Thriving Communities recipients announced

Greater Western Water (GWW) has announced 26 community groups and organisations will receive funding this year through its annual Thriving Communities Grants and Sponsorship Program.

This year’s recipients will share in $176,000 in funding, to increase opportunities for community participation and development throughout the western region.

GWW General Manager Strategy and Partnerships, Kessia Thomson, said applications had been received from every LGA across the water corporation’s service area, from Melbourne to the Macedon Ranges.

“We’re so impressed with the quality of submissions we received. We received fifty percent more applications than last year and each one was excellent. There is such amazing work happening in our communities,” she said.

“We have funded a range of projects that make our region a great place to live, including environmental initiatives, community care projects, art exhibitions and family and cultural events,” she said.

The projects we support include health initiatives, as we know healthy people make for healthy communities.

The Australian Dental Foundation (ADF) received a $20,000 grant for its “Healthy Smiles for Greater Melbourne” project, which provides mobile dental services to more than 100 schools, childcare centres and kindergartens, and 107 aged care facilities.

Chairman and Clinical Ambassador Dr Greg Miller said this grant would allow the Foundation to expand its service across Melbourne’s west by 25 sites and 1000 patients through the purchase of two new mobile dental kits and two new sensors for their portable x-ray units.

“Our aim is to move the dial on Australia’s oral health future by reaching as many young people and their families as we can.”

“We're not just about treatment, our non-profit Foundation also has a mission to educate people about their oral health and working with schools is a great way to educate not only children but also school staff and families.”

For the full list of recipients and more information, view the Thriving Communities program page.

Pictured: (From left) ADF clinicians and support staff, Sai, Taliah, Vince, Kartik, Abbey, Sarah, Tyler, Madison and Arman.

Media enquiries:

0417 459 575

media@gww.com.au.