Thriving communities grants and sponsorships program
Our Thriving Communities program provides funds to support local projects, events and activities that bring people together. Our service area is diverse, vibrant and growing and we want everyone to participate in the life of our region.
2023-25 Strategic community sponsorship
Our first strategic community sponsorship will provide funding and support to the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation’s (WBCF) Nallei Jerring Koori leadership program.
We’ll provide $75,000 to the Nallei Jerring Koori leadership program, over three years from 2023 to 2025. The Nallei Jerring program aims to educate, engage and empower young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants living in the west of Victoria through increasing understanding and connection to community, culture, positive self-identity, and leadership.
To learn more about the program read our media release.
2023-24 Thriving Communities program
We’ve provided a share of $176,000 to 26 community groups and organisations who help make our region a great place to live.
We’ve funded a range of projects including sports tournaments, art exhibitions, family events and health initiatives. We’ve also focused on projects that have a positive impact on our natural environment, supporting local waterways and wildlife. Read the media release.
Woodend Primary School and Woodend and Five Mile Creek Landcare Group
Woodend Primary School Community Children's Garden Irrigation System
The Woodend Primary School Community Children's Garden Irrigation System helps to save water by watering the garden at the best time of day, using the water collected in their onsite tanks. The garden has great benefits for the school community and food grown in the garden is donated to the Woodend Neighbourhood House.
$3,780
Wyndham Netball Association
All Abilities Netball program
The All Abilities Netball Program provides an inclusive environment for children and young people living with disability to play sport regularly.
$5,000
Sunbury Agricultural Society
Sunbury Annual Agricultural Grand Show
The Sunbury Annual Agricultural Grand Show brings the community together to enjoy performances from local artists and school groups, equestrian events, cooking demonstrations and arts and craft stalls.
$5,000
Kensington Stockyard Food Garden
Indigenous Bush Food Promotion
The Kensington Stockyard Food Garden provides the local community with indigenous produce and a place to gather for events and workshops, like how to propagate plants and how to use bush foods.
$5,000
Kirrip Aboriginal Corporation
Western Suburbs NAIDOC Ball
The Kirrip Aboriginal Corporation’s NAIDOC Ball provides the community with an opportunity to gather and learn about First Nations' cultures. The event celebrates the great work happening in the community, like supported playgroups, groups to help students with their homework and weekly bingo.
$5,000
Western United SC
Multicultural, Music, Dance and Food Festival
The Multicultural Music, Dance and Food Festival brings the community together to learn about each other's cultures and to share food and traditions. The event will showcase local performers and artists.
$5,000
300 Blankets
Care Package Program
The Care Package Program delivers essential supplies to community members at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Community members will receive packages of essential food and supplies and have the opportunity to engage with volunteers who deliver them. This will ease cost of living pressures for families and encourage connection.
$5,000
Macedon Ranges Music Festival
2024 Macedon Ranges Music Festival
The Macedon Ranges Music Festival (MRMF) is a community-led event that features local artists and performers at Hanging Rock.
$5,000
Wyndham Little Buddies Toy Library
Play and Learn at Little Buddies
Little Buddies Toy Library have added a range of high-quality toys to their collection. The library provides more than 500 families with a sustainable and affordable way to find joy through play.
$5,000
Melbourne Irish Festival Committee
St Patrick’s Family Fun Day
St Patrick’s Family Fun Day brings people together to celebrate Irish culture. The festival features music and dance performances, food stalls and activities and sporting events for children.
$1,500
Maribyrnong Swifts Football Club
Maribyrnong Swifts Open Day 2024
The Maribyrnong Swifts Open Day aims to boost female participation in local community sport. The event is open to all community members and provides an opportunity for everyone to get involved in their local football club.
$2,590
Nigerian Society of Victoria
Celebrating Diversity – Welcome to Victoria
The Celebrating Diversity – Welcome to Victoria event welcomes Nigerians who have recently arrived in Victoria. The event provides information about their new home and strengthens community connections.
$4,700
U3A Hobsons Bay/Williamstown
Never Too Old To Start
Never Too Old To Start offers senior community members the opportunity to learn a new skill, through a series of workshops run by local artists. The project will culminate in an exhibition of the participants' artwork.
$2,680
Rotary Club of Keilor
Keilor Christmas Bag Project 2023
The Keilor Christmas Bag Project is community-run service that provides vulnerable members of the community with essential food and personal care items, along with the opportunity to connect with the people delivering the packages.
$3,600
Chin-Myanmar Community Care
Sporting Event for Juniors
The Sporting Event for Juniors encourages young people in the Chin-Myanmar community to take part in local sport, providing them with community connection and a sense of belonging.
