Expand Together Grants 2027-28: Eight checks before applying in Round 1

Round 1 of the Expand Together Grants is open to eligible South Australian multicultural organisations and closes at 11pm South Australia time on 31 January 2027. It offers Infrastructure Grants of up to $100,000 and Equipment Grants of up to $30,000 per grant, as one-off funding for projects delivered over 12 months. The guidelines do not state a total funding pool.

Multicultural Affairs, within the Department of Human Services, administers the program. The checks below are a readiness framework, not additional funder requirements. Use them alongside the complete guidelines, available through Multicultural Affairs

1. Treat this as your one award for the year

An organisation can receive funding only once in 2027-28, and Round 1 recipients cannot apply in Round 2. Round 2 opens on 3 May 2027 and closes on 1 August 2027.

This makes project selection the first decision. Illustration: if an organisation has one urgent equipment need and one larger facility upgrade, a Round 1 award for the smaller item rules out the larger one until at least the next program year. Decide which project matters most before drafting.

2. Confirm your organisation fits the eligibility settings

The guidelines require a non-government, not-for-profit organisation incorporated under one of the listed legal structures. It needs a current Australian Business Number (ABN) in its own name, a South Australian base and evidence that its core purpose is serving culturally and linguistically diverse communities in South Australia.

The exclusions matter as much. Organisations incorporated for less than one year, unincorporated associations and organisations with outstanding obligations on earlier grants are ineligible. Check each point against your constitution and records, and contact the Multicultural Grants Team on 1300 239 468 where a point is unclear.

3. Choose the right stream and application route

Infrastructure covers upgrades, extensions and new builds on existing owned land, such as access ramps, kitchens, security systems and hall extensions. Equipment covers items such as marquees, sound systems, kitchen equipment and community buses or vans with at least 12 seats.

Some costs are excluded outright, including buying or leasing land or buildings, solar panels and batteries, architectural plans and council approvals, and cars or trucks. Organisations usually submit one application per round, with one per regional office allowed. Key multicultural service providers can apply up to two times as lead agency in partnership with one or more multicultural community organisations.

4. Secure matched funding evidence early

Infrastructure requests over $50,000 must be matched. In metropolitan Adelaide, the applicant contributes at least one dollar for every dollar of government funding. In regional and rural South Australia, it contributes at least one dollar for every two dollars. Check the guidelines' region list, because some areas near Adelaide count as regional for this purpose.

Evidence is required with the application, such as a recent bank statement, grant approval or confirmed partner contribution. In-kind support, discounts and donations do not count. A contribution that depends on an unconfirmed fundraiser or pledge may not be ready by 31 January.

5. Check land tenure and building documents early

Infrastructure applications need labelled floor plans, a detailed project plan with timelines and, where applicable, evidence of building compliance and council approvals. On privately owned land, a signed lease with at least five years remaining at round close is required, with the owner's written consent. On publicly owned land, the lease must have at least two years remaining.

These documents often depend on landlords, councils or builders. Contact them first, because their timelines can be longer than the writing time.

6. Get itemised quotes from South Australian suppliers

Funded items must be purchased within South Australia, except traditional items. Applications need detailed, itemised quotes from South Australian suppliers, and value for money and local purchasing are assessed.

Check GST treatment before setting the request. Organisations not registered for GST must include GST in their request, and registered organisations must not.

7. Build the case around use, connection and need

The criteria cover community need and outcomes, connection to the wider community, new and emerging communities, organisational capacity, public interest and safety, financial need, value for money and whole-of-program funding distribution. Applications must include a plan showing how the facility or equipment will connect the organisation with the wider community.

Eligibility gets an application considered; it does not make it competitive. A strong case names who will use the facility, how often and for what, and which other multicultural groups can share it. Where sharing is planned, document the arrangements and any existing partnerships rather than describing them generally.

8. Use the pre-submission review and allow for screening

The Multicultural Grants Team asks applicants to request a review at least one week before closing. Plan so a full draft and attachments are ready before that point.

Screening checks eligibility, completeness and outstanding obligations, and applications that fail screening do not reach merit assessment. Required documents include an approved constitution, Annual General Meeting minutes from within 18 months of close, a financial report from within two years and evidence of public liability insurance. Works started before July 2027 are not funded for Round 1, so plan delivery to begin after that date.

Organisations should review the complete guidelines and confirm eligibility before applying.

Clarity Insight's team has spent years on the government side of grant rounds, designing, assessing, approving and monitoring them, and understands what funding bodies look for in applications. If you are weighing whether this round suits your organisation, contact us to assess strategic fit and application readiness.