Community Grants Program
Our Community Grants Program is making a real difference in communities across Tasmania. We provide funding to community organisations to help them run programs that tackle cost-of-living pressures and build stronger, more resilient communities.
Many Tasmanians are feeling the pinch with rising living costs. That’s why we’re focused on supporting projects that address these challenges and meet the needs of our customers across the state.
This year, we’ve awarded grants to 16 organisations. We’re pleased to announce the successful applicants for the 2024 Community Grants Program are:
Organisation | Project Description |
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Centacare Evolve Housing |
Funding driving lessons for young apprentices from disadvantaged backgrounds in southern Tasmania, helping them gain their driver’s licences. |
Cremorne Community Group | Installing a community firefighting water tank to solve a fire safety issue in Cremorne, crucial in an area without access to town water. |
Eastcoast Regional Development Organisation | Sponsoring workshops on Tasmania’s east coast, empowering locals with skills for the new economy. |
Glenorchy Community Care | Funding two energy-efficient freezers to boost food relief in Hobart’s northern suburbs, replacing their outdated equipment. |
GroWaverley | Supporting free meals for Launceston’s Waverley community and residents at Thrive Disability Services. 100 meals per fortnight are being shared. |
Gunns Plains Community Centre | Delivering an essential electrical update to the community centre, improving safety and energy efficiency for this community space in a small north-west town. |
Huon Valley PCYC | Backing a project to provide nutritious school lunches for children who turn up to school without. |
Kingborough Community Missions | A new commercial freezer will enhance food relief efforts across southern Tasmania, reducing waste and increasing support to those in need. |
Marine Rescue Ulverstone | Providing vital VHF radio equipment upgrades to ensure the safety of mariners and volunteers along Tasmania's north-west coast. |
Panchajanya Community Garden | Expanding Cygnet’s community garden with new rainwater tanks, allowing them to grow more free produce and make more free meals for those in need. |
Parklands High School | Funding a new community garden in the suburbs of Burnie, open to all and strengthening community ties with the school. |
Royal Life Saving Tasmania | Funding lifeguard training for 14 community volunteers, allowing Mole Creek’s pool to reopen after two years, plus a community celebration to mark the occasion. |
Swanwick Community Association | Supporting the creation of a new community garden on the east coast, fostering community engagement and growth. |
Variety Tasmania | Expanding their successful breakfast club model to Rosebery High and Zeehan Primary, ensuring kids on the west coast start the day right. |
Youth, Family and Community Connections | Supporting the ARVOs Program for young people in Devonport and Burnie, keeping kids engaged through a range of positive activities. |
Zeehan RSL | Funding a new oven for the RSL, ensuring they can continue to offer free meals to west coast veterans and a welcoming space for affordable community gatherings. |
Congratulations to all our successful applicants!
Past recipients
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Grants awarded in 2023
The Salvation Army
The Salvation army extended their Salvos Sunday Dinner service for a further 12 months. This homelessness support service provides a three-course meal for around 50 homeless people per week in Hobart.
Riverside Lions ClubMembers of the Riverside Lions Club provided 50 backpacks full of essentials to support services for homeless individuals across Launceston.
Gagebrook Community HouseFunding was provided to design and establish a cooking program designed to teach participants about budget-friendly meals, whilst enhancing culinary skills, incorporating learning around reading, writing, numeracy, and technology in one of Tasmania’s most disadvantaged areas.
Dunalley Neighbourhood HouseThrough this grant, mental health first aid training was provided, and a peer support program created, for residents on the Tasman Peninsula.
Tamar Sea RescueThe purchase and installation of upgraded radio equipment and accessories, both on and off the water, has meant that the safety of recreational boaters and the amazing Tamar Sea Rescue volunteers has been improved.
Sunlight Kitchen Garden ProjectThrough funding to create the Kitchen Garden, Afghani refugees were assisted to grow produce for sale to the public, providing income, reducing social isolation, building community, and encouraging business skills amongst them.
