Community wellbeing support grants

About this grants program

The Community Wellbeing and Support Grants Program helps to establish new organisations, projects and services.

It funds initiatives that:

• improve residents' health and wellbeing
• support opportunities for volunteering
• build the capacity of community groups, projects and programs to be sustainable.

Funding categories

There are 3 categories of funding:

Seeding grants (up to $5,000)

These grants can be used to support establishment costs of a new organisation, group, club, project, program or service.

Examples include:

• promotional material to advertise a new program or group
• incorporation fees
• insurance
• design costs for a newsletter or website
• purchase of small items of equipment.

Where insurance costs are requested in the set-up of an organisation, Council will commit to funding this cost for the first year only.

Other ongoing costs must be evidenced to be sustained without further Council support beyond the first year of its life.

Volunteering grants (up to $3,000)

These grants can be used to undertake a range of initiatives that will grow and develop volunteering within Cardinia Shire.

Examples include:

• establishing volunteering programs
• training and developing volunteers, where not mandated by regulation, nor within the scope of training that is provided by the organisation*
• promotion of volunteering opportunities.

*Applications cannot include requests for support for training already subsidised by Council.

Small change grants (up to $1,000)

These grants can be used to assist with a range of ad hoc costs that cannot be met through other funding sources.

Examples include:

• purchase of small items of equipment
• uniforms
• website redevelopment
• short term projects
• Christmas decorations.

Operating costs associated with the day-to-day running of an organisation/group will not be funded through small change grants. If the organisation/group cannot continue without the item/program/service then it is considered an operating cost.

Is my group eligible?

To be eligible for this grants program, groups and organisations must be:

• not-for-profit; and
• locally based and/or servicing Cardinia Shire residents; and
• a section 86 committee of Council; or
• incorporated (or be auspiced by an incorporated organisation – please note, Section 86 committees cannot take on the function of an auspice).

If a licence, lease or funding agreement exists between Council and the community organisation, then the agreements need to be signed and current in order for applications to be considered.

Community groups with incomplete or outstanding projects are not eligible to apply for further projects and applications will not be considered.

What will not be funded

• Activities which are a primary or core service and/or responsibility of Council or State or Federal governments
• Initiatives from an individual rather than a group
• Private, profit-making organisations
• Political organisations
• Capital works projects (as defined in Council’s Community Capital Works Grants Policy)
• Public space/township beautification projects
• Replacement of existing equipment and/or furnishings at community and recreational facilities
• Maintenance of community or recreational facilities
• Events
• Operating costs
• Existing salaries

What you need to read before you apply

Before applying you must read the grant guidelines

Apply

To apply for this grant go to the Cardinia Smarty Grants website

How applications are assessed

All grant applications are reviewed by:

• an assessment panel comprising a multidisciplinary team of relevant Council staff
• General Manager Liveable Communities.

Once agreement is reached in these forums, grants are referred to Council for endorsement and formal approval.

All applicants will be advised of the decision in early July.

Disputing a grants decision

If you wish to query a grants assessment please send a written request for clarification by post or email: 

Post

Community Strengthening Unit
Cardinia Shire Council
PO Box 7
Pakenham VIC 3810

Email

mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au

All requests will receive due consideration and a written response will be sent. 

Contact us if you need assistance

For more information or for help with the grant application process contact our Community Development Team on 1300 787 624 or mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au

Projects funded in 2019 -2020

Recipient	Project receiving funding
3MDR	3MDR Volunteer Development
Beaconsfield Junior Football Club	Ipads for Volunteer Operations within BJFC
Cannibal Creek Catchment Landcare Group	Cannibal Creek Catchment Landcare Group Equipment Trailer update
Cardinia Deer Management Coalition	Establishment of Cardinia Deer Management Coalition
Cardinia Lakes Residents Group	Community insurance
Cardinia Men's Shed	Big Top Shade Project
Cardinia U3A	Supporting Stitches Project
Casey North Information and Support Service	Keeping It Together
Cockatoo Emergency Support Team	Cockatoo Emergency Support Team – Psychological First Aid Training
Cockatoo Emergency Support Team	Cockatoo Emergency Support Team – CERT Vest Procurement
Cora Lynn Football and Netball Club	Volunteer Education to Train and Retain Volunteers
East College Gippsland	ECG Community Mural Project
Emerald RSL	Emerald RSL Club Room TV Upgrade
Emerald Tennis Club	Purchase of Equipment for Emerald Tennis Club
Emerald Village Association	Emerald Village Newsletter and Media program
Fernlea Community Care	Fernlea House of Opportunities Handling Equipment
Friends of Emerald Lake Park	Friends of Emerald Lake Park Equipment Purchase
Gembrook Community Group	Gembrook Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Project
Gembrook Community Market	Gembrook Community Market Growth, Improvements and Maintenance
Gembrook Fire Brigade	Gembrook Fire Brigade Lighting Project
Gembrook Singers	Improving Quality: Gembrook Singers
Heritage Springs Residents Group	HSRG Public Liability Insurance
Johns Hill Landcare Group	Transport Costs for Elderly Volunteers
Koo Wee Rup Community Centre	Kooweerup Community Centre - Commercial Fridge
Koo Wee Rup Community Centre	Kooweerup Community Centre - Defibrillator
Koo Wee Rup Cricket Club	Supporting our Volunteers with Avoiding Burdensome Scoring Tasks
Koo Wee Rup Regional Health Service	Get Active Koowee
Lakeside Residents Group	Lakeside Residents Group Insurance cover
Lakeside Residents Group	Lakeside Square Christmas Light-up
Lakeside Sailing Club	Purchase an Extra Corsair Sailing Dinghy
Living Learning Pakenham	Living and Learning Events Stage
Living Learning Pakenham	Sudanese Family Connect and Homework Support Program
Millhaven Lodge	Sensory Room
Nar Nar Goon Football Club	Equipment to Help our Volunteers
Officer City Soccer Club	Establish and Sustainably Grow our New Club
Outlook Community Centre	Lifestyle Modification for Health
Pakenham Lions Netball Club	Pakenham Lions Netball Club Volunteer Support
Pakenham United Football Club	Soccer Coaching Courses for our Volunteers
Puffing Billy Toy Library	Toy Library Essential Items
Rotary Club of Bunyip Garfield	Say NO to BULLYING Day
TaskForce Community Agency	Establishment of Training Room
TaskForce Community Agency	Cockatoo Community House Introduction to Art Program
TaskForce Community Agency	Cockatoo Community House Volunteer Network
The Ark of Veterans	The Ark of Veterans
The Community Grocer	The Community Grocer Pakenham Re-launch
Timbertop Residents Group	Timbertop Residents Group Committee Operational and Equipment Costs Project
Tribes Basketball Club	Pakenham Tribes Basketball Club Uniforms
TRY Australia	TRY Australia Volunteer Mentor Recruitment
Upper Beaconsfield Community Centre	Upper Beaconsfield Community Centre Public Use Technology
Upper Beaconsfield Community Centre	Upper Beaconsfield Community Complex Commercial Fridge Replacement
Western Port Catchment Landcare Network	Governance Training for Westernport Landcare Volunteers