Stronger Communities Programme Round 9 EOIs now open!

I am delighted to let you know that the Stronger Communities Programme Round 9 is now open, and I would like to extend an invitation to your organisation to apply.

The Albanese Government is committed to delivering community projects that strengthen and benefit local communities.

Grants are available for 100% of expenditure between $2,500 and $20,000 and the total amount of your project cannot exceed $50,000. As you would be aware, this grant program attracts a high level of interest across Eden-Monaro.

This grant will require applicants to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to my office by 16 February 2025, which will be assessed by a local committee. Successful EOI applicants will then be invited to submit a formal application to the Department of Industry, Science, and Resources (DISR).

Importantly, there have been major changes to eligible activities this year. It is important that you please read the Grant Guidelines and speak with the grant support team on 13 28 46 before completing your EOI due to these significant changes.

Objective

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
enable or foster the use of electronic communications.

The intended outcomes of the program are to:

encourage and support participation in local projects
improve local community participation
contribute to vibrant and viable communities.

You will need to ensure that your project aligns with one or more of the objectives outlined above.

Eligible Activities

This year, there have been changes to eligible activities this year, the grant guidelines for this grant round have an extensive list of eligible activities including, but not limited to:

build, fit out, alterations and/or extensions to a tourism premise available to interstate or overseas tourists
information signage of people, places, of natural local significance
establish new or update to a website/social media presence that supports or encourages interstate or international tourism
establish new or update to a website/social media presence to support newly arrived immigrants who are not citizens
support towards NAIDOC week celebrations
information signage for places of First Nations significance
purchase of First Nation themed uniforms
installation of First Nations art in public spaces
construction of or upgrade to a First Nations cultural space
build, fit out, alterations and/or extensions to a premise for the specific purpose of providing services to First Nations persons
installation or upgrade to a native garden
upgrades to existing or installation of new war memorials
signage or flags (information, themed and or national) that commemorate Australians killed or injured war or who contributed to Australia's war efforts
build, fit out, alterations and/or extensions to a premise specifically available to support Veterans and/or Defence Force members and their families
establish new or update to a website/social media presence to support and/or commemorate veterans and Defence Force members and their families and communities
localised welcoming and/or information events for newly arrived immigrants who are not citizens
establish new or update to a website/social media presence to support newly arrived immigrants who are not citizens
acquisition and installation of the highest energy efficient appliances/systems available and relevant to your requirements/available funding
acquisition and installation of renewable energy sources
acquisition and installation of renewable energy storage
acquisition and installation of native or drought tolerant vegetation suitable to local conditions
acquisition and installation of energy efficient windows and or window attachments relevant to your localised requirements/available funding
new or upgrades to disability access and or amenities in public buildings or facilities
construction of or upgrade to child friendly spaces/facilities at airports
construction of or upgrade to child friendly spaces/facilities at community supported accommodation
construction of or upgrade to child friendly spaces/facilities at child-care/education/health care services
provision of women's facilities at sporting grounds/buildings
provision of gender-neutral facilities for public access
construction of or upgrade to parent rooms at sporting grounds/buildings and or public spaces
construction of or upgrade to breastfeeding rooms at sporting grounds/buildings and or public spaces
purchase and installation of defibrillator/s and or other first aid equipment, including first aid kits
upgrade to or construction of first aid rooms/spaces
upgrades to public libraries and/or community facilities to benefit pre-school, school and university students
purchase and installation of ICT equipment and or software in public libraries and/or community facilities to benefit pre-school, school and university students
establish new or update to a website/social media presence for a public library and/or community facility to benefit pre-school, school and university students
purchase, establish new or update to a website/social media presence
purchase of applications (apps) that deliver social benefits to your community
purchase of customer relationship management (CRM) systems and/or software that deliver social benefits to your community
purchase and or installation of audio-visual equipment that deliver social benefits to your community
purchase and or installation of ICT equipment that deliver social benefits to your community
installation of or upgrades to electrical works to allow or enhance the use of ICT equipment that deliver social benefits to your community.

Assessment Criterion

Alongside the eligible activities, your application will be assessed against two criteria:

The benefit of your project to the community, for example, describe how it will encourage and support participation in local projects, improve local community participation and/or contribute to vibrant and viable communities
How you plan to manage your project

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply you must be an organisation that has been nominated by my office, receive an invitation to apply through GrantConnect and:

be invited to apply by your MP
have an Australian Business Number (ABN)

and be one of the following entities:

an incorporated not-for-profit entity (the grant opportunity guidelines provide detail on how you must demonstrate your ‘not-for-profit’ status)
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.

Unincorporated organisations

If your organisation is not an incorporated entity, you are not eligible to apply. However, you may be able to nominate an eligible project sponsor to apply on your behalf provided they agree to sponsor your organisation, and they also meet the program’s eligibility criteria.

The project sponsor can apply on your behalf and must:

be invited to apply by your MP
meet the program’s eligibility criteria
submit the Stronger Communities Programme online application
if successful, enter into a grant agreement with the Commonwealth
ensure that the grant is spent on the project and in accordance with the agreement.

If your EOI is approved, you will be invited to complete a detailed formal application through an online portal which will be processed by the Department of Industry, Science, and Resources.

Please read the grant guidelines carefully to ensure that your organisation and proposed application is eligible, or discuss your application with the grant support team on 13 28 46, before submitting an expression of interest form.

Important Documents

Stronger Communities Programme Round 9 Grants Guidelines download – must read!

Stronger Communities Programme Round 9 – Expression of Interest by 16 February 2025

Please make sure to call my office on (02) 6284 2442 or email me at [email protected] to ensure that your application falls under an eligible activity before submitting an EOI