Stronger Communities Programme Round 8

About the grant program

The Stronger Communities Programme (the program) supports the Australian Government’s commitment to deliver social benefits in communities across Australia by funding small capital projects in each of the 151 Federal electorates. The program is part of the government’s 2022-23 budget initiatives focussed on making local economies stronger and boosting community organisations.

The objective of the program is to deliver social benefits for local communities.

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.

Community consultation is a critical element of the program. In consultation with their community, each MP must identify potential applicants and projects in their electorate and invite them to apply for a grant. We will assess invited applications against the program’s eligibility criteria through a closed non-competitive process.

Round 8 of the program aims to support communities recover from the widespread impacts of adverse weather events and current economic pressures. For this round, grant funding will be up to 100 per cent of eligible project costs except for local governing bodies where grant funding will be up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs. Local governing bodies must provide matched funding contributions towards their eligible project.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible you must:

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

and

• be one of the following incorporated entities:
  • -an incorporated not for profit organisation including:
    • -incorporated associations, such as,
    • -Police and Citizen Youth Clubs
    • -child care centres
    • -surf clubs
    • -local aged care bodies
    • -Parents and Citizens, Parents and Friends groups and equivalent bodies
    • -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.
  • -non-distributing co-operatives
  • -companies limited by guarantee
  • -Indigenous corporations
  • -religious organisations incorporated under legislation.
• 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.
• a local governing body as defined by the Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1995.

For the purpose of this program, we also consider the following organisations to be local governing bodies:

• -Anangu Pitjantjatjara, Maralinga, Gerard, Nepabunna and Yalata local governing bodies in SA
• -Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council
• -Lord Howe Island Board
• -Norfolk Island Regional Council
• -The Outback Communities Authority
• -The Shire of Christmas Island
• -The Silverton and Tibooburra villages in NSW
• -The Trust Account in the NT and
• -ACT Government.

Who is not eligible?

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 above
• an organisation, or your project partner is an organisation, 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

To be eligible your project must:

• be a small capital works or capital expenditure project that delivers social benefits to your community
• be nominated by your MP
• be located at an address in your MP’s electorate. (Federal electorate boundaries as at the 2022 Federal election). Use the Nationalmap.gov.au mapping tool with reference to the Glossary for more information on determining project location eligibility in electorates)
• be used in your MP’s electorate if it includes portable equipment
• include eligible activities and eligible expenditure
• have at least $2,500 in eligible expenditure unless the applicant is a local governing body which requires at least $5,000 in eligible expenditure
• have a maximum project cost of $50,000
• be undertaken in the project period and completed no later than 31 December 2023.

Eligible activities can include:

• fit out, alterations and/or extensions to existing premises e.g. air-conditioning, kitchen upgrades, fixtures and fittings, painting
• acquisition and installation of equipment, including ICT hardware and associated operating software that is to be used by your organisation for the benefit of your community. Examples may include:
  • -software to support and operate eligible purchased equipment e.g. software required for camera equipment, virtual reality equipment, electronic information boards
  • -initial software license, purchase, customisation and installation of customer relationship management (CRM), database, booking and scheduling software
  • -creation of a website that facilitates community access to information or services provided by the organisation
• modifications and refurbishments to leased buildings or grounds, providing approval has been given by the owner and you can provide confirmation of this approval.
• upgrades, construction and fit-out of community spaces, e.g. men’s sheds, community centres, scout halls etc.
• development or upgrade of bike paths, streetscapes, skate parks or community gardens
• upgrades of sporting facilities and fields including new scoreboards, spectator seating, goalposts, fit-out of change rooms, new canteen, new lights, medical equipment, upgrade drainage and water systems, gymnasiums
• the purchase of musical instruments, sports equipment and uniforms that remain the property of the organisation

Eligible Expenditure

You can only spend grant funds on eligible expenditure you have incurred on an agreed project as defined in your grant agreement.

Eligible expenditure items are:

• the cost of suppliers, consultants and contracted labour undertaking eligible project activities
• the cost of obtaining planning, environment or other regulatory approvals as part of an approved eligible capital works or capital expenditure project such as architecture, engineering, planning, design and consultants fees
• the purchase of assets such as office furniture, TVs and equipment, motor vehicles purchase or upgrade of ICT hardware including computers and associated software and user licenses including tablets, printers or photocopiers that remain the property of the applicant
• the purchase or lease or hire of equipment required to complete eligible project activities
• the purchase of materials required to complete eligible project activities.

