Community Grants Program

African Australian Council ACT Inc
Canberra
$5,000
Promoting Mental Health Awareness and Wellbeing Among African Youth will support young people and parents in the ACT through culturally safe workshops focused on mental health education and creative expression. By fostering open dialogue, strengthening peer and family support, the project aims to reduce youth isolation and help lower suicide risk  through art-based activities and expert-led sessions.

Music for Canberra Incorporated
Braddon
$10,000
Drumming Circle for Joy will deliver tailored music workshops  across three Canberra community organisations, fostering connection, confidence, and emotional wellbeing. Led by professional musicians from Music for Canberra, the co-designed small group sessions will use rhythm and group drumming to build social bonds, reduce isolation, and support mental health in inclusive, joyful spaces.

Arts Mid North Coast Inc¹
Kempsey
$10,000
Creative Recovery – Arts Mid North Coast Flood Recovery Program will support  participants from flood affected communities in Kempsey and Nambucca through trauma informed art workshops. Led by local artists, the program fosters emotional expression, connection, and resilience.

Auburn Tamil Society (NSW) Inc 
Auburn
$10,000
Connecting Cultures, Strengthening Minds will support culturally diverse residents in Auburn and the wider Cumberland LGA through mental health workshops, intercultural events, and inclusive group activities. By linking community leadership with expert support, the initiative aims to strengthen social connection and empower people from all backgrounds to feel valued, supported, and confident to seek help.

Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council
Whitebridge
$9,000
Awabakal Elders Connection to Country will bdeliver cultural gatherings, yarning circles, and wellbeing workshops led by the Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council. The initiative will support Elders’ mental health by reducing isolation, strengthening cultural identity, and fostering intergenerational connection through on-Country experiences and shared storytelling.

Blackroo Community Indigenous Corporation¹
Muswellbrook
$3,500
Kicking Goals for Connection will support over 100 children through football games and community barbecues that promote mental wellbeing and social connection. In the wake of repeated floods, the program uses sport and conversation to reduce isolation and support emotional recovery, creating a fun, inclusive space for healing and resilience.

Firstchance
Hamilton
$9,925
Little Ones Playgroup will deliver inclusive sessions for families in the Hunter region, offering guided play, peer connection, and specialist support during the early, often overwhelming stages of learning their child has a disability. The program will help families navigate grief and uncertainty while building confidence, resilience, and community connections in a safe environment.

Garden Village Port Macquarie¹
Port Macquarie
$10,000
Virtual Voyagers is a intergenerational program that will connect older residents with high school students through storytelling, outdoor exploration, and virtual reality experiences. Created in response to repeated natural disasters, the initiative strengthens mental health, reduces isolation, and builds lasting bonds between generations.

Gresford Bowls Sport and Recreation Club¹
East Gresford
$4,000
Let's Check On Our Mates will support members in flood affected Gresford through social bowls, workshops, and guest speaker events focused on mental health awareness and connection. By creating safe, informal spaces for conversation and peer support, the program will reduce stigma, strengthen social networks, and build resilience in a community impacted by both flooding and suicide loss.

House to Grow Ltd
Cumberland
$10,000
Colouring Dreams will engage migrant and refugee children aged 5–10 in a trauma-informed personal development program that incorporates art therapy, music, and creative activities delivered by trained facilitators. By nurturing self-expression, confidence, and a sense of belonging, the initiative will help children build emotional resilience, reconnect with their dreams and thrive in their new community.

Kids First Australia Limited
Mount Druitt
$10,000
Courts & Conversation will engage culturally diverse young people aged 12–24 through weekly basketball sessions, shared meals, and peer-led discussions. It will foster mental wellbeing, social connection, and cultural pride while building confidence, leadership, and mental health literacy through trauma-informed, community-driven engagement.

Ladies Like to Lunch Limited 
Liverpool
$10,000
WarriorHER is an initiative that will support women who are facing or recovering from cancer through wellness, movement, and mindset workshops. It will create a safe, inclusive space for connection and healing, fostering emotional resilience, reducing isolation, and empowering participants to navigate their cancer journey with confidence, community and hope.

