Beyond Slogans: Building Real Inclusion Together Workshop
For #CDW2026 This engaging three‑hour Diversity, Equity and Inclusion workshop invites participants to move beyond slogans through interactive learning, self‑reflection and dialogue.
The Community Grants Program supports not-for-profit organisations and community-based groups to deliver projects and events that build Wyndham’s community capacity and contribute to community strengthening & enhance the liveability, health and wellbeing of Wyndham community.
The program offers simple, broad categories and funding streams, allowing community and not-for-profit organisations the opportunity to develop and lead innovative projects that will further support and strengthen the community that aligns with the Wyndham 2050 Community Vision and supports Wyndham’s ongoing recovery.
The program also provides scholarships to individual residents to support national and international level competition participation, practicing local artists, cultural performers and for local leadership development, and to schools in support of students experiencing hardship impacting their education and social relations at school.
The Community Grants Program is aligned to council’s Wyndham 2050 Community Vision, the Council Plan, and the many other Strategies and Plans council has developed in consultation with the Wyndham community.
View Council’s Plans, Policies and Strategies
For further information contact Wyndham City’s Grants Team phone 1300 023 411 or email funding@wyndham.vic.gov.au.
Wyndham City Community Grants Available
Small grants
- Up to $2,000 for Incorporated Groups and not-for-profit Organisations (including auspices).
- Up to $500 for Individuals and Unincorporated Groups.
- Frequency: Monthly. To ensure fair and equitable distribution of Small Grants, organisations/individuals are limited to two applications per financial year).
- Eligible applicants: Individuals or non-profits entities including those with an auspice
- Project start date: Allow at least six weeks of processing time from the last day of the month your application is submitted. No grant will be funded retrospectively.
Co-funding
Depending on the amount requested, a co-contribution towards your project may be required. Co-funding sources can include:
- Cash contributions from the applicant
- Grants from other funding bodies
- Sponsorship
- In-kind support (donated goods and services, hall hire, equipment hire, etc.)
- In-kind volunteers (Council recognises Volunteer hours as equivalent to $45 per hour)
Amount of Council Funding Requested |
Minimum Co-funding Requirement |
| Up to $1,000 | No requirement |
| $1,001 - $15,000 | 2:1 (Council:Applicant) ratio of funding to applicant co-funding |
| $15,001 - $40,000 | 2:1 (Council:Applicant) ratio of funding to applicant co-funding (cash and/or in-kind) after the first $1,000 up to $15,000 and 1:1 (Council:Applicant) ratio of funding to applicant cash/in-kind co-funding above $15,000 |
How to apply
Step 1: Download and read the Community Grant Guidelines.
Step 2: Prepare any documentation to support your application.
Step 3: Apply here
If you need assistance in completing your application, contact Wyndham City’s Grants Team for assistance on 1300 023 411 or email funding@wyndham.vic.gov.au.
Medium grants
- Up to $15,000 for Incorporated Groups and not-for-profit Organisations
- Frequency: Twice a year
- Eligible applicants: Non-profits entities including those with an auspice
- Allow at least three months of processing time from the grant round closing date and the funding outcome. No grant will be funded retrospectively.
- Repeat applicants must supply a Sustainability Plan when applying that outlines the applicant's and/or project's strategies to reduce dependency on council funding.
Co-funding
Depending on the amount requested, a co-contribution towards your project may be required. Co-funding sources can include:
- Cash contributions from the applicant
- Grants from other funding bodies
- Sponsorship
- In-kind support (donated goods and services, hall hire, equipment hire, etc.)
- In-kind volunteers (Council recognises Volunteer hours as equivalent to $45 per hour).
Amount of Council Funding Requested |
Minimum Co-funding Requirement |
| Up to $1,000 | No requirement |
| $1,001 - $15,000 | 2:1 (Council:Applicant) ratio of funding to applicant co-funding |
Case Study
Stop Local Hunger Inc. have been working to support families in Wyndham to access food from Second Bite, Food Bank and other sources. They have found that the pandemic has significantly increased demand and identified some local communities who experience ongoing food securities issues. Stop Local Hunger’s committee identify a need for the group to become more structured and planned, to recruit more volunteers and to tap into local food sources for support if they are to grow to support more vulnerable local families.
