The Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative program aims to support projects that deliver tangible improvements in heavy vehicle safety.

Guiding Principles

Applicants should take into account the following Guiding Principles:

Principle 1: Alignment

The Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative supports projects that address heavy vehicle safety priorities. Projects should align with heavy vehicle and road safety priorities identified by governments, the NHVR and industry stakeholders.

Principle 2: Implementable

Projects must be implementable and able to start in the 2024–25 financial year. An application may be for a project that will either: 

• be delivered entirely in the 2024–25 financial year; or 
• start in the 2024–25 financial year and be completed within two years.

Applicants need to demonstrate that significant groundwork has already been undertaken. Any required approvals or agreements (e.g. from road managers or with landowners) should have been sought. Projects should be progressed past the concept stage.

Principle 3: Evidence-based

Applicants must provide evidence demonstrating how the project will help achieve heavy vehicle safety outcomes. This may include information on whether the initiative has successfully delivered safety outcomes before, either domestically or internationally.

Consideration will be given to projects that align with (or build on) existing initiatives for which the evidence base is already established.

Principle 4: Broad benefits

Projects must provide broad outcomes, preferably delivering national or cross-jurisdictional benefits. If the project does not deliver national or cross-jurisdictional benefits, it should have the potential to be rolled out on a broader basis in the future.

Principle 5: Holistic approach

Applications must outline the problem that currently exists and how the proposed project will address the problem in a holistic manner. Proposals should present a complete package, taking an issue-wide or industry-wide focus.

Principle 6: Value for money

Projects should deliver value for money and be able to be implemented within funding limitations. For 2024–25, the total funding pool for the program is approximately $4.4 million.

All applicants must show how they will contribute to the project, either through financial or in-kind support.

An application that meets the Assessment Criteria and aligns with the Guiding Principles is not automatically guaranteed funding. Previous funding rounds have been oversubscribed. Applications may not receive funding or may be part-funded. If a proposal receives part-funding only from the program, the NHVR will request the applicant to either find another source of funding to fill the gap or identify ways to reduce costs.

Who can apply?

To be eligible you must: 

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN) 
• be registered for the purposes of Goods and Services Tax (GST) 
• have an account with an Australian financial institution.

You are not eligible to apply if you are: 

• an organisation, or project partner organisation, included on the National Redress Scheme’s website on the list of ‘Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme’ (www.nationalredress.gov.au) 
• an individual 
• unincorporated association 
• overseas resident/ organisation.

• Email: HVSI@nhvr.gov.au