Community Grants Program

Bosom Buddies ACT Inc.
Canberra
$9,950
Empowering Young Women will establish a breast cancer support network for younger women in Canberra. The project connects young breast cancer patients with peers for emotional support, practical guidance, and a compassionate community, aiming to alleviate mental anguish and improve wellbeing.

The Tongan Association of Canberra and Queanbeyan Inc.
Belconnen
$2,000
The Round Table - Youth Voice project will establish a youth council, providing a platform for young people to voice their issues and concerns. The project will also deliver workshops to educate and raise mental health awareness for Tongan youths in the local community.

Albury Wodonga Volunteer Resource Bureau Inc.
Albury
$10,000
The Cultural Exchange Program will support residents from Albury Wodonga's multicultural community through Coffee and Cards, Conversations in English, Homework Help, and Tertiary Tips.  Supported by volunteers and based at the Albury and Lavington libraries, the project aims to enhance social connections and emotional support, improving community mental health outcomes.

Arc @ UNSW Limited
Kensington
$10,000
Tackling Student Isolation will use peer support to address loneliness and isolation among vulnerable UNSW students, including those with marginalised identities, social anxiety, depression, international students, and those living far off campus. The project will train at least 35 student volunteers to help students build mental health skills, develop support networks, and connect with local groups and activities.

Barkandji Native Title Group Aboriginal Corporation
Wilcannia
$10,000
Barkandji Native Title Group Aboriginal Corporation will send three volunteers from Wilcannia to Adelaide to undertake culturally-appropriate peer-to-peer suicide prevention training. The volunteers will then establish a fortnightly facilitated yarning circle for local Indigenous men, which will provide a valuable space for local men to strengthen their networks and seek support from one another for the issues they are facing.

Dementia Inclusive Ballina Incorporated
Ballina
$10,000
Dementia Inclusive Ballina aims to improve mental wellbeing for carers and people with younger-onset dementia through a co-created, locally-led community support group. The project will build a supportive community network through social activities for young people as well as support meetings, awareness-raising events and a local conference for carers and their families.

Drummoyne Community Centre Inc.
Drummoyne
$10,000
Building Connections and Community for Seniors through Lego Serious Play will address social isolation and loneliness among seniors in Canada Bay through creative and engaging sessions. The sessions will enhance cognitive, social, and physical wellbeing, involving carers and younger community members to foster strong social bonds and a sense of community.

Gosford Regional Community Services
Wyoming
$2,000
Share a Table, Share a Story will host monthly mental health discussion groups for economically disadvantaged people in Gosford, focusing on various wellbeing topics like stress management and resilience-building. The program provides a safe space for open conversations and personal sharing, aiming to improve mental health outcomes, reduce stigma, and foster a sense of community.

Hockey Tweed Incorporated
Murwillumbah
$2,000
Hockey Tweed will host an 'Are you Okay' hockey round to raise mental health awareness following flooding in the region in recent years. The event will feature hockey games and community activities, with local athletes and leaders sharing their mental health experiences, aiming to educate on recognising mental ill health and improving access to resources.

Kogarah Community Services 
Kogarah
$10,000
Connections Across Generations is a series of weekly intergenerational events to reduce social isolation, including tea, creative play, art and wellbeing activities. The project will support and nurture new social connections, increasing wellbeing and life satisfaction of young and old.

Murdi Paaki Regional Rugby League Council Inc. 
Dubbo
$2,000
The Dulili Project will support elderly Aboriginal women in Dubbo through weekly yarning circles that offer social interaction, educational discussions, and cultural activities. These gatherings, planned with Elders, will foster a sense of ownership, community cohesion, belonging, and empowerment.

Nambucca Heads Men’s Shed Inc.
Nambucca Heads
$4,053
The Nambucca Heads Men’s Shed Morning Teas will provide a supportive space for men in the rural Nambucca Valley to connect and share. These gatherings aim to ease loneliness, foster friendships, and promote mental wellbeing through open discussions and purposeful activities.

