What is the Hospitality Security Fund?

The Hospitality Security Fund provides grants to support eligible licensed hospitality businesses to improve the security and fire safety systems at their venues.

The $10 million grant program has been established in response to arson attacks targeting hospitality venues across inner Melbourne.

There are two available funding streams:

  • Security Uplift Grant
  • Direct Impact Grant

What is the Security Uplift Grant (Stream 1)?

The Security Uplift Grant provides $5,000 for an eligible licensed hospitality business to improve a venue’s security or fire safety systems and equipment.

The business must make a matched contribution of at least $5,000.

It is not necessary for the venue to have been directly impacted by fire-related crime to apply for this grant.

What is the Direct Impact Grant (Stream 2)?

The Direct Impact Grant provides between $5,000 and $25,000 for an eligible licensed hospitality business to improve a venue’s security or fire safety systems and equipment.

The business does not need to make a co-contribution.

The venue must have been directly impacted by fire-related crime investigated by Operation Eclipse to apply for this grant.

How many grants can I apply for?

The applicant must be an eligible hospitality business that operates an eligible licensed venue.

The business (as defined by its ABN) can receive one grant per venue.

If a business operates multiple eligible venues under its ABN, it must apply for each venue separately.

I have submitted an application with details on a proposed eligible project. What happens next?

The Department will review your project proposal and let you know if your business is eligible to proceed with the security upgrade.

When will I find out if my grant application is successful?

If your application is successful, you will receive a Successful Email saying the proposed project is eligible for a rebate. This forms the agreement between you and the Department based on the terms in the application form, your application and the guidelines. You must not start your project until you receive this Successful Email.

How long do I have to complete my security upgrades or activities?

You must spend the funding on eligible expenditure by 28 February 2027.

Once the project is complete, you must submit a claim (photographic evidence and paid invoices) to show the project is completed, and only eligible expenditure has been used.

Businesses will receive a series of reminders to submit claims/evidence. After the claim and evidence are submitted and assessed, the grant will be paid into the nominated bank account.

Do I have to keep records of the payment or project?

Yes. Your applications and grant expenditure may be audited for up to four years from the program open date of 3 July 2026.

Keep all records of your eligibility for the grant and, if a grant is received, how the funds were spent, for the entire audit period.

Where can I get more information about security and fire safety for my venue?

General guidance includes:

Guiding Principles for Surveillance – Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC) – including a checklist and case studies

Applicants may purchase eligible equipment that best meets their business needs. A security or fire safety audit by a qualified professional could inform options (audits are an eligible expense under this grant program). With regards to CCTV equipment or systems, applicants are encouraged to consider equipment quality, while also factoring in security and privacy risks.

Possible integration of CCTV from venues into the State Command and Coordination Centre is being actively explored by Victoria Police. Eligible hardware to participate in potential CCTV integration is an operational matter for Victoria Police.

Questions about eligibility

Are all hospitality businesses eligible to apply?

This program is for eligible licensed hospitality businesses. The business must have an active ABN, be registered for GST and employ fewer than 50 people.

The business must be registered under one of these ANZSIC industry classes:

  • 4511: Cafes and Restaurants
  • 4520: Pubs, Taverns and Bars
  • 4530: Clubs (Hospitality)

The business must operate a venue with regular public night-time trading hours past 6pm in one of the eligible local government areas.

Check the program guidelines for more information about the eligibility criteria.

What venues are eligible?

The business applying for the grant must hold an eligible liquor licence for the venue in the application.

The venue must be in one of these local government areas:

  • City of Melbourne
  • City of Port Phillip
  • City of Stonnington
  • City of Yarra.

The venue must have regular public night-time trading hours past 6pm.

What is regular night-time trading?

To be eligible, the venue must have regular public night-time trading hours past 6pm.

This means the venue is open to the public at least once per week during trading hours that extend past 6pm.

What type of liquor licences does my hospitality business need?

To be eligible, the licensed venue must have one of the following liquor licences:

  • general liquor licence
  • on-premises liquor licence
  • late night (general) liquor licence
  • late night (on-premises) liquor licence
  • restaurant and café liquor licence

I run a hospitality business but I don’t have a liquor licence. Can I apply?

No, this program is for eligible hospitality businesses that operate an eligible licensed venue.

I run a hospitality business but I don’t trade at night. Can I apply?

No, this program is for eligible licensed venues that have regular public night-time trading hours past 6pm.

This means the venue is open to the public at least once per week during trading hours that extend past 6pm.

Do I have to be registered for GST to be eligible?

Yes. GST registration for your business is one of the eligibility criteria for the grant program. Your business must have held GST registration on and continuously from 27 April 2026.

