Community Grants program 2025-2026

To be eligible to apply for a Community Grant you must be a community-based organisation and submit a completed online application form in accordance with the relevant timeframes.

Typically, a community-based organisation is an organisation that is a recognised not- for-profit group or organisation that carries out one or more of the following activities:

• Providing services to the community such as positive ageing, childcare, health services, charity services or services of a similar type;
• Reinvests or applies the revenue it receives predominately for public interest services or activities;
• Principally provides social or junior sporting or recreational activities;
• Supports public events or information of an historical, cultural or community arts focus.

Typically, a community-based organisation would not include:

• A political organisation;
• A profit-making organisation;
• Schools or tertiary institutions (excluding parents and friends’ groups);
• State or Federal government agencies and departments;
• Any organisation where more than 50% of its income is derived from any State or Federal government program.

The following are not eligible:

• Applications from individuals;
• Applications where funding for projects is being requested retrospectively;
• Applicants with an overdue acquittal for Central Goldfields Shire Council funding;
• Applicants receiving funding from Central Goldfields Shire Council for the same project;
• Applicants who do not support diversity, tolerance, and inclusion within the community.

All applicants must:

• Have discussed their application with a Council officer prior to applying;
• Have no outstanding legal matters or unresolved debts with Council;
• Have no unresolved action concerning a notice or order related to planning, building or environmental health issue;
• Have met all acquittal requirements of any other previous funding by Council;
• Adhere to any relevant legislation and be in accordance with Council statutory requirements, relevant building codes and heritage guidelines.

All applications must be for projects that are based in the Central Goldfields Shire and benefit the Central Goldfields Shire community. Council welcomes applications for projects and activities that align with identified Council objectives and fall within our four funding streams:

Community Development

These projects would typically be those that increase social capital, accessibility, and inclusion.

These types of projects may include:

• New programs to increase participation
• Capacity building initiatives within organisations
• Delivery of events
• Business cases for new initiatives

Creativity and Innovation

These projects would typically be those that support creativity, artistic expression, use of technology to provide services.

These types of projects may include:

• Community arts projects and initiatives
• Projects promoting the use of new technologies in the community
• Innovative creative education programs
• Incubators or pop-up solutions
• Delivery of events

Physical Infrastructure

These projects would typically be those that support community organisations in relation to facility development and acquisition of equipment.

These types of projects may include:

• Building improvements that improve accessibility and amenity
• New equipment for programs
• Design or preparation work to inform physical infrastructure decision making

Climate Action

These projects would typically be those that focus on community efforts to address the impacts of climate change and support the implementation of the Central Goldfields Climate Action Plan 2022-2030.

These types of projects may include:

• Reducing carbon emissions
• Supporting communities to adapt to a changing climate
• Supporting community connection and mental resilience in a changing climate
• Supporting resilient ecosystems in a changing climate

Council also encourages applications for projects and activities that:

• Include and support:
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
  • Migrant and refugee communities
  • People with disability
  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and gender diverse, Intersex, Queer, Asexual and Aromantic communities (LGBTIQA+)
  • Women
  • Youth
  • Seniors
• Consider their environmental impact and try to minimise it where possible.
• Improve community health and wellbeing through activities that support or encourage:
  • Healthy eating 
  • Exercise and physical activity 
  •  Social connection

• Actively address/aim to reduce the known health and wellbeing harms to community caused by:
  • Alcohol and other drug use 
  • Tobacco use and vaping 
  •  Problem gambling

The Community Grants program does not fund projects, events and activities that:

• Seek funding to cover ongoing operational costs (e.g. insurance, utilities, rent, salaries)
• Do not reflect widely held community standards
• Are the responsibility of the State or Federal Government
• Are already underway or have been completed
• Fall outside the program timelines

All potential applicants must contact a council officer to discuss their project idea before preparing their grant application. Applications that have not been discussed prior to submission will not be assessed. Relevant contacts across the four categories are:

Community Development:

Terence Jaensch
Mobile: 0477 621 577
Email: Terence.Jaensch@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au

Creativity and Innovation:

Alisha Chadwick
Mobile: 0408 326 157
Email: AlishaC@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au

Physical Infrastructure:

