Open NowNon-Profit2026–27

Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) Program 2026–27

Department of Veterans' Affairs · Australia

The Australian Government is inviting eligible ex-service organisations to apply for funding under the Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) Program 2026–27. The program supports free compensation and wellbeing advocacy services for veteran and defence communities over a 3-year period from 2026–27 to 2028–29.

Official Grant Page

Deadline

Rolling / Ongoing

Duration

3 years

Location

Australia

Who Can Apply

Must be an ex-service organisation (ESO). Must be an eligible entity type such as a company, cooperative, incorporated association, Indigenous corporation, statutory entity, or other listed eligible entity. Trust applications require both the trustee and trust to be ESOs, with the trustee being an eligible entity type. Non-eligible ESOs may be sponsored by another eligible ESO, but non-ESOs are not eligible.
To be eligible to apply in your own right, applicants must be an ex-service organisation (ESO) and one of the following entity types: Company, Cooperative, Corporate State or Territory Entity, Incorporated Association, Indigenous Corporation, or Statutory Entity. If applying as a Trustee on behalf of a Trust, both the Trustee and the Trust must be ESOs and the Trustee must be an eligible entity type. If an ESO is not an eligible entity type, another ESO with an eligible entity type may apply on its behalf as a sponsor, and the sponsor must complete and submit the application. Organisations that are not ESOs are not eligible to apply. Additional eligibility requirements apply as set out in section 4 of the Grant Opportunity Guidelines.

What's Funded

Delivering free advocacy services to veterans and families of veterans, improving the quality of claims submitted to the Department of Veterans' Affairs, and promoting wellbeing services to veteran and defence communities through ex-service organisations.

Expected Outcomes

Veteran and defence communities have access to free compensation and wellbeing advocacy services; advocates lodge high-quality claims with all required information; and claims assessment efficiency is improved.

Key Information

Applicant Types

companycooperativeindigenous_organisationtrustother

Stage

established

Funding Purposes

communitytrainingother

Keywords

veteransdefenceex-service organisationsadvocacywellbeingclaims supportcommunity servicestraining

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) Program 2026–27?

The Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) Program 2026–27 is a non-profit grant offered by Department of Veterans' Affairs in Australia. The Australian Government is inviting eligible ex-service organisations to apply for funding under the Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) Program 2026–27. The program supports free compensation and wellbeing advocacy services for veteran and defence communities over a 3-year period from 2026–27 to 2028–29.

Who is eligible for the Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) Program 2026–27?

Must be an ex-service organisation (ESO). Must be an eligible entity type such as a company, cooperative, incorporated association, Indigenous corporation, statutory entity, or other listed eligible entity. Trust applications require both the trustee and trust to be ESOs, with the trustee being an eligible entity type. Non-eligible ESOs may be sponsored by another eligible ESO, but non-ESOs are not eligible.

When does the Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) Program 2026–27 close?

Applications close on 15 Apr 2026. This is a rolling program — new rounds may open.

What activities are funded?

Delivering free advocacy services to veterans and families of veterans, improving the quality of claims submitted to the Department of Veterans' Affairs, and promoting wellbeing services to veteran and defence communities through ex-service organisations.

How do I apply for the Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) Program 2026–27?

Start by checking your eligibility using the free Beta Docs eligibility checker. If eligible, Beta Docs' AI-powered platform can help you draft, review, and refine your application to maximise your chances of success.

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