The next round of the Stronger Communities Programme is now open and I invite all eligible community groups in Fairfax to apply by 14 February 2025.
Grants of between $2,500 and $20,000 are available for projects that improve local community participation and contribute to vibrant viable communities.
What you need to know:
Purpose: The Stronger Communities Programme provides each of the 151 Federal electorates with $150,000 to fund a maximum of 20 community infrastructure projects.
Round 9 of the Programme places particular emphasis on supporting interstate and international tourism, veterans, First Nations people, individuals with disabilities, newly arrived immigrants, medical services or facilities, and students, among others. For this round, grant funding will be up to 100% of eligible project costs except for local governing bodies where grant funding will be up to 50% of eligible project costs.
Eligibility: To be eligible, you must have an ABN and be one of the following incorporated entities:
- an incorporated not for profit organisation;
- an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust with responsibility for a community asset or property;
- a local governing body as defined by the Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1995.
The objective of the program is to deliver infrastructure projects that provide social benefits for local communities, by supporting one or more of the following:
- support or encourage interstate or international tourism;
- support or celebrate Indigenous Australians;
- commemorate Australians killed or injured in war or who contributed to Australia’s war efforts;
- support veterans and defence force members and their families and communities;
- support the participation and settlement of newly arrived (i.e. within the last 5 years) immigrants who are not citizens;
- support the acquisition or deployment of greenhouse gas emissions mitigation measures;
- support the dignity of persons (including children) with disabilities by enhancing their access to public infrastructure;
- support access for children to public infrastructure which enables interstate or overseas travel, accommodation, or education or health care infrastructure or services;
- address gender inequality or discrimination in access to public infrastructure or sport;
- provide medical services or facilities, or services or facilities incidental to the provision of medical services;
- provide benefits to a specific cohort or cohorts of students; or
- enable or foster the use of electronic communications.
Projects need to be completed by 31 December 2025.
How to apply: Read the grant opportunity guidelines – HERE – to make sure that your organisation and project are eligible, then complete the expression of interest form by 14 February 2025.