Manning Valley Neighbourhood Services Inc.¹
Wingham
$10,000
MVNS Community Reset will offer monthly meditation and mindfulness sessions for Wingham residents recovering from a severe flood event. Led by trauma-informed facilitators, the program provides a safe space to connect, regulate the nervous system, and build emotional resilience across all age groups.

Mentoring Men Ltd.¹
Lismore
$4,000
Mentoring for Mental Health: Strengthening Local Connection will deliver a pilot program in flood impacted Northern NSW, supporting men through free, one-to-one mentoring with trained local volunteers. Through safe, non-judgemental support, the program will foster connection, resilience, and wellbeing, encouraging participants to re-engage with family, work, and community as part of local recovery.

Milk Crate Theatre
Woolloomooloo
$10,000
THREADS  is a creative initiative designed to enhance wellbeing and social connection for people with lived experience of mental illness in Woolloomooloo. Through collaborative workshops with professional artists, participants will develop and share original stories that foster mental wellbeing, reduce isolation, and strengthen community bonds, culminating in a community showcase that challenges perceptions and inspires positive change.

Milton Ulladulla Business Chamber Incorporated¹
Ulladulla
$10,000
Find Your Place – Connect Locally, Thrive Together is a year initiative that will support South Shoalhaven residents through outreach sessions, promotional campaigns and mental health training. In response to the social isolation and emotional distress caused by floods,the program strengthens wellbeing and community ties through volunteering participation to build meaningful relationships and reduce isolation.

Minus18 Foundation
Marrickville
$10,000
Night At The Museum (NATM) will be a free, youth-led event supporting the mental health and wellbeing of 400 LGBTQIA+ young people aged 12–19 through inclusive performances, sensory zones, and facilitated activities. It will create safe, affirming spaces that foster connection, celebrate diversity, and promote mental wellbeing through cultural participation.

Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc
Wagga Wagga
$10,000
Connecting Teens with Nature is a program that will involve adolescents from four rural NSW high schools in nature based wellbeing sessions co-designed with environmental educators, Landcare volunteers, and Wiradjuri community members. It will provide a safe, inclusive space for young people to build resilience, express themselves, and strengthen their connection to Country in response to limited mental health support in the region.

Nepean Multicultural Access¹
St Marys
$4,000
Voices of Resilience will support refugees and migrants through creative art and storytelling sessions designed to promote healing and connection. Developed in response to trauma and recent flooding, the initiative provides a safe, inclusive space for participants to share experiences and strengthen emotional wellbeing.

North Sydney Community Centre
North Sydney
$4,000
Creating Space is set to deliver creative wellbeing events at North Sydney Community Centre, offering safe, inclusive sessions for men and women to connect through music, art, and shared meals. These events are expected to foster emotional wellbeing, reduce isolation, improve mood, and build momentum for future community-led mental health programs.

Novacare Community Services¹
Gillieston Heights
$9,920
ActiveStrongerBetter – Boosting Community Wellbeing is a program that will engage older adults in Maitland through fitness classes and healthy ageing sessions. Developed in response to the 2025 flood emergency, it aims to promote recovery by improving physical health, mental wellbeing and social connection.

Nowra Youth Services Incorporated¹
Nowra
$4,000
NYC Vibe Tribe will engage young people through creative workshops that support mental wellbeing and social inclusion in a community repeatedly impacted by storms, floods, and bushfires. By offering art materials, facilitator-led sessions, and self-care kits, the program creates safe, youth-led spaces for emotional expression, peer connection, and recovery from disaster-related trauma.

Oz Green-Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (Australia) Incorporated¹
Macksville
$10,000
WE CAN: Women’s Emergency Community Action Network will support 160 women, carers, non-binary and Aboriginal participants in flood affected Bellingen and Macksville through hands on food resilience workshops. The initiative builds mental wellbeing, confidence, and community connection by combining practical skills with peer mentoring and celebration.

