Support and partners
Free Growing Regions Support Package
A free package for councils and community groups getting ready for Growing Regions Round 3: access to Your project workspace, with the Round 3 guide, an intake survey, uploads and an evaluator you can rerun as often as you like, plus a free advisor call with IA Group.
Free for councils and community groups
Your own project workspace, set up for you by IA Group, plus a free advisor call. Everything you need to test and build a project before the Round 3 guidelines land.
Independent, by IA Group. Not affiliated with the Australian Government.
What's in the Support Package
Access to Your project workspace: a private online workspace for your project that holds your planning pack. Plus a free advisor call with IA Group.
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The Round 3 guide
A 24-page independent guide: the money ahead, your co-funding share, what 112 funded projects looked like, why most Round 1 bids missed out, and a readiness checklist. Every number is cited.
In Your project workspace
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An intake survey
A short set of questions about your project, so the work starts from your idea, your site and your budget.
In Your project workspace
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Uploads
Keep your quotes, plans, photos and supporting documents for the project in one place.
In Your project workspace
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Check your application
An evaluator that checks your project against the published Rounds 1 and 2 assessment criteria and shows where to strengthen it. Rerun it as often as you like as your project develops.
In Your project workspace
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A free advisor call with IA Group
Talk your project through with IA Group: scope, and the quotes, costings and technical evidence a strong application needs. It is not a grant application and does not guarantee funding.
With an IA Group advisor
Telstra Best of Business Awards
Innovation Award
WA State Winner and National Finalist. National winners are announced 26 November 2026.
Source: Telstra
Inside the Round 3 guide
| Section | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Start here | What the program is, the money ahead, and your share |
| Round 3 at a glance | The next funding round: what's been announced, and what hasn't |
| What past rounds funded | 112 projects, grouped by type, with named examples |
| Why more than nine in ten Round 1 bids missed out | Five reasons from the Auditor-General's report |
| How to get ready | A practical readiness checklist |
| How IA Group supports councils and communities | Who we are, and our work in Broome, Port Hedland and Serpentine Jarrahdale |
| Where to from here, and our sources | A step-by-step timeline, how to reach us, and every number cited |
Why it's worth your time
- The money ahead. One line for both programs: nil in 2026–27, $158.8M in 2027–28, then $300M in each of 2028–29 and 2029–30. That adds up to about $758.8M.
- Competition is real. 650 expressions of interest asked for $2.7 billion against $300 million on offer: about nine times oversubscribed.
- Readiness counts. Capacity to deliver, including designs, costings and approvals, was worth 40 of 100 points.
- There's no rush. Take the time to get it right. If now isn't the time, that's fine.
Who it's for
Local councils and incorporated not-for-profit community groups with a community infrastructure idea outside the capital cities, whether it is an idea or nearly ready to build. Projects inside the capital cities go to the sister program, Thriving Suburbs; we can help there too.
Who's behind it
Industrial Automation Group (IA Group). Serving regional Australia: 40 years, 1986–2026. Telstra Best of Business Awards 2026: Innovation Award: WA State Winner and National Finalist. National winners are announced 26 November 2026. More about us.
Please note
- Not a grant application. Registering does not lodge anything with the government and does not guarantee funding.
- Not a replacement for procurement. Councils still follow their own procurement rules.
- Not independent of a supplier. IA Group sells irrigation, water management, floodlighting, energy efficiency and bulk water systems, and may quote on projects it helps prepare.
Get your free Support Package
Last updated 31 October 2026. Markdown version