Businesses that backdate their GST registration date will not be eligible.

Please check the program guidelines for more information.

Will all eligible businesses receive funding?

Each application is carefully reviewed against the eligibility criteria and program guidelines. Eligible businesses may receive funding on a first come, first served basis, subject to available funds.

Applications will close at 4pm on 28 August 2026, or earlier if all funds are allocated.

What equipment, systems and activities are eligible for funding?

The grant payment should be used to install or upgrade the security and fire safety systems and equipment at an eligible venue.

This can include the installation, upgrade, maintenance and repair of building infrastructure and relevant systems.

Examples of equipment, systems and activities the grant may cover include:

  • inspection by a qualified professional for a security and/or fire suppression audit
  • upgrading or installing surveillance and detection systems, such as CCTV cameras (except where it is an existing condition of the liquor licence), alarm systems, motion detectors or glass break detectors
  • upgrading physical security items, such as lockable cash drawers, tills or safes
  • upgrading emergency lighting and illuminated exit signage beyond regulatory minimums
  • purchase and installation of fire suppression or control equipment
  • works to the building to restrict access or make forced entry more difficult (must not impede fire safety and best informed by a fire safety audit)
  • works to the building to improve the capacity to suppress or control a fire, such as sprinkler systems
  • emergency security and/or fire evacuation training
  • emergency response training.

Please check the program guidelines for more information about eligible activities and expenses.

What expenses are not eligible for funding?

Examples of expenses the grant will not cover include:

  • works where the main aim is not to improve security or fire suppression
  • parts of a project that are not related to improving security or fire suppression
  • where the applicant is entitled to or has claimed insurance for the expenses
  • business operating expenses, including salaries and wages
  • running and maintenance costs of security or fire suppression equipment
  • security cameras (CCTV) where they are a requirement of the applicant’s liquor licence
  • equipment that is not compliant with Australian standards
  • equipment hire
  • project work delivered by a provider that does not have the relevant qualifications or licences
  • works or equipment for which the applicant has not obtained the relevant approvals
  • works or equipment for which the applicant has not obtained and/or complied with the relevant permits, laws and regulations
  • loss of income due to the venue not being able to operate as normal while the work is being done
  • expenditure outside the dates listed in the program guidelines.

Please check the program guidelines for more information about ineligible activities and expenses.

What if permits or other approvals are needed for the security or fire upgrades?

The applicant is responsible for complying with all laws and regulations. This includes obtaining and complying with any permits, licenses or approvals for:

  • the works and installation of items and equipment
  • the operation and use of any surveillance and detection (for example CCTV).

The applicant should obtain its own advice, as required. This may involve seeking professional advice before committing to a purchase.

What are the benefits of a fire safety or security audit?

A fire safety or security audit can help hospitality venues to identify fire and/or security risks and determine suitable strategies and upgrades to improve the safety of patrons, staff and business operations. An audit should be conducted by appropriately accredited professionals.

Can the funds be used to make sure my venue meets all the minimum standards and regulations?

No. The business is responsible for ensuring their venue meets existing required minimum standards under any permit, liquor licence, law and regulation that applies to the business.

The funding is for security and/or fire suppression upgrades that will lead to an improvement above and beyond any existing minimum standard.

Can the funds be used for building works that are needed so we can install new security or fire-protection systems?

Some examples of eligible expenditure are:

  • works to the building to restrict access or make forced entry more difficult (must not impede fire safety and best informed by a fire safety audit)
  • works to the building to improve the venue’s capacity to identify, resist, suppress or control a fire.

You should include your proposed building works in your grant application.

Can the funds be used to employ a security firm to monitor premises outside of business hours?

No, the funds cannot be used to hire security staff or a security firm to monitor premises either during or outside of business hours.

The grant is to help eligible licensed hospitality businesses to install or upgrade the security and fire safety systems and equipment at their venues.

Can the funds be used for general repairs, loss of income or other costs that my business has incurred as a result of arson?

No, the funds cannot be used for general venue repairs, loss of income or other costs that may be incurred as a result of arson.

The grant is to help eligible licensed hospitality businesses to install or upgrade the security and fire safety systems and equipment at their venues.

I’ve recently upgraded my security or fire-protection system, can I claim the money back through this program?

If you are applying for the Security Uplift Grant, the project materials and/or equipment must be purchased and paid for (in full) between the date your grant is approved and 28 February 2027.

If you are applying for the Direct Impact Grant, the project materials and/or equipment must be purchased and paid for (in full) between 1 March 2026 and 28 February 2027.

My hospitality venue hasn’t been directly impacted by an arson attack. Can I still apply?