Pittwater Offshore Mens Shed¹
Scotland Island
$10,000
Tides of Friendship will support men through monthly gatherings, skill-sharing workshops, and community repair projects. In response to repeated storm events, bushfire threats, and infrastructure damage, the program fosters peer support, mental health awareness, and resilience by creating safe, locally-led spaces for connection and purpose.

Port Stephens Family and Neighbourhood Services Incorporated¹
Raymond Terrace
$5,600
Healing Tree is an art therapy project that will support women survivors of domestic and family violence through creative workshops, culminating in a public exhibition. In a region affected by recent flooding, the program offers a trauma informed space for storytelling, emotional healing, and peer connection, with the final Healing Tree installation symbolising growth and shared recovery.

Rainbow Roos AU Inc¹
Lismore
$4,000
The Social Sidekick is a pilot program designed to support adults through inclusive social soccer sessions that promote mental health and connection. Responding to the trauma of the 2022 floods, the initiative offers a safe space to rebuild confidence and foster lasting community support.

Raise the HeART¹
Lismore
$10,000
STRONG MOB is a two-day event bringing together people from Tabulam and Lismore to share stories, heal, and connect through theatre, dance, and ceremony. Led by Bundjalung Elders and artists, it will help communities recover from bushfires, floods, and trauma by celebrating culture and building strength together.

River Road Creative Communities¹
Tahmoor
$7,000
ArtBeat will support  over 500 people across Wollondilly and Wingecarribee—regions still recovering from the Black Summer bushfires and recent storms through inclusive music and art programs that promote emotional healing and connection. Delivered by registered creative arts health professionals via studio sessions and a mobile arts bus, the project includes youth workshops, aged care visits, a community choir, and the Wingecarribee Men’s Music Cave, culminating in public exhibitions and performances celebrating resilience and creativity.

SAHSSI Ltd
Wollongong
$4,622
Create & Connect is an art therapy program that will support women impacted by domestic violence, delivered by SAHSSI in partnership with a qualified art therapist. Through weekly creative sessions, participants will explore trauma, rebuild confidence, and culminate their journey in a community exhibition celebrating healing and expression.

The Groundswell Collective¹
Teralba
$7,760
Seeds of Resilience will offer sessions across Lake Macquarie to help over 250 people, especially those affected by floods and storms, reconnect and recover through hands-on activities like seed sorting and food-growing. Led by a social worker in libraries and community centres, the sessions will create welcoming spaces to support mental wellbeing, reduce isolation, and build community resilience.

Type 1 Foundation¹
Grafton
$10,000
Type 1 Diabetes Wellness Workshops will offer wellbeing sessions for children and parents living with T1D in a region impacted by repeated natural disasters. By combining emotional support with peer connection, the program helps families navigate the challenges of chronic illness and disaster recovery.

Veteran Surf Project Limited
Gerringong
$10,000
MindSurf is an evidence-based surf therapy program that will support first responders through week group sessions focused on restoring mental health, physical wellbeing, and social connection. Participants will engage in skill-building surf lessons, peer support. Fostering resilience, emotional regulation, and reduced symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety while empowering them to reconnect with themselves and others after service-related trauma.

Women's Healing Sanctuary Limited¹
Brandy Hill
$9,500
The Women’s Circle Morning Tea Initiative will support up to 60 women in Port Stephens impacted by recent flooding through monthly gatherings focused on mental health and connection. The initiative fosters resilience and reduces isolation by offering a safe space for peer support and guided conversation.

Darwin Community Arts
Coconut Grove
$4,000
Candlelight Creatives will offer low-sensory creative workshops for neurodivergent and disabled artists at UNTiTLED gallery+studio in Darwin. Led by local artists and supported by Creative Producers, the program will prioritise mental wellbeing and inclusion through activities like sensory drawing, clay play, and intuitive painting that foster emotional safety, peer connection, and creative expression.

