EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The Queensland Government’s Secure Communities Partnership Program (Round 2) is now open, offering grants of $5,000 to $20,000 (ex GST) to small and family businesses significantly impacted by crime in the past three years. Applications close 30 June 2026, or earlier if funding is exhausted. A mandatory 50% co-contribution applies.
Unsure of your eligibility? Check Your Eligibility Probability Here
At a Glance: Secure Communities Partnership Program QLD Round 2
| Grant Value | $5,000 to $20,000 (ex GST) |
| Total Round Budget | Part of $40 million program; closes when funds exhausted |
| Applicant Co-Contribution | Minimum 50% of total project costs |
| Application Status | OPEN (opened 12 November 2025) |
| Closing Date | 5pm Friday 30 June 2026 (or earlier if funds exhausted) |
| Application Difficulty | Medium-High (crime evidence mandatory) |
| Timeline to Decision | Not published; apply as early as possible |
| Administering Body | DESBT via SmartyGrants portal |
| Who Can Apply | QLD small/family businesses; <20 employees; crime-impacted; QLD ABN |
The “Hard” Eligibility Filter: Will You Qualify?
This is your pre-screening utility. Work through each criterion honestly before you invest any time in the application. The assessors will verify every point against government databases, your ABN registration, and your submitted evidence.
Must-Haves (All Must Apply)
✅ Fewer than 20 employees by headcount. Full-time, part-time, casual, and non-executive directors receiving a salary or wage count. Business owners, directors (non-salaried), and contractors do NOT count. This figure must remain under 20 for the entire project duration.
✅ Annual turnover of $10 million or less (2024-25 financial year). Uses the “aggregated turnover” definition under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. Connected entities’ turnovers may be added to yours.
✅ Significantly impacted by crime in the past 3 years, defined as having made a police report and/or a crime-related insurance claim within that period.
✅ Active ABN registered to a Queensland headquarters on the Australian Business Register (ABR). Check your ABR record before applying.
✅ GST-registered as per your ABR record.
✅ Minimum one year of trading history.
✅ Not insolvent, and no owners or directors who are currently bankrupt or undischarged from bankruptcy.
✅ Not a subsidiary of a group with 20 or more total employees.
Dealbreakers (Any One Disqualifies You)
❌ 20 or more employees in your headcount.
❌ No documented evidence of crime impact (police report or insurance claim) within the past 3 years.
❌ ABN headquarters not registered in Queensland.
❌ Aggregated turnover above $10 million.
❌ Business or owner/director currently insolvent, bankrupt, or undischarged from bankruptcy.
❌ Subsidiary of a group with 20 or more employees.
Unsure of your eligibility? Check Your Eligibility Probability Here
The “Application Killer” Section: Three Non-Obvious Reasons Applications Fail
1. The ABR Mismatch Trap
Your application is cross-checked against the Australian Business Register in real time. If your GST registration status, business address, or entity name on the ABR does not exactly match what you submit in SmartyGrants, your application can be delayed or rejected outright.
A small hardware retailer in Cairns was operating from a shopfront that had changed addresses two years prior. The owner updated the lease and the bank account but never updated the ABR. When they applied, the system flagged a Queensland address mismatch. By the time the correction was processed and resubmission attempted, the funding round had closed early because the pool was exhausted.
The fix: visit the ABR directly and verify your GST status, principal place of business address, and entity name the day before you apply.
2. The Co-Contribution Calculation Error
The program requires you to co-contribute at least 50% of total project costs. This means for every $1 of grant money, you must contribute at least $1. The error most applicants make is calculating the co-contribution as 50% of the grant amount rather than 50% of the total project cost.
Example: A Brisbane bottle shop owner applied for the maximum $20,000 but budgeted a $25,000 project, leaving only $5,000 as their co-contribution — a 20% rate, not 50%. The application was marked non-compliant before it reached merit assessment. Always calculate the ratio precisely before you submit.
3. The “Insufficient Evidence of Crime Impact” Rejection
Assessors look for documented, demonstrable crime impact. Stating in your narrative that your business “often experiences theft” without supporting documentation will fail. A crime-related insurance claim that predates the three-year window also fails.
What works: a police incident report (QPRIME or other, as accepted since December 2025) referencing your business, and/or a formal crime-related insurance claim from within the past three years. If you have had multiple incidents, document them all. A pattern of crime strengthens your case considerably.
For QLD business owners thinking about grant funding more broadly, it is worth reading about sole trader grants in QLD at australiangrants.org/sole-trader-grants-qld to understand the wider landscape of state-based funding.
Unsure of your eligibility? Check Your Eligibility Probability Here
What Can You Spend the Grant On? Eligible Expenses
The program is focused on crime deterrence through physical and technological security upgrades. Every dollar must prevent a crime or reduce its cost and impact.
