Victoria has opened a $5,000 grant program to help business associations provide training, mentoring and other support to multicultural small business owners and their workers.
The Multicultural Business Skills Fund Grant Program is open to eligible trader groups, business chambers and industry organisations, with applications closing at 4pm on Monday 28 September 2026, or earlier if available funding is exhausted.
The Victorian Government says the program is intended to help multicultural small businesses strengthen their strategic, knowledge, people and technology skills. Areas that can be covered include business planning, governance, marketing, cyber security, artificial intelligence, customer service, recruitment and staff development.
Funding can be used for activities such as training, short courses, workshops, online webinars, in-language resources and business mentoring. Eligible expenses can include engaging expert trainers or speakers, in-language services and developing new digital resources.
Each funded project must engage at least 10 participants from Victorian multicultural small businesses, including owners and their workers. Projects must be completed by 26 February 2027.
The program is aimed at business associations rather than individual businesses. Applicants must be a not-for-profit member organisation whose core purpose is to act for its members, and must be based in Victoria, operate only within Victoria or be the Victorian chapter of a national organisation. Applicants must also hold a current Australian Business Number and be registered with the relevant federal or state regulator.
Community organisations that engage with local businesses are not eligible to apply directly under the program. Business Victoria says such organisations can work with eligible business associations to identify opportunities to support small and family businesses.
Up to 100 grants of $5,000, excluding GST, are available under the program. Eligible business associations can submit one application, and funding is subject to the program’s assessment process and available funds. Business Victoria states that applications may be considered in date order until the funding allocation is exhausted.
The program is part of the Victorian Government’s Supporting our Multicultural Traders and Precincts commitment.
Applications must be submitted by 4pm on 28 September 2026. Late applications and drafts will not be accepted.
Eligible organisations can review the program guidelines and application requirements through Business Victoria.
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