Karrkad Kanjdji Trust (KKT)
Darwin
$10,000
Strong Women for Healthy Country Network will deliver a culturally grounded healing camp for First Nations women rangers, featuring bush medicine making, weaving, painting, singing, and bushwalking to support emotional wellbeing. In response to high suicide rates and limited healthcare access in remote communities, the camp will use Country and culture to foster healing, connection, and resilience.

The Hub of Respect Inc. 
Alice Springs
$10,000
The MAD Program will support youth aged 10–17 through trauma informed fitness sessions and one-on-one mentoring, creating a safe space for healing and growth. Led by culturally connected facilitators, the program will build emotional regulation, wellbeing, and resilience, while fostering confidence, leadership, and a sense of belonging to help young people reconnect with school, reduce antisocial behaviours, and thrive socially and emotionally.

YMCA of the Northern Territory Youth and Community Services
Darwin
$10,000
Positive Narratives, Positive Wellbeing will support young Territorians aged 15–25 to co-design and produce a youth-led video that celebrates identity, connection, and resilience through workshops with local mentors and media professionals. The final video will be publicly screened and shared online, amplifying youth voices while fostering mental wellbeing, community pride, and a more inclusive, youth-positive culture across Darwin and beyond. 

139 Club Limited
Fortitude Valley
$10,000
Home Within will deliver creative and social wellbeing activities—including art, writing, knitting, and shared meals—to support mental health and connection for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. By integrating mindfulness and skill-building into familiar community spaces, the program will be hosted by 3rd Space in Brisbane and engage participants in peer-led sessions that foster belonging, reduce isolation, improve self-esteem, and promote long-term wellbeing.

Campfire Healing Indigenous Corporation
Mount Isa
$10,000
Healing on Country Camps will support Aboriginal men, women, and youth through culturally grounded healing retreats led by Elders and Aboriginal health workers. Through yarning circles, bush medicine, storytelling, and connection to Country, the program addresses intergenerational trauma and cultural disconnection while strengthening identity, emotional wellbeing, and community resilience.

Chatsworth Park Ranch Inc¹
Gympie
$10,000
Hearts & Hammers is a trauma informed program designed to support disengaged youth aged 14–18 through blacksmithing, mentoring, and group wellbeing activities in response to the impacts of recent flooding. The program will offer a safe, structured environment where participants can build confidence, develop emotional regulation, and find renewed direction toward education or employment.

Coast2Bay Housing Group LTD¹
Nambour
$6,000
Coast2Bay Day Tripping will engage flood-displaced social housing tenants in Gympie and Moreton Bay through monthly day trips that foster wellbeing and connection. By combining social outings with peer engagement, the program will support emotional recovery, reduce isolation, and build a sense of belonging in communities still recovering from disaster.

FNQ Nature Quest Ltd¹
Redlynch
$10,000
Reconnecting with Nature in Recovery from Cyclone Jasper is an initiative that will support residents through nature-based wellbeing sessions designed to aid recovery from Cyclone Jasper and ongoing climate-related disasters. Through rainforest walks, outdoor cooking, and nature art, the program will foster emotional healing and strengthen community resilience.

Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre Inc¹
Ingham
$10,000
Drumming for Recovery is a program that will engage participants in group hand drumming sessions to support emotional healing and social connection. Developed in response to the February 2025 floods in Ingham, the program will offer a creative, inclusive, and non-stigmatising space to reduce stress, rebuild resilience, and strengthen community wellbeing.

Minjerribah Moorgumpin Elders In Council Aboriginal Corporation¹
Dunwich
$10,000
Goompi Saltwater Healing is a one-day event on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) offering over 100 people culturally grounded workshops like weaving, yoga, art therapy, and yarning circles to support mental health and healing. Created in response to Cyclone Alfred and ongoing trauma, it provides a safe space for connection, practical support, and access to local mental health services with guidance from Elders and community providers.

