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 Development Team
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 2020 -2021

Recipient	Project receiving funding
3MDR	3MDR Volunteer Development
Arena JETZ Netball Club	Arena JETZ Netball Club Website Development
Beaconsfield Neighbourhood Centre	Cookery equipment for community programs
Bestchance	Establishment of "Tuning in to Kids" Parenting Program
Bunyip Connect	Establishment of Bunyip Connect Progress Association
Bunyip Football Club	Sporting equipment for Women's Football Team
Bunyip Strikers Soccer Club	Equipment for operations of organisation
Bunyip Tennis Club	Hats for junior players
Cardinia Deer Management Coalition	Information packs for local landoweners
Cardinia Gujarati Association	Equipment for operations of organisation
Cardinia Lakes Residents Group	Development of promotional material
Cardinia Men's Shed	Pyrography set and Oscillating Sander
Cockatoo Community House	Here For The Holidays - school holiday program
Cockatoo Country Market	UHF Radios
Cockatoo History and Heritage Group	Audio Visual and Recording Equipment
Eastern Dandenong Ranges Association (EDRA)	Equipment for operations of organisation
Emerald U3A	Expansion of Music Sharing Group
Emerald RSL	Club Furnishings
Fallingwater Residents Association	Establishment of Fallingwater Residents Association
Fernlea	Fernlea House equipment
Fit to Drive Foundation	Fit to Drive Program
Friends of Harbury Reserve Committee of Management	Botanical Course
Gippsland Storm Netball Club	Gippsland Storm Netball volunteer assistance and recruitment
IACC	IACC Kids Club Sports Clinics
Koo Wee Rup Regional Health Service	Koo Wee Rup Cook Book
Ladies Probus Club of Emerald	Audio Visual Equipment
Lakeside Residents Group	Gazebo Weights
Living Learning Pakenham	Financial Wellbeing to Empower Women Program
Living Learning Pakenham - Pakenham Community Garden	Educational signage for the World Food Gardens
Mecwacare	Rivendell House Strength Training Equipment
Multicultural Sports Group	Multicultural Sports Equipment
Outlook Community Centre	The Outlook Dementia Friendly Cafe
Pakenham Eels Women's NRL Club	Pakenham Eels Women's NRL League Touch Football Competition
Pakenham Rugby League Club and Touch Association	Junior Team Club Uniforms
Riding For The Disabled - Pakenham	Riding For The Disabled - Pakenham Volunteer Development
Riding For The Disabled - Pakenham	Riding For The Disabled - Pakenham Uniforms
Upper Beaconsfield Community Centre	Bingo Night
Upper Beaconsfield Wildlife Road Toll Survey Group	Upper Beaconsfield Wildlife Road Toll Survey Group Volunteer Development
Very Special Kids	Keeping Strong Program
West Gippsland Progress Association	West Gippsland Progress Association - Communities in Partnership
Women's Association South East Melbourne Australia (WASEMA)	Officer and Cockatoo Women's Frienship Cafe's website development