- Surveillance and detection systems: Digital CCTV (high-resolution, min 25fps, H.264 compression, 31-day storage), motion-activated lighting, perimeter detection.
- Alarm and access control systems: Commercial-grade alarm systems, digital access control (keypad, fob, biometric), intercoms with remote video monitoring.
- Physical perimeter and property defence: Security fencing, bollards, reinforced entry points, roller shutters, security screens, and lockable fixtures.
Typically NOT eligible: General operating costs, staff wages for security duties, software subscriptions (distinct from hardware), or works unrelated to crime deterrence.
Step-by-Step Submission Guide
- Step 1: Register for a SmartyGrants applicant account at desbt.smartygrants.com.au using your ABN-registered business email.
- Step 2: Run the eligibility checker on the Business Queensland website before opening the full application form.
- Step 3: Gather all documentation before opening the form — ABR extract, 2024-25 turnover figure, headcount figure, crime evidence (police report/insurance claim), two independent supplier quotes, and a project description.
- Step 4: Write your application narrative using the language of the program guidelines: ‘crime deterrence,’ ‘security vulnerabilities,’ ‘proven security measures and equipment.’ Connect your crime history directly to your security vulnerabilities.
- Step 5: Verify your co-contribution is at least 50% of total project cost before submitting.
- Step 6: Submit via desbt.smartygrants.com.au/SCPPR2. A virtual queue may apply during peak periods — do not close your browser if queued.
If you are new to writing grant applications, visit australiangrants.org/business-plan-template-guidance-mentoring-support for guidance on building a compelling project narrative.
Unsure of your eligibility? Check Your Eligibility Probability Here
Frequently Asked Questions and Glossary
Q: Is the Secure Communities Partnership Program grant taxable income?
Generally yes. Grants received by businesses are typically treated as assessable income under Australian taxation law. The program pays the grant excluding GST. Speak with your accountant about how to treat this in your financial records.
Q: Can I apply if my only crime evidence is a CCTV recording?
No. A CCTV recording alone does not constitute a police report or insurance claim. You must have reported the incident to police or your insurer and have documentation of that report. If you have footage and have not yet reported the incident, do so now and obtain the incident report reference number.
Q: What happens if I submit an incomplete application?
Incomplete applications are not assessed. The SmartyGrants portal flags mandatory fields, but supporting documents (such as quotes and crime evidence) must also be substantively complete. An application without adequate crime impact documentation will be assessed as non-compliant.
Q: Can I apply for more than one project?
The small business stream caps funding at $20,000 per applicant. Structure your application around the most impactful single project scope within that cap.
Q: My business is a trust. Am I eligible?
Trusts with an active ABN registered in Queensland that meet all other eligibility criteria may be eligible. Seek professional advice if your structure is complex.
Q: When does Round 2 close?
5pm Friday 30 June 2026, or earlier if funding is exhausted. Apply early to avoid missing out.
Q: How much must I co-contribute?
At least 50% of total project costs. If your total project is $30,000, the maximum grant is $15,000 and your minimum co-contribution is $15,000.
Glossary
- ABN: 11-digit Australian Business Number. Must be active and registered to a Queensland headquarters.
- ABR (Australian Business Register): The public register holding ABN details. Cross-checked against your application in real time.
- Aggregated Turnover: Your business’s turnover plus those of connected or affiliated entities, as defined under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.
- Co-Contribution: The minimum 50% share of total project costs you must fund yourself.
- QPRIME: Queensland Police Records and Information Management Exchange. Provides police report reference numbers. Other police incident reports also accepted from December 2025.
- SmartyGrants: The online grants portal used to receive and assess applications.
- DESBT: Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business. The administering agency for the small business stream.
Understanding the broader grants landscape is worthwhile for any QLD business owner. Visit australiangrants.org/community-grants-for-2021-australia for an overview of complementary programs. For government business loans and financing options, see australiangrants.org/government-business-loans.
Unsure of your eligibility? Check Your Eligibility Probability Here
Final Thoughts: Apply Early, Apply Once, Apply Well
The Secure Communities Partnership Program Round 2 small business stream closes on 30 June 2026, but funding can close early once the round budget is exhausted. There is no benefit to waiting.
If you have been the victim of crime as a Queensland small business owner and you have a police report or insurance claim to prove it, this program exists for you. Up to $20,000 is available to turn your business into a harder target, reduce your insurance premiums, and protect your staff and customers.
Get your ABR record in order, compile your crime evidence, obtain quotes for your security upgrade, write a sharp narrative, and submit early. The businesses that succeed treat their application like a business case, not a form-fill.
For broader funding support across all stages of business growth, visit www.australiangrants.org/government-business-loans for a companion resource to this guide.