The Security Uplift Grant is available for all eligible licensed hospitality businesses, even if your venue has not been directly impacted by fire-related crime. The grant can be used to improve the security or fire prevention systems in an eligible venue.

The Direct Impact Grant is only available for eligible venues that have been directly impacted by fire-related crime investigated by Operation Eclipse.

My hospitality venue was impacted by a crime that is being investigated by Operation Eclipse, but it wasn’t a fire-related crime. Can I still apply?

The Security Uplift Grant is available for all eligible licensed hospitality businesses, even if your venue has not been directly impacted by fire-related crime. The grant can be used to improve the security or fire prevention systems in an eligible venue.

The Direct Impact Grant is only available for eligible venues that have been directly impacted by fire-related crime investigated by Operation Eclipse.

My hospitality business was impacted by an arson attack in a different local government area. Can I apply?

No, this program is for eligible licensed hospitality businesses in in the City of Melbourne, City of Port Phillip, City of Stonnington and City of Yarra. These are local government areas that have been impacted by fire-related crime investigated under Operation Eclipse.

My hospitality business operates from a leased premises. Can I apply for a grant or does the landlord need to apply on my behalf?

An eligible business that operates from a leased premises can apply for a grant for works that are within their area of responsibility under their lease.

As part of the application, the applicant tenant must attest that they have secured any necessary approvals from the landlord for the proposed upgrades to the eligible venue.

I am the landlord of an eligible venue and I’m responsible for works at the premises. Can I apply for a grant?

The landlord of an eligible tenant’s commercial premises can apply for a grant for an eligible project that benefits the tenant, but for which the landlord is responsible for commissioning the works.

The applicant landlord must provide written permission from an authorised representative of the tenant business as part of the application.

Questions about payments

When will I receive the money?

Both grants offered in the Hospitality Security Fund are delivered as rebates.

This means grants will only be paid to businesses once their approved projects are completed, assessed and acquitted. This will require the business to pay for the upfront costs.

How will I show that I have completed my project?

You will receive a claim form from Business Victoria to provide evidence of eligible expenditure, photographic evidence of the completed works, and that the minimum eligible expenditure and any required co-contribution have been met.

The program guidelines refer to a matched contribution, is this mandatory?

The Security Uplift Grant provides $5,000 to eligible licensed hospitality businesses. The amount must be matched, which means the business must contribute at least $5,000 towards the project. This contribution is called a matched contribution or a co-contribution.

This means applicants for the Security Uplift Grant must spend at least $10,000 upfront on eligible expenditure to receive the $5,000 grant. The grant funding is paid as a rebate after the project is completed.

The Direct Impact Grant does not require a matched contribution. The grant funding is paid as a rebate after the project is completed.

Questions about submitting applications

How do I apply for the grant?

You can apply for the grant through the link on the program webpage, which will take you to the application form.

You will need to complete all questions in the application form and upload the necessary supporting documents.

To be considered for a grant, you must submit your application by 4pm on 28 August 2026. Late applications and drafts will not be accepted.

You can confirm that you have submitted your application by checking your nominated email. If you can’t see it in your inbox, check your spam/junk mail.

Please also check the program guidelines for more information about applying for the grant.

Can I get a hard copy of the application form?

A hard copy of the application form is not available. If you would like support with your application, you can contact Business Victoria on 13 22 15 or info@business.vic.gov.au

What documents do I need to submit to prove my venue was a victim of a fire-related crime?

Applicants for a Direct Impact Grant must provide both of the following:

  • Victoria Police Report (Notice to the Victim)
  • statutory declaration with this information:
    • a brief description of the fire-related property crime incident
    • the date, time and location of the incident and the impacted venue(s)
    • the impact of the fire-related property crime that has affected the venue listed in the application
    • a statement that a non-anonymous report was lodged with Victoria Police
    • the details of the person who lodged the report
    • the Incident Number contained on the Victoria Police Report (Notice to the Victim).

I am applying for a grant to upgrade the CCTV cameras at my venue. Can I opt in to provide live CCTV feeds directly to police?

Victoria Police is actively exploring opt-in integration of CCTV from venues into the State Command and Coordination Centre.

The grant application form provides information on existing processes to register CCTV cameras with Victoria Police. The form will offer applicants the option to opt-in to receive further information about possible future integration of private CCTV cameras with Victoria Police.

How do I access my saved application form?

If you save a draft of your form during the application process, you will receive an email at your nominated email address. This email will be sent from 'noreply@formresponse.com' with the subject 'Continue filling out this form later: Hospitality Security Fund ~ Application'. You can click the link in this email to complete and submit your application.

I need help with my application, who can I contact?

You can contact Business Victoria if you need help with your application.