Motherhood Village Ltd¹
Surfers Paradise
$9,856
Connecting Mothers will support vulnerable mums with free, peer-led support groups and connection sessions designed to ease isolation, anxiety, and depression during pregnancy and early motherhood. Developed in the aftermath of Cyclone Alfred, the program will help women feel seen and supported, while building resilience, confidence, and access to tools for caring for their mental health.

She Shed Cairns Inc¹
Cairns
$10,000
Woodwork Skills for Life is a 12-month initiative that will support over 100 women through hands on woodworking workshops designed to build confidence, connection, and mental wellbeing. In a community impacted by Cyclone Jasper, the program will provide a safe, inclusive space for women to learn practical skills, reduce isolation, and foster resilience.

The Block Perspective¹
Goondiwindi
$10,000
Mens Barran Wellness Workshop is a one-day cultural healing experience to be held on Wakka Wakka Country, supporting First Nations men from flood impacted communities through storytelling, ceremony, and connection to Country. Led by culturally trained facilitators, the workshop will foster resilience, cultural pride, and ongoing peer support to strengthen wellbeing and community ties.

Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service¹
Garbutt
$4,000
Artful Wellbeing – Creating Together will support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members in Townsville through creative, movement-based workshops focused on healing and connection. Developed to support those impacted by trauma, isolation, and the 2025 floods, the program will offer a culturally safe space to build resilience, reduce stress, and celebrate community strength through shared creative circles.

Bobby Goldsmith Foundation
Adelaide
$10,000
PhoenixSA is an integrated wellbeing program that will support HIV-positive adults aged 50–64 in Adelaide through peer-led support groups, creative workshops, and social inclusion events. By combining art, mindfulness, and peer support, it will strengthen mental health and foster a sense of belonging in a community often facing stigma and disadvantage.

Geranium Community Hub Incorporated¹
Geranium
$8,700
Threads of Connection – The Geranium Community Sewing Hub will support participants in drought-affected Geranium, South Australia, through free, trauma-informed sewing and craft sessions. Led by a retired local seamstress, the program will offer a safe, welcoming space for residents to learn practical skills, work on personal and shared projects, and build resilience through creativity and social connection.

North East Community House Inc
Hillcrest
$6,000
The Social Shuffle will support isolated older adults, First Nations, and culturally diverse residents through regular social sessions and  accessible outings. The project has been designed to reduce loneliness, foster belonging, and strengthen mental resilience by offering engaging activities, shared meals, and safe spaces for connection and conversation.

Southern Eyre Equestrian Association Incorporated
Cummins
$10,000
Unbridled Connection – Healing Hearts Through Horses is an equine-assisted wellbeing program designed to support rural residents. Delivered through themed workshops and a culminating community event, the program will provide trauma-informed activities that foster emotional resilience, confidence, and social connection in response to increasing stress and isolation in rural areas.

The Mill 
Adelaide
$10,000
Threads: Connection Through Art, and the Art of Connecting is set to support artists through community-led “Artist Spotlight” sessions offering a safe space to share lived experiences and explore practical mental health strategies. Focused on reducing isolation, anxiety, and burnout in the creative sector, the program strengthens resilience, builds community ties, and empowers artists to prioritise their wellbeing.

Be Hers
Hobart
$10,000
Be Hers Art Therapy for Healing and Connection will support women from refugee, migrant, and at-risk backgrounds through trauma-informed art therapy workshops. Led by a qualified facilitator, the sessions will provide a safe, culturally sensitive space to foster emotional expression, creativity, and community connection.

Clarendon Vale Neighbourhood Center
Clarendon Vale
$10,000
Wellbeing Through Woodwork is a community-led program that will engage men, women, and families in Clarence Plains through hands-on workshops at the local Community Shed. It will foster mental wellbeing, confidence, and social connection by reducing isolation and strengthening emotional resilience in an area with high rates of disadvantage and limited access to mental health support.