National Centre for Childhood Grief Australia Limited
Hornsby
$8,000
The NCCG Parents Group will provide mental health and wellbeing support for 20-30 recently widowed young parents in Northern Sydney. The program will address the extreme trauma and significant stress caused by the loss of a partner, focusing on emotional and financial wellbeing, single parenting, and offering a sense of community support and understanding.

Pearl Beach Progress Association
Pearl Beach
$4,980
The Pearl Beach Lunch Club will expand to Patonga Beach, engaging isolated residents with the help of volunteers trained in Mental Health First Aid. The project offers monthly lunches and mental health presentations for participants, aiming to improve mental wellbeing and provide enjoyable events for the elderly.

Richmond Community Services Inc.
Richmond
$2,000
The Coffee, Cake and Conversation Cafe aims to enhance social cohesion and overall wellbeing in the local Richmond community by connecting people from diverse backgrounds over coffee and snacks. Led by Richmond Community Services' dedicated volunteers, the café will feature guest speakers on topics like wellbeing, mental health, and social cohesion.

Rotary Club of Leeton Inc.
Leeton
$9,900
Stories of Resilience is a series of mental health-focused panel discussions featuring people with lived experience of adversity. This initiative partners with local not-for-profits to enhance community connection and engagement with mental health support services.

Seena Inc.
Bonnyrigg
$10,000
The Mind Body Soul project will empower socially isolated women from CALD backgrounds in Cabramatta through monthly art therapy and culturally informed wellbeing workshops. The project combines therapeutic activities and educational sessions to enhance mental wellbeing, enable participants to realise their abilities, and build meaningful connections.

The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW)
Toormina
$9,957
Bongil Bongil Ngiyaa Guja (“we are deadly”) aims to enhance the mental health and wellbeing of First Nations youth aged 12-18 in Toormina. Leveraging strong community relationships, First Nations Community Connectors will offer culturally appropriate programs including weaving, boomerang making, painting, traditional stories, language, and On Country excursions.

Trustee for Byron Bay Community Benefit Fund
Byron Bay
$2,000
Elder Beats: Rhythm and Dance will combat social isolation and enhance the wellbeing of older adults in Byron Shire through monthly dance and drumming sessions. These activities, followed by afternoon tea social events, aim to foster social connections, improve physical fitness, and boost mental health.

Walhallow Local Aboriginal Land Council
Walhallow
$10,000
Wellness and Connection for Walhallow aims to enhance mental health and wellbeing by fostering community connections among Aboriginal people in the Tamworth region. The project will deliver culturally appropriate wellness workshops, community gatherings, and support groups to promote mental wellbeing, reduce isolation, and strengthen community bonds.

Woodville Alliance
Villawood
$10,000
Roots & Shoots comprises of weekly intergenerational gardening groups for 40 young and old residents of Villawood. This community capacity-building project will bring together the two groups in a hands-on outdoor activity that will reduce loneliness, encourage physical and mental wellbeing, develop a place of belonging and foster a stronger sense of connectedness among local community.

Karrkad Kanjdji Trust
Maningrida
$10,000
Karrkad Kanjdji Trust will deliver three men's wellbeing forums at remote outstations in the Djelk Indigenous Protected Area, addressing themes such as mental ill-health, suicide and family conflict. The aim is to develop a collective vision, refine identity, set goals and foster open dialogue to reduce suicide rates within the communities.

Legacy Northern Territory
Ludmilla
$8,000
The Intergenerational Wellbeing Project by Legacy NT, Ludmilla Primary School, and Villy Australia will connect children from Defence families with widows and family members of fallen veterans to address social isolation. Through collaboratively planned activities each term, the project aims to enhance the mental health and wellbeing of around 50 participants.

The Scout Association of Australia Northern Territory Branch
Darwin
$2,000
The NT Scout Association will offer Youth Mental Health First Aid training to seven community leaders in Alice Springs, equipping them with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to provide mental health information and support to youth.

Douglas Shire Community Services Association
Mossman
$9,000
The She Shed offers a safe space for women to connect, share their stories, and support each other, thereby enhancing mental health and wellbeing. The She Shed Expansion project aims to broaden program offerings by introducing woodworking, leatherwork, and jewellery making, along with coffee time chats and referrals to mental health support when needed.