Melissa Kennedy  
Mobile: 0437 082 767
Email: Melissa.Kennedy@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au

Climate Action:

Julia Walsh
Mobile: 0428 895 491
Email: Julia.Walsh@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au

General Enquiries:

Terence Jaensch
Mobile: 0477 621 577
Email: Terence.Jaensch@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au

Application guidelines 

• Applications are to be submitted via the online application portal and include all supporting documentation.
• If you are having trouble completing the application online, please contact Terence Jaensch (listed under General Enquiries above).
• All supporting documentation must be submitted in Word, JPEG or PDF formats.
• Quotes for project costs must be supplied.
• Evidence of relevant insurances must be supplied – it is your responsibility as the applicant to obtain and maintain adequate insurance (including public liability), in relation to project activities, to guard against any claims for loss or damage to property and injury or death to persons.
• Landowner and or building owner consent (if applicable) must be supplied.
• Any relevant permits and approvals must be obtained prior if possible or outlined in the application – it is your responsibility as the applicant to apply for, fund and obtain all required permits for the project including planning, building or local laws permits Fee waivers may also be available for relevant organisations. For more information about permits refer to Council’s website.
• Funding through our Community Grants Program does not constitute approval of required permits. Please note, if relevant permits are not obtained project funding will be reassessed.
• Applications received after the closing date and time will not be eligible.

Need and auspice?

• If your group is not incorporated or does not hold current public and products liability insurance, you can still apply through an auspice organisation.
• An auspice is an incorporated organisation that holds current public and products liability insurance, agreeing to take responsibility for your grant. The organisation receives the funding on behalf of the project and is financially responsible for distributing and managing the funds to your group for the delivery of the project.
• The auspice organisation is also responsible for acquitting funds. A letter confirming the auspice arrangement, on the auspice organisation’s letterhead and signed by an authorised representative, must be attached with your application.

 Please ensure you have completed the following before submitting your application:

❏       Discussed your project idea with the relevant Council officer

❏       Project budget

❏       Insurance

❏       Detailed project timeline

❏       Letter of Auspice (if required)

❏       Relevant permits (if required)

❏       Letters of Support

❏       Evidence of approval from relevant landowner and or building owner (if required)

❏       Quotes

❏       Support Documents e.g. plans and photos (please ensure all documentation is submitted in Word, JPEG or PDF format)

❏       Lodge your application in online portal

A panel of Council officers will assess all eligible applications based on the assessment criteria.

Recommendations will then be made to Council based on the ranking of those applications against the assessment criteria.

Eligible applications will be assessed against the following criteria:

Community Grants program acquittals

• Grant recipients are required to complete all sections of the Grant Acquittal Form.
• All projects must be completed within the 2025-2026 financial year.
• Successful applicants will be accountable to Council for the disbursement of grant monies as outlined in the application.
• Funds not expended for the intended purpose must be returned to Council.
• Any requests for variations to the original Grant Application must be lodged in writing and approved by Council.
• Central Goldfields Shire Council must be acknowledged in any promotional material relating to the project and evidence of this acknowledgement is to be provided as part of the acquittal process.

Applications that have not been discussed prior to submission will not be assessed.

Relevant contacts across the four categories are:

Community Development:

Terence Jaensch
Mobile: 0477 621 577
Email: Terence.Jaensch@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au

Creativity and Innovation:

Alisha Chadwick
Mobile: 0408 326 157
Email: AlishaC@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au

Physical Infrastructure:

Melissa Kennedy 
Mobile: 0437 082 767
Email: Melissa.Kennedy@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au

Climate Action:

Julia Walsh
Mobile: 0428 895 491
Email: Julia.Walsh@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au

General Enquiries:

Terence Jaensch
Mobile: 0477 621 577
Email: Terence.Jaensch@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au

A link to the Community Grants Program 2025-2026 application portal/form will be available here 1 July 2025.

Privacy collection statement

The personal information requested on this form is being collected by the Central Goldfields Shire Council for the purpose of processing your Community Grants Application. The personal information provided is for the use of the Council and the applicant may apply to Council for access and/or amendment of the information. Your personal information will not be disclosed to any external party without your consent, unless required or authorised by law.