Dunalley Tasman Neighbourhood House¹
Dunalley
$9,882
MindFULL Food will offer monthly nutrition focused sessions for seniors affected by the 2013 bushfires and long-term health challenges. By embedding mental health support into shared meals and expert-led workshops, the program will build resilience, reduce isolation, and promote emotional wellbeing.

The Listening Projects Ltd¹
Deloraine
$4,000
The Deloraine Listening Table will create a public storytelling space where people, especially those impacted by repeated flooding, can share experiences, feel heard, and build social connections. Twelve local volunteers will be trained in Mental Health First Aid and listening skills to support thousands of community interactions in a safe and inclusive environment.  

Al Anhar Incorporated
Melton
$4,000
Sisters & Youth Mindfulness Series will engage Muslim women and youth in Melton through culturally tailored workshops and gatherings that promote mental health and emotional wellbeing. By fostering belonging and resilience, the program will help participants reduce isolation, build supportive relationships, and explore self-care practices that align with their cultural and religious values.

Albury Wodonga Congolese Cultural Language School
West Wodonga
$10,000
Voices of Healing will support Congolese and African community members through music workshops, mental health forums, and intergenerational storytelling sessions. It will foster emotional healing, reduce stigma, and strengthen cultural identity by creating a trusted space for expression, connection, and access to culturally safe counselling.

Australian National Veterans Arts Museum
Somerville
$4,000
ANVAM Open Studio is a pilot art program that will engage current and former defence force members, offering facilitated creative workshops that foster mental wellbeing, self-agency, and community connection. Led by local arts facilitators and veteran mentors, the program strengthens the veteran arts community’s capacity to deliver peer-supported programs and lays the groundwork for future investment in veteran wellbeing.

Beyond Labels Au
Brooklyn
$10,000
Caring for the Carers will deliver Mental Health First Aid training to disability support workers, volunteers, and informal carers in Melbourne’s west through two accredited sessions, participants will gain practical skills to recognise and respond to mental health challenges in others and themselves, fostering early intervention and reducing stigma.

Bright United Mens Shed¹
Bright
$10,000
Shoulder to Shoulder will support older men through regular workshops and social gatherings. Developed in response to the trauma of the 2020 bushfires and repeated flooding, the program strengthens emotional wellbeing, reduces isolation, and rebuilds community connection.

Broadmeadows Basketball Association
Broadmeadows
$9,000 
Next Play Mindset is a mental health prevention program that will support youth basketball players and coaches in Broadmeadows through on-court mental health drills and an education session led by a mental health professional. Co-designed by young players and coaches, it will foster emotional regulation, resilience, and help-seeking behaviours in a trusted sporting environment.

CommUnity+
Deer Park
$4,000
Deer Park Creative Connections will support older adults through professionally facilitated art therapy sessions, offering a safe and creative space for emotional expression and connection. The initiative aims to reduce loneliness, anxiety, and underdiagnosed mental health conditions by fostering wellbeing through community-based, artistic engagement.

Dadfit Community Ltd
North Richmond
$9,100
Dadfit North Richmond will deliver two five-week programs for fathers, including CALD and low income participants, to improve metnal wellbeing, parenting confidence and social connection.  . Through inclusive physical activity, guided mental health discussions, and practical parenting challenges, the program creates a safe space for dads to connect and grow. By supporting fathers’ mental health in a community-led, culturally responsive setting, the project will strengthen family wellbeing and build lasting peer networks in a high-need area.

Daylesford Community News Association¹
Daylesford
$7,900
Community Conversations for Health and Wellbeing will host 10 public forums across Daylesford and Hepburn Springs to engage residents in meaningful dialogue on local health and wellbeing. In response to the 2021 storm and flood disaster, the project fosters resilience through co-designed discussions with local groups, documented articles in The Wombat Post, and broadcasts via Hepburn Community Radio to amplify community voices and strengthen local networks.