Multicultural Families Organisation Inc.
Southport
$2,000
The WISH project will establish a monthly support group for CALD women on the Gold Coast who are survivors of domestic and family violence. Through workshops on trauma-informed care and mindfulness, the project aims to enhance mental health and wellbeing, offering crucial support and resources for participants on their healing journey.

Mungalla Aboriginal Corporation for Business
Ingham
$10,000
The Nywaigi Women’s Gathering on Country project is a four day event uniting Nywaigi women on their traditional land to empower, heal, and foster development through cultural reconnection and community building.

North East Albert Landcare Group Inc.
Ormeau
$9,500
The Cultiver son jardin interieur (taking care of your inner garden) project aims to enhance mental health and community connection in the northern Gold Coast by creating an inclusive therapeutic gardening space. Partnering with local organisations, it will offer regular workshops to promote relaxation, mindfulness, and socialisation, thereby improving overall wellbeing and reducing isolation.

Open Hands Community Care Ltd.
Pallara
$2,000
OHCC will host weekly HugAMug connection sessions, featuring morning tea and support from trained volunteers and a social worker. These sessions aim to assist CALD, aged, disabled and economically disadvantaged community members by providing support, advocacy and digital technology access.

Proserpine Youth Club Inc.
Proserpine
$10,000
Proserpine Youth Club will offer drum beat workshops each term for 40 local youth who are socially isolated and dealing with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. These workshops aim to help participants cope with and overcome these challenges, improve their mental health, build resilience, and develop a reliable support group.

SevGen Indigenous Corporation
Noosaville
$10,000
Paddock to Plate: Creating Wellness Through Connection and Relationships provides weekly bushtucker-infused lunches for community members, focusing on mental wellness topics and exercises. The project aims to enhance mental wellbeing, foster community connections, and reconnect participants with their cultural heritage.

Tony’s Community Ltd.
South Toowoomba
$2,000
Tony’s Community Kitchen will host ten Are You OK Community Wellness BBQs. Around 150 people who are homeless, economically disadvantaged, or isolated in the Toowoomba and Darling Downs region will enjoy a BBQ meal, connect with others, and receive referrals to mental health support services.

Momentum Mental Health
Warwick
$2,000
Momentum Mental Health will host three wellbeing workshops for community members in Warwick, focusing on holistic wellbeing models “5 Ways to Wellbeing” and Te Whare Tapa Wha. The sessions will cover topics such as setting personal boundaries and navigating difficult conversations with individuals experiencing distress or poor mental wellbeing.

University of Queensland Rugby Football Club Inc.
Brisbane
$4,999
Stronger Minds: Brighter Futures will train 25 volunteers in Mental Health First Aid to support UQ Rugby players, creating a safe environment for seeking help. The project includes a mental health awareness session for 100 members and bi-monthly check-ins, aiming to increase awareness, provide timely interventions, and improve player wellbeing.

Yeronga Hyde Road Kindergarten
Yeronga
$5,904
The Yeronga community intergenerational program will connect kindergarten children with elderly residents at The Village retirement community through activities like gardening, choir, and art. These shared experiences aim to foster friendships, purpose, and learning, enhancing the mental health and wellbeing of both groups.

LBI Foundation
Port Lincoln
$10,000
The Bush Telegraph project in Port Lincoln will unite six community groups to improve the mental health and social connectedness of local children and families. The project will train 25 community members in the IMPACT program and mentor six Community Champions to create and implement local wellbeing projects, enhancing awareness and resilience.

The Hut Community Centre Inc.
Ironbank
$10,000
Spark Self Connection is an 8-week program designed to improve mental health by tackling loneliness and social isolation in midlife and older women. As part of ‘The Loneliness Project’, a community co-design project with the University of South Australia, it will pilot two sessions to develop a scalable train-the-trainer model for enhancing social wellbeing.

The Mill Incorporated
Adelaide
$9,999
The Art of Connection will be a 10-month initiative combining mental health and wellbeing workshops, community-building excursions, and peer-to-peer opportunities for artists and creatives in Adelaide. Participants will share personal wellness strategies and lived experiences to raise awareness of mental health supports available to artists.

