The Stronger Communities Programme (the program) supports the Australian Government’s commitment to deliver social benefits in communities across Australia by funding projects in each of the 151 Federal electorates. The program provides grants for community projects to strengthen and benefit local communities and is part of the Government’s 2024-25 budget initiatives.

The program falls under the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts’ portfolio budget performance measure for Outcome 3, strengthening the sustainability, capacity and diversity of Australia’s cities and regions including northern Australia, including through facilitating local partnerships between all levels of government and local communities; through investment in infrastructure and measures that stimulate economic growth; and providing grants and financial assistance.

The objective of the program is to deliver infrastructure projects that provide social benefits for local communities, by supporting one or more of the following:

• support or encourage interstate or international tourism
• support or celebrate Indigenous Australians
• commemorate Australians killed or injured in war or who contributed to Australia’s war efforts
• support veterans and defence force members and their families and communities
• support the participation and settlement of newly arrived (i.e. within the last 5 years) immigrants who are not citizens
• support the acquisition or deployment of greenhouse gas emissions mitigation measures
• support the dignity of persons (including children) with disabilities by enhancing their access to public infrastructure
• support access for children to public infrastructure which enables interstate or overseas travel, accommodation, or education or health care infrastructure or services
• address gender inequality or discrimination in access to public infrastructure or sport
• provide medical services or facilities, or services or facilities incidental to the provision of medical services
• provide benefits to a specific cohort or cohorts of students
• enable or foster the use of electronic communications.

The intended outcomes of the program are to:

• encourage and support participation in local projects.
• improve local community participation.
• contribute to vibrant and viable communities.

Community consultation is a critical element of the program. In consultation with their community, each MP must identify potential applicants and projects in their electorate, to express interest please fill out the form below by February 20, 2025. Applications are assessed against the program’s eligibility and assessment criteria through a closed non-competitive process.

We recommend saving your responses in a separate document in case there are any issues in processing your submission.

Please call our office on (03) 9534 8126 to confirm that your application has been received.