Huon Valley PCYCOperation Happy Birthday supported children from low-income or vulnerable families who may not have the opportunity to celebrate their birthdays with their peers. It provided fully catered parties in a fun indoor playground, promoting inclusion and social support.
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden ProjectFunding was provided to establish a Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program at Claremont College, a school facing significant socio-economic challenges.
Hobart City MissionWe supported the Small Steps program, providing young mothers aged 15-25 and their babies facing homelessness with 24/7 support, stable housing for up to two years, parenting education, budgeting, cooking, and more.
Rural Health TasmaniaSevenUp Youth Centres in Smithton and Wynyard engaged in a codesign process on a range of youth-led initiatives across the region, working with disengaged youth to positively impact their community.
Kentish Men’s ShedKentish Men’s Shed had struggled to secure funding to replace tools at the end of their useful life. This funding allowed them to continue to operate in the small regional area that they serve.
Burnie Community HouseOffered a range of fortnightly cooking workshops where participants learnt to cook and enjoy meals together, as well as taking home meal packs for four, helping to maximise food budgets and providing a way to enjoy affordable and healthier meal options.
City of Burnie Lions ClubThe City of Burnie Lions Club ran sessions for community members to learn how to alter cheap or second-hand clothing to reduce cost of living pressures.
Whitemore Tennis ClubOur funding allowed the Club to complete a major safety and compliance overhaul of the accessway, decking area, seating, and a much-needed resurfacing of their courts.
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Grants awarded in 2021
Sustainable Living Tasmania
With the help of student leaders from New Town Primary and Ogilvie High Schools, Sustainable Living Tasmania used their grant of $10,000 to implement WasteWatcher Wormfarm Systems at early learning centres in greater Hobart, enabling them to process their organic waste and divert it from landfill.
Surf Life Saving TasmaniaSurf Life Saving Tasmania were taking steps to eliminate plastic waste. With their grant they implemented an EcoSafe Policy and purchased re-useable sunscreen containers for their lifeguards and volunteers.
Friends of BonorongFriends of Bonorong improved raptor rehabilitation outcomes in the north of the state by constructing round ‘doughnut’ aviaries, enabling Tasmanian raptors in their care, such as Wedge-tailed Eagles, to test fly at high speeds before release.
Eat Well TasmaniaEat Well Tasmania were developing a digital campaign called ‘Love Your Leftovers’, aimed at promoting responsible food waste practices in the home and encouraging people to get creative with their leftovers.
Derwent Catchment ProjectThe Derwent Catchment Project has a healthy Miena Cider Gum conservation program at Miena in the Central Highlands. Over-browsing by possums was being experienced at the site due to wombats digging under the existing fence. With the help of a grant, wombat gates were to be installed, allowing passage of wombats whilst excluding access to other wildlife.
Tamar NRMIn support of their Source to Sea Project – an education framework which aims to engage and educate local school students and the broader community about the importance of the kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary Catchment, the traditional owners and land management techniques, pollution sources and impacts and native flora, fauna, and marine and birdlife habitats.
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Grants awarded in 2020
Dress for Success
Gran’s Van
Dress for Success were planning a new career centre for women in southern Tasmania.Gran’s Van used their grant funding to upgrade their Devonport food and support vehicle for people in need.
Blueline LaundryBlueline Laundry implemented a new online learning system, boosting employment pathways for people with disabilities and diverse or disadvantaged backgrounds.
Live Well TasmaniaLive Well Tasmania installed a wheelchair ramp at the Wynyard Community Hub.
Palliative Care TasmaniaPalliative Care Tasmania created an online referral service for GP’s, supporting patients with a life-limiting illness, or a chronic medical condition.
CORES (Community Response to Eliminating Suicide)CORES undertook suicide intervention training for high school students in rural north-west Tasmanian communities.
Dorset Community AssociationDorset Community Association expanded their Out and About program to remote areas, providing no interest loans, food supplies and service provider referrals.
Agency Arts HealthAgency Arts Health put on a series of workshops and excursions with Aboriginal community members to develop a series of digital stories about connection to land and culture.