Villagehood Australia
West Adelaide
$10,000
Singing Hearts – Mindful Singing is an 8-week mindful singing program for between mothers and their children (ages 0-5), aiming to improve maternal mental health through peer support, group singing, and mindfulness practices. It seeks to reduce postnatal depression symptoms, enhance mother-child bonding, and boost overall wellbeing.

Be Hers
Hobart
$10,000
Be Hers will launch community connection sessions aimed at enhancing mental health and wellbeing. The 12 month initiative will foster local connections, reduce isolation and loneliness, and include open cooking classes with cultural and mystery box challenges to promote teamwork and culinary skills.

Kids in the Valley
New Norfolk
$9,816
Youth in the Valley will provide a safe space for youth aged 12-18 in New Norfolk, open for two hours weekly. Facilitated activities will use strength-based practices to help participants identify their strengths, values, and leadership skills, fostering wellbeing and deeper peer connections.

Okines Community House Inc.
Dodges Ferry
$5,020
Okines Community House will offer a two-day Mental Health First Aid training course for 24 staff members, volunteers, and community members to empower the community to support individuals experiencing mental health issues.

Bannockburn Cricket Club
Bannockburn
$2,200
The Bannockburn Cricket Club will collaborate with Outside the Locker Room to implement a mental health education program for members aged 13 and over. The initiative includes workshops on mental health awareness, leadership, and resilience, aiming to educate members, promote open conversations, and enhance community wellbeing.

Bonnie Doon Community Group Inc.
Bonnie Doon
$5,500
The Brain Games Picnic will bring together vulnerable residents in the Bonnie Doon community for fortnightly outdoor fun and connection, promoting mental health and wellness. Through brain training games, mental stimulation and activities that enhance cognitive abilities and mindfulness, participants will gain mental health benefits to cope with daily stressors and build local social connections.

Budja Budja Aboriginal Cooperative
Halls Gap
$7,700
The Leenyar, Kookoon and Thookay Together Program will connect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders with young children in a culturally safe and supportive environment. By facilitating group activities, yarning, storytelling, and sharing, the project seeks to strengthen cultural connections, pass down knowledge and traditions, and support wellbeing.

Clonbinane Community Action Group
Clonbinane
$4,800
The Looking Out for Each Other project will deliver two Mental Health First Aid courses to 16 adults in the Clonbinane/Waterford Park community in rural Victoria. Participants will learn to provide initial support to adults experiencing mental health issues, recognise signs and symptoms, and understand available treatments and supports.

Drummond Street Services
Collingwood
$10,000
Collingwood Summer Sessions will support young people and families in the Collingwood public housing estate through targeted summer holiday events, including a large community event and a water park excursion for 60 young people. These activities aim to foster social cohesion, provide respite from cramped living conditions, and improve mental health outcomes by enhancing feelings of safety and wellbeing.

Drysdale Hawks Football Club
Drysdale
$3,872
Drysdale Hawks Football Club will train 22 volunteers in Youth Mental Health First Aid, empowering them to proivde immediate support and guide young people to appropriate mental health resources. The project aims to reduce reactive mental health incidents by half over the coming year.

Eaglehawk Community House Incorporated
Eaglehawk
$10,000
Connecting Our Community Through Food will offer weekly community lunches and social activities for seniors, disabled participants and vulnerable citizens. The initiative includes guest speakers and wellbeing workshops focusing on the “5 Ways to Wellbeing” with Bendigo Community Health Services.

Edenhope Apsley Football & Netball Club Inc.
Edenhope
$5,182
NOT Just a Farmer!! aims to address high suicide rates in the rural farming community through an evening celebrating farming life. Featuring a film screening, meal, and panel discussion with mental health professionals, the event aims to foster connection, support, and open conversations about mental health and suicide stigma.

Family Life
Frankston
$8,475
Family Life will offer three evidence-based Youth Mental Health First Aid workshops for a total of 45 teachers in the Bayside area, to build capability to support teenager students at a time when mental health problems such as depression and anxiety emerge. These workshops will equip teachers with the knowledge and confidence to support young people facing mental health challenges.

