What we now know about the Federal Budget

Our team has undertaken a deep dive into the Federal Budget, While many believe it’s a pre-election budget to garner support, and it may fuel inflation, others feel it does not go far enough, leaving the most vulnerable Australians behind. 

Despite these differing opinions, we do know there has been funding across many portfolios, so there are definitely future funding opportunities for the not-for-profit sector. 

We’ve outlined the major highlights and opportunities below: 

Future made in Australia 

• This will invest $22.7 billion over ten years. It will include, among other things: 
• Tax incentives for hydrogen production and critical minerals production 
• A ‘Battery Breakthrough Initiative’ 
• A Net Zero Authority 
• Employment and skills support for regions transitioning to clean energy 
• Building Women’s Careers program 

Health 

Several health measures have been welcomed, such as: 

• A 5-year freeze on medicine co-payments 
• Additional medicines on the PBS 
• Funding towards alcohol and drug support services. 

In terms of mental health

• Australians will be able to access a free, low-intensity digital service without a referral to receive timely mental health support, expected to serve 150,000 people annually. 61 Medicare Mental Health Centres will open by 30 June 2026, offering clinical services for adults with moderate‑to‑severe mental health needs. 

Disability and social services 

• There is funding to reform the NDIS and to boost the NDIA and other agencies to improve inefficient systems. 
• There is also an investment to create a new disability employment program, however, details are yet to be released. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders 

• The Budget is investing a record $2.4 billion over five years to create new opportunities and achieve better outcomes for First Nations people. 
• Priority areas include jobs, health, education, justice, housing and other essential infrastructure and services. 
• Regional and remote areas are the main beneficiaries.  

Women 

The budget provides $925 million over five years to make the Morrison-era Leaving Violence Program permanent. This includes: 

• Up to $5,000 in financial support for victim-survivors, indexed annually 
• Additional support services through the program including safety planning, risk assessment and referrals to other services for up to 12 weeks. 

Whether your not-for-profit organisation offers services in the above-mentioned areas or others, a consistent relationship with the government is important in raising awareness of your work to attract funding.  Let us know if we can help you with your government engagement journey.  

Upcoming Fifty Acres events 

Masterclass 4 

Title: How to best utilise your organisation’s engagement and communication channels 

The final class in our free Master Class series for not-for-profits, Channels and Momentum, bringing to a close our MasterClass series, and building on lessons 1-3 which addressed getting your project planning, messaging voice, engagement and audiences.  

Hosted by our CEO, Jo Scard, this free 1-hour webinar delves into community involvement, utilising existing contacts and owned media, as well as self-marketing and publicity.  

Masterclass 4 will run from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM AEST on Wednesday, May 29. 

Register for Masterclass 4 

If you haven’t been able to attend Masterclasses 1 – 3, you can catch up with the recordings and slides via our website.  

Jo Scard

With over 20 years’ experience in communications, political advisory roles and journalism, Jo Scard is one of Australia’s foremost strategic advisors to corporates, government and not-for-profits.

Jo is a respected former journalist in the UK and Australia working with ITV, Associated Press, Seven Network, SBS, ABC and Fairfax. She has spent over a decade advising corporates and not-for-profits at CEO and board level across strategic communications, government relations and public relations, and co-authored the best-selling book The working mother’s survival guide.

Fifty Acres was established in 2010. We work with government agencies, national organisations, not-for-profits and corporates providing strategic communications, media training, government, marketing and public relations services. The agency has become a market leader in strategic communications and represents some of Australia’s premier brands and not-for-profits – spending 10% of our time on pro bono projects.

• Should I be using AI in my communications?
• Five ways to make the most of a government meeting
• Internal Communications - the heart of a great strategy
• Navigating the next budget cycle as a not-for-profit organisation