The above list is not exhaustive.

What you cannot use the grant for

Expenditure items that are not eligible are:

• the cost of delivering the services of your community organisation, including:
  • -volunteer and paid staff time to provide training, education, transport, advisory, respite support, and outreach programs and services
  • -volunteer and paid staff time to run organisations and to plan and develop events, programs and services, or travel associated with these operations
• the cost of business as usual activities including:
  • -staff salaries, overheads, and consumables such as paper, printer cartridges, office supplies, brochures and other marketing materials, kitchen supplies including food and beverages
  • -ongoing upgrades, updates and maintenance of existing ICT systems including websites, customer relationship management systems, databases etc.; the cost of ongoing subscription-based software; and IT support memberships and warranties for purchases
  • -recurring or ongoing operational expenditure (including annual maintenance, rent, water and rates)
• funding to stage events, workshops, exhibit a display or for filming (includes activities such as marquee hire, guest presenter costs and catering)
• funding to develop or deliver ongoing training or educational courses
• funding to undertake studies, including feasibility studies, or investigations
• the cost of obtaining planning, environmental or other regulatory approvals that are not part of an approved eligible capital works or capital expenditure project such as architecture, engineering, planning, design and consultants
• fees to obtain planning, environmental, building or other regulatory approvals paid to the Commonwealth, state, territory and local governments
• purchase of land or buildings
• funding for the development of private or commercial ventures
• capital expenditure on private residential property
• funding to purchase items that will not remain the property of the organisation including items to be given away.
• in-kind expenditure

Community consultation

Each MP must either consult with an existing consultation committee or establish a new consultation committee comprised of representatives from the local community, to identify potential applicants and projects in their electorate. The identified projects must be consistent with the intended program outcomes and criteria. MPs must advise the department of the basis for project selection, their method of consultation and provide a detailed list of nominated applicants and projects.

The MP will invite identified potential applicants to apply for a grant for identified projects by sending them a link to apply via the grant portal. Only applicants invited to apply can submit an application. Invited applicants must not forward the link to the application form to anyone else.

Invited applicants must submit a completed application via the portal. We assess all applications for eligibility and completeness.

An invitation to submit an application by your MP does not guarantee that your application will be successful.

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

Grants available

Each electorate has total funding of up to $150,000 that can be allocated to successful applications. A maximum of 20 projects will be funded in each electorate.

The grant amount will be up to 100 per cent of eligible project expenditure (grant percentage) except for local governing bodies where the grant amount will be up to 50 per cent of eligible project expenditure.

• The minimum grant amount is $2,500
• The maximum grant amount is $20,000.

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

You are responsible for the remaining eligible project expenditure (where applicable).

For local governing bodies, total Commonwealth funding for the project cannot exceed 50 per cent of the total eligible project expenditure. Local governing bodies can fund their matched funding contribution from any other source including from state government.

Project period

You must complete your project no later than 31 December 2023.

You may start your project from the date you submit your application. Any project expenditure incurred prior to the date you submit your application is not eligible. We are not responsible for any expenditure you incur until a grant agreement is executed. If you choose to start your project before you have an executed agreement, you do so at your own risk.

Project sponsor

If you are an organisation that may not be able to incorporate, including parish churches, rural fire brigades, scout groups, Parents and Citizens Associations (P&C’s) or equivalent bodies, you may be able to nominate an eligible project sponsor.

The project sponsor will need to meet all eligibility criteria, be nominated by the MP, and submit the application under their name on behalf of your organisation. The project sponsor must be authorised to enter into a grant agreement and will be responsible for any obligations under the agreement with the Commonwealth, including the finalisation and completion of the end of project report. If you are a local governing body applying in the capacity of a project sponsor refer to section 3.1 of the guidelines for additional information about grants available and project cost

How to apply

To apply, you must:

• be invited by your MP to submit an application
• complete the online application form on the grants portal
• provide all the information requested
• address all eligibility criteria
• include all necessary attachments.