$5,000
The Centre: Connecting North and West Melbourne
The Queensberry Cup
The Queensberry Cup is a family-focused event that celebrates the history and diversity of the communities in Melbourne's west. The one-day festival features a billycart race, food stalls, live music and dance performances.
$5,000
Wyndham Volunteers Association
Eid and Harmony Day Celebration 2024
This event brings together the diverse communities of Wyndham to celebrate Eid and Harmony Day. The Eid and Harmony Day Celebration 2024 showcases the many cultures that make up this community, through activities and education.
$5,000
St Mary's House of Welcome
Look Good, Feel Good
Look Good, Feel Good improves the health and wellbeing of community members experiencing homelessness and poverty by providing showers and hygiene products. This project also provides an entry-point for the community to access housing and legal support, medical advice, social inclusion activities and hot meals.
$5,000
Riddells Creek Lions Club
Riddells Creek War Memorial Garden
The Riddells Creek War Memorial Garden is a place for the community to gather and hold ANZAC Day services. The gardens feature Gallipoli rosemary and other plants flowering in red and white (the colours of remembrance). As part of the garden’s rejuvenation, a water tap and pressure pump will be installed.
$5,000
Footscray Traders Association
Show Your West-Side Art Exhibition
The Show Your West-Side Art Exhibition invites the community to create artwork based on their experience of living in Melbourne’s west. The project brings people together to enjoy the exhibition and provides an opportunity for local artists to exhibit their work.
$5,000
Organisation
Project
Description
Amount
Australian Dental Foundation
Healthy Smiles for Greater Western Melbourne
The Healthy Smiles for Greater Western Melbourne project addresses the community’s need for access to dental care, particularly in schools and aged care. This program reduces the impacts of poor oral health on individuals, their community and the economy.
$20,000
Yarra Riverkeeper Association
Wise about Wastewater
Wise about Wastewater is a seminar series that provides the community with education on wastewater and how it is used in the Maribyrnong catchment.
$6,000
Friends of Kororoit Creek
Frog Bogs and Planting for Platypus at The Bug Rug
The Frog Bogs and Planting for Platypus project will increase the biodiversity in the existing Bug Rug revegetation area by creating seven frog bogs. These clay-lined ponds are ideal breeding habitats for frogs. The project will also plant water cleansing reeds and grass creating a future habitat for platypus in the Kororoit Creek.
$10,000
Riddell District Football Netball League
Inaugural Indigenous Round Celebration
The inaugural Riddell District Football Netball League’s Indigenous Round brings together 15 clubs from across Victoria’s western region. A local First Nations artist will create custom artwork for each club’s uniform. A Welcome to Country ceremony will be held prior to each game during this round.
$19,445
Matchworks
Rainbow Employment Engagement Project
The Rainbow Employment Engagement Project creates relationships between employers and LGBTIQA+ jobseekers. The project supports diverse community groups to succeed by running monthly jobseeker sessions that help attendees build confidence. The project also provides practical strategies for workplaces to help them embrace diversity and create inclusive environments for potential employees.
$20,000
Altona Meadows Community Centre
Food for Thought
Food for Thought is a community-led project that supports development in our region through an environmentally sustainable community veggie garden, which provides food and education opportunities to the local community. Volunteers will host a series of workshops at the garden throughout the year. The workshops cover a variety of topics, like how to be water wise and how to create a zero-waste garden.
$10,000
Local community sponsorships
Our local community sponsorships provide up to $5,000 for local community-based activities that support equity, opportunity and inclusivity.
Local organisations can apply for local activities that:
improve equity, opportunity and inclusivity
address a community need
are locally led and support diverse community groups to succeed.
Community grants provide up to $20,000 for one-off projects and activities that help communities, environment, individuals and industry to develop and thrive.
Local organisations can apply for projects and initiatives that:
support development in our region
address a community need
are locally led and support diverse community groups to succeed.
The funds can be used to support your activity or project including coordination and facilitation, purchase of materials, marketing, venue hire and skills development.
Funds cannot be used for capital works, permits, scholarships or prize money, emergency relief, high-risk events or projects that are for commercial gain.
Applications for our 23/24 Thriving Communities grants and sponsorships program are now closed.
Strategic community sponsorships
Our strategic community sponsorships provide leading regional organisations up to $75,000 over three years.
What we fund
Our sponsorships support organisations that:
help communities thrive by supporting liveability and wellbeing
address a regional need and use local networks and resources to deliver a clear community benefit
are locally-led for the benefit of communities in our service area.
Contact our sponsorship team
We may be able to support your event in other ways like providing a mobile water station for your community festival or event, visit Mobile water stations for details.
