Defence Industry Development Grants Program – Skilling Stream

The Defence Industry Development Grants Program (DIDG Program) provides funding for small to medium enterprises to build Australia’s sovereign capability, global competitiveness, technical superiority and national security.  

The Grant opportunity provides: 

• between $5,000 and $1 million for eligible businesses 

• up to 50% of the project cost 

• dedicated streams provide support for the: 

• acquisition and commissioning of new capabilities for defence domestic or exports projects 

• achievement of international accreditations and certifications 

• technical and trade skill development (Skilling Stream) 

• implementation and maintenance of security posture required for suppliers in the defence sector. 

Skilling stream 

The Skilling Stream assists eligible businesses to upskill and train in priority trade, technical and professional skillsets to develop a workforce with the right mix of qualified and experienced personnel to meet Defence requirements in priority areas.  

• Approximately $21 million available over four years  

• Grants of between $5,000 and $250,000  

• Maximum grant project length of 24 months 

The closing date for applications to the Skilling stream is Sunday 31 May 2026, 11:59 pm AEST 

For an application to be considered, it must meet eligibility criteria and address the assessment criteria, including all sub-criteria, for the relevant grants program.  

Before submitting, applicants should read and understand the Grants Opportunity Guidelines available on the grants program information page. Particularly, applicants should review Section 5.1, Appendices A and B of the Grants Opportunity Guidelines to understand what grants activities and expenditure are eligible. 

Check your eligibility and apply