Stronger Communities Programme Round 9 Expressions of Interest Now Open
Expressions of Interest for Round 9 of the Stronger Communities Programme are now open.
Grants between $2,500 and $20,000 are available, with a total of $150,000 to be allocated in Cunningham across a maximum of 20 projects. All successful projects must be completed by 31 December 2025.
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
enable or foster the use of electronic communications
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
To be eligible, project activities must directly align and give effect to at least one of the objectives of the program, which are listed above, and fall into one or more of the following:
Infrastructure improvements (building, fitting out, alterations, or extensions) for tourism premises, services for First Nations persons, or veteran support facilities.
Signage or installations that enhance local tourism or celebrate cultural or historical significance, including First Nations and war commemorative sites.
Digital enhancements such as new or updated websites and social media platforms to promote tourism, support immigrants, or commemorate veterans.
Community and cultural event support, including NAIDOC week and initiatives for newly arrived immigrants.
Environmental upgrades like installing energy-efficient systems, renewable energy sources, or drought-tolerant vegetation.
Public facility enhancements for accessibility, child-friendly spaces, women's and gender-neutral facilities, and breastfeeding rooms.
Health and safety equipment installations, including defibrillators and first aid rooms.
Educational support through upgrades to public libraries and community facilities, including ICT equipment and digital resources.
Social benefit projects involving the purchase of apps, CRM systems, audio-visual, and ICT equipment to enhance community engagement.
To see the detailed list of what the grant can be used for please see section five (5) of the programme guidelines here.
To be eligible you must have an Australian Business Number (ABN) and be one of the following entities:
An incorporated not-for-profit organisation
A local governing body as defined by the Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1995
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.
You can find out more information and check the eligibility of your organisation on the Governments Business website here.
If you’re eligible, complete the Expression of Interest form by COB Friday 14 February 2025.
Please note that the expression of interest form is a fillable word document. Please ensure you complete this digitally to ensure there are no errors whilst processing your application.
