Improving local community participation and vibrancy

You can apply if you are invited by your MP and 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.

You can’t apply if you are:

• an organisation, or your project partner is an organisation, included on the National Redress Scheme’s list of Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme
• an employer of 100 or more employees that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act (2012)
• a for profit organisation
• an individual
• a partnership
• an unincorporated association
• a Regional Development Australia Committee
• a university, technical college or school
• a hospital
• an Australian, state or territory government agency or body (including government business enterprises) unless listed in section 4.1 of the grant opportunity guidelines.

Partner with other organisations

You can partner with one or more other organisations to deliver the project. You must decide who the lead organisation is.

The lead organisation must fill out the application form. You must provide letters of support from all project partners and have a formal arrangement in place with all parties.

If we give your group the grant, the lead organisation:

• signs the grant agreement
• is responsible for communicating with us and with all project partners
• must deliver the project as outlined in the grant agreement.

You must complete your project by 31 December 2023.

Your project must:

• be located in Australia
• be a small capital works or capital expenditure project
• deliver social benefits to your community
• be nominated by your MP
• be located in your MP's electorate
• include eligible activities and expenditure.

Eligible activities can include:

• fit-out, alterations and/or extensions to existing premises e.g. air-conditioning, kitchen upgrades, fixtures and fittings, painting
• purchase and installation of equipment to be used by your organisation for the benefit of the community, such as ICT hardware and software, or creation of a website
• modifications to leased buildings or grounds, with approval of the owner
• upgrades, fit-out and construction of community spaces, e.g. men's sheds, community centres, scout halls etc.
• development or upgrades of bike paths, streetscapes, skate parks or community gardens
• upgrades of sporting facilities and fields , e.g. scoreboards, seating, goalposts, fit-out of change rooms, canteen, lights, upgrade drainage and water systems, medical equipment, gyms
• musical instruments, sports equipment and uniforms that remain the property of the organisation
• inclusive access to facilities
• upgrade or installation of park furniture and facilities
• State Emergency Service and rural fire brigade equipment
• vehicles and trailers for community transport or services
• projects on school grounds or school property that demonstrate social benefits to the broader community outside the school.

You can apply for a grant between $2,500 and $20,000.

The grant amount is up to 100% of eligible project costs, except for local governing bodies where grant funding will be up to 50% of eligible project costs.

The maximum cost of your project cannot exceed $50,000.

You can use this grant funding for the cost of:

• suppliers, consultants and contracted labour for eligible project activities
• regulatory approvals for eligible capital works or expenditure
• assets such as office furniture, TVs and equipment, motor vehicles, ICT hardware and software
• equipment for eligible project activities
• materials for eligible project activities.