Free To Ltd.
Melbourne
$10,000
Free to Feed will deliver a series of six Cooking Circles; wellbeing support groups designed for people with experiences of forced displacement. Guided by a lived experience cooking instructor, newly arrived refugees will cook together with the goal of building trust, connection and a sense of place in their new community.

Good News Power Basketball Club
Tarneit
$7,675
Good News Power Basketball Club aims to enhance mental health and wellbeing through basketball in Melbourne’s Western suburbs. The project includes Mental Health First Aid training for coaches and a community information session, targeting over 150 members and residents from diverse backgrounds to provide crucial mental health information.

Goorambat Veterans Retreat Inc.
Goorambat
$10,000
Mental Health Resilience Workshops will be offered to younger veterans in and around Euroa, rural Victoria, encouraging Veterans and their families to connect and identify as a community. The goal is to enhance mental health and wellbeing through a supportive community and access to resources, leveraging shared experiences as a powerful tool.

House of Persia Community and Cultural Centre Inc.
City of Manningham
$2,000
The House of Persia Community and Cultural Centre aims to expand its community services to better support recent migrants from Iran, particularly women and the elderly. The project combines group activities such as bushwalking, gardening and meditation with culturally-appropriate care to enhance social participation, community connectivity and personal wellbeing.

Latrobe Valley Village Inc.
Newborough
$10,000
Members of Orana Senior Citizen Centre and residents of Latrobe Valley Village will improve their mental health through social activities and skill-building for staff and volunteers. Residents will participate in a Walk & Talk program in local parklands and staff and volunteers will receive Mental Health First Aid training to better support the community.

Multicultural Community Services Geelong Inc.
Geelong
$10,000
Nature Connect: Enhancing Wellbeing for Refugee Youth is a four day nature camp focusing on mental health and community connection for young people from refugee and multicultural backgrounds. Participants will engage in activities such as mountain biking and kayaking along with co-designed workshops on personal development, respectful relationships, self-confidence and connection.

Plus Sport Victoria
Footscray
$5,500
Come and play, it’s Wednesday is a community lunchtime program at Victoria University in Footscray, offering a safe space for locals facing financial and cultural stress. The project will train volunteers in Mental Health First Aid to facilitate weekly badminton and table tennis sessions, enhancing mental wellbeing and fostering community connections for refugee and migrant adults.

Preston Neighbourhood House Inc
Preston
$10,000
The NeuroConnect project will offer monthly themed workshops over six months to support neurodivergent queer youth, addressing their unique developmental needs. By focusing on creative expression, mindfulness, and social skills, the program will foster self-discovery, mental well-being, and meaningful connections for students in years 10 to 12.

St Arnaud Neighbourhood House Inc.
St Arnaud
$10,000
Intergenerational Farm Art will bring together older and younger generations to create a farming mural from recycled materials, highlighting local agriculture and the importance of farmers. Through weekly sessions over five months, the project aims to foster relationships and enhance generational connections by sharing knowledge about farming practices.

Swifts Creek Bush Nursing Centre Inc.
Swifts Creek
$2,000
Echoes of Yesteryear will reconnect up to 20 older, isolated community members in remote East Gippsland through a social support group. The project fosters connections through activities like sharing food, old photographs, recipes, and personal collections.

The Haven Day Centre Ltd.
Boronia
$2,000
The Haven Choir pilot program aims to engage community members living with mental health issues, memory loss, or dementia. The program will offer a space for participants to sing, express themselves, and build meaningful connections, enhancing their quality of life through music.

Triumph of Good Inc.
Hampton East
$3,980
Triumph of Good will offer weekly two-hour sessions to enhance the health and wellbeing of multicultural seniors in Hampton, focusing on alleviating loneliness and fostering social connections. The project will use group singing to provide joy, therapeutic benefits, and community cohesion, particularly aiding cognitive functions and memory in individuals with dementia.

Windermere Child & Family Services Inc.
Mirboo North
$10,000
Windermere Child & Family Services will establish a whittling group in Mirboo North to aid storm recovery by teaching whittling skills and encouraging artistic expression. The fortnightly sessions will help participants create meaningful items from storm debris, fostering resilience, social connections, and community cohesion.