as a competitive round, getting a complete application in earlier gives you a better chance of funding being available.
The Shared Security Grants stream closes at 5pm on 29 January 2027. Unlike the small business stream, this one is a genuinely competitive round, meaning Queensland will assess and rank every eligible application received by the closing time, and fund the strongest projects within the available budget, rather than funding simply running out as applications arrive.
Given the Shared Security Grants stream closes several months earlier than the Small Business stream, a precinct or group of businesses considering a larger, shared project should start preparing well ahead of the January 2027 deadline rather than treating it as a later priority than the small business stream’s later date.
How to apply
The two streams follow a similar application process, with differences in scale reflecting the size of a typical project.
For the Small Business Security Grants stream:
Start by checking your eligibility against the criteria above, using the eligibility checker and the full program guidelines and FAQ available on the official Business Queensland program page.
Complete and have witnessed a 100 points of identification check form, which is a standard requirement for this program.
Obtain a written, itemised quote from a supplier for the proposed security works, prepared in line with what the program guidelines require.
Register for an applicant account on the SmartyGrants online application platform if you do not already have one.
Submit your application through SmartyGrants before the closing time, along with your quote and supporting documents. Applications are then assessed against the published guidelines and eligibility criteria, and you will be notified of the outcome by email.
For the Shared Security Grants stream, the steps are broadly the same, with more documentation expected given the larger scale:
Check your project against the “who can apply” criteria and the full program guidelines.
Prepare your application, including the witnessed 100 points identification check, supplier quotes, and, depending on your situation, evidence of ownership or authority over the site, tenancy or occupancy information, site plans, and evidence of any required approvals.
Register for a SmartyGrants applicant account if needed.
Submit your application through SmartyGrants before the 29 January 2027 closing time. Shared Security Grants applications are prioritised against several factors: the genuine security need, the benefit delivered to Queensland small and family businesses, the quality and deliverability of the project design, value for money, and how ready the project is to proceed once approved.
Documents you may need
Before you start either application, it is worth gathering:
A completed and witnessed 100 points of identification check form.
A current, itemised quote from your chosen supplier or installer for the proposed works.
Evidence of your Australian Business Number and GST registration status, and evidence of your trading history if requested.
If you do not own your premises: written evidence of your authority to carry out the works, such as landlord or property owner consent.
For a Shared Security Grants application: evidence of ownership or management authority over the relevant site or precinct, tenancy or occupancy details for the businesses that will benefit, site plans, and evidence of any approvals your project may need.
Basic business details confirming your headcount, turnover for the 2025 to 2026 financial year, and Queensland headquarters, to demonstrate eligibility.
How competitive is it
The two streams work differently when it comes to competition.
The Small Business Security Grants stream is assessed on a rolling basis against the published eligibility criteria, rather than being ranked against other applications in a single competitive round. In practice, this means the real pressure is on the size of the funding pool: if demand across Queensland is strong, funding could be allocated before the 23 April 2027 closing date is reached, so there is a practical advantage to applying earlier rather than leaving it until close to the deadline.
The Shared Security Grants stream is genuinely competitive. Every eligible application received by the 29 January 2027 deadline is assessed and ranked against the others, using the criteria listed above, security need, business benefit, project design and deliverability, value for money, and readiness to proceed. A strong, well-documented, “ready to go” project has a real advantage here over one that is vaguer about exactly what will be built, who it benefits, and when it could start.
What to prepare before applying
For either stream, the most useful thing you can do early is get a genuine, itemised quote from a supplier, rather than a rough estimate, since the quote underpins both your eligible project cost and the grant amount the program can approve.
Businesses considering the Small Business Security Grants stream should also think through whether their project fits the mobile business security pathway or the fixed-premises pathway, since the minimum project cost and minimum grant differ between the two, and applying under the right pathway from the start avoids unnecessary back and forth.
Groups of businesses, or a property or precinct manager, considering the Shared Security Grants stream should use the time before the January 2027 deadline to firmly establish which businesses will benefit, how the project will be managed, and what evidence they can show of real security need and genuine readiness to deliver, since these are the factors the competitive assessment will weigh most heavily.
Whichever stream you are considering, confirm your business genuinely meets the ABN, GST registration, trading history and turnover criteria before investing time in a full application, since these are checked as a baseline before your project itself is assessed.