Fawkner Food Bowls
Fawkner
$10,000
Queers in the Garden will deliver a peer-led therapeutic horticulture program in Fawkner, supporting the mental wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ participants through gardening, mindfulness, and nature-based activities. Hosted at Fawkner Food Bowls, the initiative aims to foster social connection and address isolation and economic stress in a safe, inclusive, community-driven environment.

Kerang Neighborhood House
Kerang
$10,000
Healing Through Art will support women in Kerang and surrounding rural communities through guided art therapy workshops. It will create a safe, trauma-informed space for creative expression, emotional healing, and peer connection, fostering mental wellbeing and empowering participants with tools for self-care and community support.

Laverton Community Centre
Laverton
$4,000
Connect & Thrive will offer fortnightly peer-led wellbeing circles for vulnerable residents in Hobsons Bay, including migrants, carers, older adults, and socially isolated individuals. Through mindfulness, creative expression, and trauma-informed practices, the program will nurture emotional resilience and foster meaningful community connections.

Linden New Art
St Kilda
$9,940
Linden New Art and Bridge It will deliver a trauma informed arts program for 17 young women who have experienced housing insecurity, social isolation, and disrupted education, involving creative workshops in safe housing and a public gallery led by an arts facilitator and wellbeing coordinator. The program will support healing, skill-building, and community connection, culminating in a public exhibition that amplifies participants voices.

Monbulk Rangers Soccer Club
Monbulk
$4,000
Monbulk Rangers Workshops will deliver age-specific 'Sport and Life Training' (SALT) sessions to young players aged 11–19 focusing on mental health themes like confidence, peer pressure, and resilience. Supported by trained peer leaders and a youth coordinator, the program will foster wellbeing and connection through open conversations, team-building activities, and equipping participants with tools to support themselves and each other.

Newport Islamic Society Inc
Newport
$10,000
Midday Men’s Majlis will be an Arabic-language wellbeing and storytelling program for elderly Arabic-speaking men at the Australian Islamic Centre. It will promote emotional resilience, connection, and mental wellbeing through guided storytelling, guest speakers, and culturally sensitive peer support in a trusted mosque setting.

Nondies Cohuna Cricket Club¹
Cohuna
$5,000
Beyond the Stumps will support community members in  drought-affected Cohuna through a mental health awareness match, guest speakers, unity circles, and Mental Health First Aid training. The program will use sport to spark open conversations, reduce stigma, and build peer support to strengthen mental wellbeing and community resilience.

Seed Lakeside Community Garden¹
Sale
$10,000
Recipes of Life will bring together First Nations and culturally diverse participants through cooking workshops, storytelling, and art to support healing and wellbeing after floods and bushfires. The program includes a shared community event and creative outcome that celebrates cultural traditions and encourages connection, leaving a lasting impact on local spaces and relationships.

Selby Community House Inc¹
Selby
$10,000
Wise Ones will bring joy, movement, and connection back to older adults. Developed in response to a major storm in  2021 , the program will help rebuild resilience, boost confidence, and improve mental wellbeing through meaningful connection and community engagement.

Shepparton Blasters Incorporated
Shepparton
$10,000
Health and Wellness through Football for Youth will engage around 80 young people aged 10–14, with a focus on those from disadvantaged communities. It will foster physical activity, emotional resilience, and social connection through weekly football training, wellness workshops, and mentorship in a safe, inclusive environment.

State Coal Mine - Rescue Station Arts Inc
Wonthaggi
$9,300
Wellness Warriors is set to deliver therapeutic art based workshops in the Bass Coast region to support emotional resilience, social connection, and mental wellbeing. Combining psychoeducation, mindfulness, and creative expression, the initiative empowers participants, particularly those from farming backgrounds, to understand stress responses, develop self-care strategies, and build peer support networks.

Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE)
Springvale
$10,000
Healthy Minds, Strong Communities will deliver a series of culturally safe mental health workshops at Springvale Rise Primary School for migrant, asylum seeker, and refugee families. Co-designed and offered in multiple languages, the program will address intergenerational trauma, stigma, and isolation while fostering resilience, trust, and stronger community connections.