- Support for eligible Western Australian
businesses to improve capability and meet Defence requirements
- Successful companies to receive Defence Ready
Initiative grants of up to $20,000
The Cook Government has opened applications for the latest
round of Defence Ready Initiative grants to support local businesses in their
goal of becoming "Defence ready".
The purpose of the $200,000 investment in Western
Australian employers is to assist small and medium enterprises enhance their
capability, capacity and competitiveness to enter or expand their business in
the Defence supply chain.
The Cook Government will assist businesses
with grants of up to 50 per cent of their total costs, up to a maximum of $20,000.
Funding can be used for planning and
business advice, to improve internal business infrastructure and systems, train
employees, or buy and upgrade essential equipment.
Businesses can also use funding to cover
expenses associated with meeting essential pre-qualification requirements for
supply chain entry, including those related to meet Defence security standards.
The initiative supports the Cook Government's
vision for the defence sector to become a key pillar of the Western Australian
economy, and support locally-based businesses to become more competitive in
bids to win defence work.
Previous recipients include a Perth-based
satellite communications antenna firm, which, after receiving a grant, was able
to obtain defence security accreditation and enter the supply chain for
Australian defence contracts.
The 2020 program resulted in bolstering 22
successful companies from a range of industries including ship maintenance and
security services.
Applications for Defence Ready Initiative
grants close at 3pm on 23 February 2024.
To learn more about the Defence Ready Initiative or to submit an
application, visit
Defence West:
Defence Ready Initiative 2023/24 (www.wa.gov.au)
Comments attributed to Defence Industry
Minister Paul Papalia:
"There's
never been a better time to be involved in Western Australia's defence industry
with the announcement of the AUKUS agreement and Defence Strategic Review.
"The
Defence Ready Initiative will help local businesses take advantage of the
exciting opportunities on offer in WA.
"The
previous round in 2020 resulted in 22 successful companies receiving funds,
including those involved in ship maintenance and security services."