Common mistakes to avoid
Applying under the wrong funding pathway, for example treating a mainly fixed-premises project as “mobile business security” or vice versa, which can cause confusion about the minimum project cost and grant amount that applies.
Submitting a vague or non-itemised quote. Both streams rely on a clear, itemised quote to establish the eligible project cost, and a quote that is too general can slow down or complicate assessment.
Assuming your business still needs to prove it has been a victim of crime, as Round 2 required. Round 3’s published criteria do not carry that requirement, so businesses that assumed they were ineligible for this reason under an earlier round should not assume the same applies now.
For the Shared Security Grants stream, underestimating the documentation needed to show genuine benefit to at least two separate small businesses, which is central to how this competitive stream is assessed.
Leaving a rolling-assessment application, the Small Business Security Grants stream, until close to the 23 April 2027 deadline, when the funding pool may already be allocated by then.
Forgetting that both streams require a genuine 50 per cent co-contribution from the applicant, and not budgeting for that share of the cost in advance.
Why this program exists
Small and family businesses across Queensland, and the property owners and precincts that house them, can face real costs from crime and antisocial behaviour, from break-ins and theft to vandalism and damage to premises. For many small operators, particularly those running on tight margins, the upfront cost of a proper security upgrade, hardened doors, decent lighting, a monitored alarm, can be a genuine barrier even when the business owner knows it would help.
By funding half the cost of eligible security upgrades, and by offering a second stream specifically for shared, multi-business projects, the Queensland Government is aiming to lift the baseline level of security across commercial areas, not just for individual businesses that can afford to act alone, but for whole precincts and shopping strips where a coordinated upgrade benefits everyone nearby. The broader $40 million program funding this round reflects an ongoing, multi-round commitment to this goal rather than a single, one-off grant.
Related funding options
Security upgrades are one part of running a resilient small business in Queensland. If the Secure Communities Partnership Program is not quite the right fit for your situation, or you want to see what else is available once your security project is sorted, it is worth exploring the broader range of small business grants available in Queensland, as well as grants covering business equipment and services, which can complement a security upgrade with funding for other operational needs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the two Secure Communities Partnership Program Round 3 streams?
The Small Business Security Grants stream funds security upgrades for a single small or family business, with grants of $1,500 to $20,000, and closes 23 April 2027. The Shared Security Grants stream funds larger projects that benefit at least two small businesses at once, such as a shared precinct upgrade, with grants of $20,000 to $200,000, and closes 29 January 2027. The shared stream is also open to property and precinct managers, not only to businesses themselves.
Do I need to show my business has been a victim of crime to apply for Round 3?
No. Round 3’s published eligibility criteria do not carry the crime-affected requirement that applied under the program’s second round. You do not need to demonstrate a specific past incident to be eligible for Round 3.
How much of the project cost do I need to contribute myself?
Both streams require you to contribute 50 per cent of the eligible project cost. The grant covers the other half, up to the maximum for your stream, $20,000 for Small Business Security Grants or $200,000 for Shared Security Grants.
Can a landlord or property manager apply instead of the business itself?
Yes. For the Small Business Security Grants stream, a property owner, lessor, body corporate, trustee or property manager can apply on behalf of an eligible tenant business if the works directly benefit that tenant and the applicant meets the authority and solvency requirements. For the Shared Security Grants stream, property and precinct-led applicants are one of the two eligible applicant types alongside small businesses.
Is the Shared Security Grants stream only for local councils?
No. Local government is generally not eligible to apply for the Shared Security Grants stream, except for a narrow exception involving a separately constituted, commercially active council-owned entity. The stream is primarily open to small businesses and to property or precinct-led applicants such as commercial property owners and managers.
What happens if the Small Business Security Grants funding pool runs out before 23 April 2027?
This stream is assessed on a rolling basis rather than as a single competitive round, so funding can be allocated before the published closing date if demand is high. The official program page will reflect the current status of the round.
Does mobile business security, like a security-fitted vehicle or market stall, qualify?
Yes, under the Small Business Security Grants stream. Mobile business security has its own minimum project cost of $3,000 and minimum grant of $1,500, separate from the fixed-premises pathway.
Want to keep exploring your options? Grants Assist’s online portal gives you access to detailed, regularly updated information on grants and assistance programs across Australia. Explore the Grants Assist portal to browse more programs like this one, or call us on 1300-005-999 to speak with one of our advisors.
