For Round 10 of the program, $22.5 million is available to provide up to $150,000 to each federal electorate for eligible community projects that encourage and support participation in local projects, improve local community participation and contribute to vibrant and viable communities.

A maximum of 20 projects will be funded in Griffith.

Round 10 of the program aims to support projects that provide social benefits for local communities. For this round, grant funding will provide up to 100 per cent of eligible project costs except for local governing bodies where grant funding will provide up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs. Local governing bodies must provide matched funding contributions towards their eligible project.

• The minimum grant amount is $2,500

  The maximum grant amount is $20,000.

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

Community consultation is a critical element of the program.

Members of Parliament must either consult with an existing community consultation committee, or establish a new consultation committee, comprised of representatives from the local community to identify potential projects in their electorate with a total value of up to $150,000. These projects must align with the program’s objectives, outcomes and eligibility criteria. The MP and community consultation committee will be required to perform their duties in accordance with the CGRPs. Refer to sections 2.3 and 8 of the guidelines for further information on the grant selection process.

If your project is identified as a potential project by your MP this does not guarantee that your application will be successful.

MPs and their consultation committee are not responsible for the administration of the program.

MPs invite organisations in their electorate to submit an expression of interest. MPs, in

consultation with their community consultation committee, will review nominations and

identify potential applicants and projects.

After undertaking the community consultation, MPs will submit their nominated projects via

the portal. Nominations will be assessed for eligibility by DISR. DISR will invite eligible

nominees to apply for a grant for their project by sending them a link to the grant portal. Only

applicants invited to apply can submit an application. Invited applicants must not forward

the application link to anyone else.

Invited applicants must submit a completed application via the online portal. DISR assess all

applications for eligibility and completeness and undertakes a merit assessment.

An invitation to submit an application does not guarantee that your application will be

successful.

Local Federal Members of Parliament (MP) may choose to participate in the program, and must consult with either an existing consultation committee or establish a

new consultation committee with

representatives from the local community.

The MP and consultation committee identify

potential eligible applicants and projects in their

electorate. The identified projects must be

consistent with the intended outcomes of the

program and meet the eligibility criteria.

MPs submit a nomination form for each

identified project that includes the basis for

selecting the project.

If assessed as eligible, potential applicants

receive an email invitation to apply for a grant.

Invitation emails provide details on how to

apply via the online portal.

To be eligible you must be invited by your MP

to apply, and your project must:

To be considered by the community consultation committee, Expressions of Interest must be submmited by organisations that:

• 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 non-distributing co-operative

• a company limited by guarantee

• an Australian Indigenous corporation

• a religious organisation incorporated under legislation

• 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.

For further information on program eligibility refer to the grant opportunity guidelines.

You are not eligible to apply if you are:

• a for profit organisation

• an individual

• a partnership

• a Regional Development Australia Committee

• a university, technical college or school

• a hospital

• a Commonwealth, State or Territory government agency or body (including government business enterprises) unless listed in section 4.1 of the grant opportunity guidelines.

• an organisation, or your project partner is anorganisation, included on the National Redress Scheme’s website on the 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).

Eligible activities are outlined in the table in section 5.1 of the grant opportunity guidelines. Program objectives are listed together with the project activities eligible under that objective. To be eligible, a project must align with a program objective and include one of the eligible activities listed under that objective. Some examples of eligible project activities are:

• Acquisition and installation of First Nations art in public spaces

• Upgrades to an existing war memorial

• Installing energy-efficient appliances to upgrade community facilities

• Installation of solar panels at a local community centre

• Constructing a disability access ramp or lift at public facilities

• Purchasing equipment for community infrastructure or sporting grounds that supports positive mental or physical health

• Upgrading facilities at a community centre, Scout or Guides Hall or Men’s Shed

• Installation of a native garden to update community facilities and spaces

• Construction of a women’s change room at a local football ground.

• Installing shade sails at a public playground to manage heat stress.

Please ensure you read the guidelines thoroughly before applying.

A not-for-profit organisation is an organisation that is not operating for the profit or gain of its individual members. Section 4.1 of the grant opportunity guidelines provides guidance on how to demonstrate not-for-profit status.

For the purposes of this program, not-for-profit organisations must also be an incorporated legal entity with a current Australian Business Number (ABN).

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 a Stronger Communities Programme Round 10 online application under their name

• if successful, enter into a grant agreement with the Commonwealth

• ensure that the grant funding is spent on the project and in accordance with the agreement

Some changes have been made to the grant opportunity guidelines from previous rounds of the program. This includes updates to eligible activities and program objectives.

To be eligible, projects must directly align and give effect to at least one of the objectives of the program and must include one or more of the eligible activities listed under that objective in section 5.1 of the guidelines.

Please ensure you read the guidelines thoroughly before applying.

Yes, however you must be invited by your MP to apply. Complete the below EOI form register your interest in the program.

The Department of Industry, Science and Resources (the Department/we) is responsible for administering the program on behalf of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sports and the Arts according to the requirements of the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles (CGRPs).

You will not be required to provide progress reports, but we may contact you during the project period to seek an update on the project.

You should advise us as soon as possible if your project is experiencing delays that might prevent you from completing it by the project end date in your agreement.

You must provide an end of project report on completion of your project. We will provide a template for this with instructions on how to complete and submit the end of project report in the grant portal.

When you submit your end of project report you will need to:

• provide photographs of your completed project activities

• be able to identify the total eligible expenditure incurred for the project

• provide a breakdown of what the grant money was spent on

• report any underspends of the grant money include a declaration that the grant money was spent in accordance with the grant agreement.

You are also required to keep records of your project for two years. You may be required to provide them to us for evaluation upon request (see section 12 of the grant opportunity guidelines).