Improving local community participation and vibrancy

The Stronger Communities Programme provides each of the 151 Federal electorates with $150,000 to fund small capital projects. These projects aim to improve local community participation and contribute to vibrant viable communities. Federal Members of Parliament (MPs) identify potential projects and invite applications from their electorate.

The Stronger Communities Programme supports the Australian Government’s commitment to deliver social benefits in communities across Australia. Round 7 of the program will provide $22.65 million to fund small capital projects in each of the 151 federal electorates.

The program intends to encourage and support participation in local projects, improve local community participation and contribute to vibrant and viable communities. Round 7 of the program will continue to support Australia’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. For this special round, grant funding will be up to 100 per cent of eligible project costs except for local governing bodies where grant funding will be up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs.

Community consultation is a critical element of the program. In consultation with their community, each MP must identify potential applicants and projects in their electorate and invite them to apply for a grant. Invited applications will be assessed against the program’s eligibility criteria through a closed non-competitive process.

Each electorate has total funding of up to $150,000 that can be allocated to successful applications. A maximum of 20 projects will be funded in each electorate.

Project details

The grant amount for small capital proiects is up to 100% of eligible project costs except for local governing bodies where grant funding will be up to 50% of eligible projects costs. Your grant request must be between $2500 and $20,000.

Projects under round 7 of the program will have up to 31 December 2022 to complete.

What are the eligibility criteria?

To be eligible, you must:

• be invited to apply by your MP
• have an Australian business number (ABN)

You must also 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

Incorporated not for profit organisations can include:

• incorporated associations
• non-distributing co-operatives
• companies limited by a guarantee
• Indigenous corporations
• religious organisations incorporated under legislation
• a Commonwealth, state or territory government agency or entity that is a fire service, rural fire service, country fire authority, state emergency service or similar.
• an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust with responsibility for a community asset or property. You will be required to provide relevant trust documents.
• a local governing body as defined by the Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1995.

For the purpose of this program, we also consider the following organisations to be local governing bodies:

• Anangu Pitjantjatjara, Maralinga, Gerard, Nepabunna and Yalata local governing bodies in SA
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council
• Lord Howe Island Board
• Norfolk Island Regional Council
• The Outback Communities Authority
• The Shire of Christmas Island
• The Silverton and Tibooburra villages in NSW
• The Trust Account in the NT
• ACT Government

For further information on the eligibility criteria, please see section 4 of the grant opportunity guidelines.

Stronger Communities Programme – Round 7 is closed to applications.