Community Services Triennial Grant

Applications for 2026-29 Community Grant closed on 8 August 2025.

Purpose

The purpose of the grant is to fund not-for-profit, incorporated, community organisations to deliver services and programs that support the needs of Boroondara's most vulnerable community members. Organisations must operate within the City of Boroondara.

Funding priorities

Funding will prioritise services that involve:

• partnerships that address multiple issues and priority groups
• use innovation and local knowledge and evidence to address issues in the Boroondara community.

This grant seeks to progress the below outcomes for community health and wellbeing priorities:

• improving social connection and loneliness
• reducing psychological distress
• improving food security and community resilience
• reducing the risk of relationship breakdown and family violence.

Funding

Applicants can choose between two different funding tiers. 

Applicants can apply for one or both tiers. Multiple grants may be awarded in each category. 

Funding is for a 3-year period. 

Funding may be given to more than one organisation to make sure services and programs that meet many needs are provided.

Tier 1: Funding up to $100,000 per annum

Tier 1 funding is best for small or medium scale services and programs that deal with at least 1 priority issue. For example: 

• upscaling an existing service and or program
• a new program or service offering to an existing well-established service
• a partnership service or program.

Tier 2: Funding up to $500,000 per annum  

Tier 2 is best for comprehensive, large-scale service offerings that address several priority issues for multiple target cohorts. For example: 

• multiple service offerings from an existing organisation that may be upscaled from current offerings or demonstrate new and innovative service models, that demonstrate large-scale impact
• new partnership services and/or program offerings that provide comprehensive services and/or programs to address multiple priorities for multiple at-risk groups.

How to apply 

Applicants are required to register an ‘intention to apply’ with the relevant Council Contact Officer before submitting a full application. Grant applications are submitted online via SmartyGrants. 

To receive the SmartyGrants link to the application form, please contact either:

• Penny Shaw, [email protected]
• Andrew McHugh, [email protected]
• Phoebe Di Tommaso, [email protected]

Applicants are required to complete all sections of the application form in full and upload all requested supporting documents online through SmartyGrants.  

If you haven't already registered for an account in SmartyGrants, you’ll find instructions here: Help Guide for Applicants 

Timeline 

2026-29 Recipients

There are 2 funding tiers for this grant:

• Tier 1: Funding up to $100,000 per annum. Small or medium scale services and programs that deal with at least 1 priority issue.
• Tier 2: Funding up to $500,000 per annum. Large-scale service offerings that address several priority issues for multiple target cohorts.

Access Health and Community

Tier 2 project: Camcare Community Assistance, Relief, Empowerment and Support (CCARES)

Leveraging strong partnerships, deep local presence and evidence-based practice, CCARES demonstrates high capability, low delivery risk and clear alignment to grant priority outcomes.

Funding will increase access to support crisis-driven needs and strengthen resilience across diverse community groups.

Key outputs and impacts:

• Expanded site access: Service delivery across multiple Boroondara sites to improve reach and local accessibility.
• Emergency relief and case coordination: The service will offer in-person and telephone support for emergency relief, case coordination and referral pathways.
• Community connection activities: A series of community BBQ events will be facilitated to increase social participation and act as a service entry point.

2026-27 amount: $500,000

Access Health and Community

Tier 1 project: Parenting Outreach Support Service (POSS)

Funding will see this vital community program provide both outreach and centre-based support for parents, mothers, and families in Boroondara experiencing parenting-related challenges.

The program will be delivered alongside the CCARES initiative, offering a holistic approach to supporting parents and families in need. The program includes evidence-based initiatives such as “Baby’s OK, What About You?”. 

Key outputs and impacts:

• Specialist clinical capability: Delivery led by qualified practitioners to ensure evidence-based, high-quality support.
• Short-term intervention: Individualised support addressing isolation, psychological distress, relationship stress, and perinatal mental health needs.
• Group-based early intervention: Annual delivery of structured programs promoting peer connection and reducing psychological distress.
• Integrated referral and collaboration: Strong partnerships with local services to ensure coordinated care and seamless pathways.

2026-27 amount: $99,512

Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (Victoria)

Tier 1 project: Boroondara Community Outreach (BCO)

Funding will support the expansion of BCO’s capacity to meet growing community needs through the employment of a full-time Engagement Worker and additional sessional staff. This will strengthen service capacity, enhance sustainability and improve the organisation’s ability to respond to emerging challenges experienced by vulnerable residents across Boroondara.

Key outputs and impacts:

• Food relief: Provisioning large numbers of nutritious meals annually, supporting physical wellbeing and helping to reduce psychological distress linked to financial hardship.
• Outreach support: Delivered regularly, with after-hours availability, through home visits and on-site engagement with partner agencies to increase access, build trust, and foster social connection.
• Tailored support: Flexible, relationship-based mental health and wellbeing support to build resilience, prevent escalation of distress and mitigate the risk of family violence.
• Group social activities: Accessible group-based programs (for example, art therapy or exercise) designed to enhance social participation, reduce loneliness and improve psychological wellbeing.

2026-27 amount: $100,000

Other local funding opportunities

Other local funding opportunities exist, with a significant local funding program being the Community Bank Inner East – Community Investment Program. To date this program has invested $10.5 million in local initiatives. 

The program considers impact and enables grassroots projects by local organisations to shape a stronger, more connected Inner East. 

Local organisations can apply for grants and sponsorship and the Community Bank Inner East reviews applications quarterly each year. They focus on funding organisations that improve community links and provide services that benefit the local community, including: community groups and events, community welfare organisations, schools and early childhood organisations and community sporting clubs. Visit the Community Bank Inner East sponsorship and grants page to find out more.

More information

To discuss our Community Services Triennial Grant program, please contact the Health and Wellbeing Services team via email  [email protected]