They undertake some research and talk with some similar organisations on the other side of Melbourne and interstate and discuss their ideas and findings in a meeting with council officers. They undertake planning and get quotes and decide to apply for a $14,000 Medium Grant to employ the services of a strategic planner, to undertake a volunteer recruitment drive and to increase the skills and knowledge of group members with training to help them manage the service and their volunteers more effectively. They call the project ‘Next Steps to Stop Local Hunger’.
They have secured a pledge of $3,000 in funding from another source and can commit the minimum of $4,000 of in-kind volunteer labour towards the project to meet the required 2:1 funding contribution ratio of at least $7,000 for a $14,000 council grant. This includes some pro bono (in-kind) time donated by a local solicitor to help the group with advice and support to develop some key documents and the free hire of a room at a local charitable service to conduct meetings, strategic planner engagement activities and training. Their project budget includes the costs of the strategic planner, training, promotional materials (business cards, post cards and social media advertising) and some catering that they are seeking the grant to support.
Stop Local Hunger’s Next Steps project is a success, having established a formal mission statement, key organisational goals and a three-year strategic plan. They have increased their volunteer numbers, trained group leadership and other volunteers. As a result of the project they also developed a recognition program for local businesses and primary produce suppliers that has increased awareness of the group and their goals and opened up many food supply avenues to support local vulnerable families, which also drew the attention of a local newspaper.
How to apply
Step 1: Download and read the Community Grant Guidelines.
Step 2: Prepare any documentation to support your application and if you need assistance contact Wyndham City’s Grants Team on 1300 023 411 or email funding@wyndham.vic.gov.au.
Step 3: Apply here
If you need assistance in completing your application, contact Wyndham City’s Grants team for assistance on 1300 023 411 or email funding@wyndham.vic.gov.au.
Large grants
- Up to $40,000 for Incorporated Groups and not-for-profit Organisations
- Frequency: Once a year
- Eligible applicants: Non-profits entities including those with an auspice
- Repeat applicants must supply a Sustainability Plan when applying, which outlines the applicant's and/or project's strategies to reduce dependency on council funding.
Co-funding
Depending on the amount requested, a co-contribution towards your project may be required. Co-funding sources can include:
- Cash contributions from the applicant
- Grants from other funding bodies
- Sponsorship
- In-kind support (donated goods and services, hall hire, equipment hire, etc.)
- In-kind volunteers (Council recognises Volunteer hours as equivalent to $45 per hour).
| Amount of Council Funding Requested | Minimum Co-funding Requirement |
| Up to $1,000 | No requirement |
| $1,001 - $15,000 |
2:1 (Council:Applicant) ratio of funding to applicant co-funding
|
| $15,001 - $40,000 | 2:1 (Council:Applicant) ratio of funding to applicant co-funding (cash and/or in-kind) after the first $1,000 up to $15,000 and 1:1 (Council:Applicant) ratio of funding to applicant cash/in-kind co-funding above $15,000 |
Case Study
WeCare4All is a not-for-profit organisation based in Melbourne. They are dedicated to supporting children with disability and their families. Their services have proven very effective, but they have not operated in the western suburbs before. They understand that in order to expand their services into places like Wyndham that they may need to access State and/or Federal Government funding. To do this they anticipate a need to establish a
footprint in the region to build their connections and gain first-hand knowledge of the issues
faced by local families of children with disability, and service gaps that their initial research has identified appear to exist. They link in with the local disability network and engage with several community managed community centres and some relevant community service organisations to identify service gaps, community concerns and to ascertain whether they can lease some space to operate from.
WeCare4All commit a staff member to work in the area to identify all relevant services available to children with disability and their families and arrange a meeting with relevant council officers to discuss their plans and initial findings. They apply for a $30,000 Large Community Grant for a pilot project to focus on supporting migrant children with disability and their families, centred on an arts-based activity program. In their application they provide evidence of needs identified in the municipality, explain what experience they have and what they aspire to achieve in Wyndham, and outline the preparatory work they have undertaken and connections they have made. They also outline how they will communicate their pilot program services to the community and provide a detailed project plan and budget.
They also commit to undertaking an evaluation of the program, which they will share with council. They include a letter of commitment from a local community centre and a migrant support service, a support letter from a philanthropic supporter of the organisation and some testimonials from families who have accessed their services elsewhere in Melbourne.
WeCare4All pledge to contribute $10,000 cash and at least $15,000 of in-kind staffing towards the project, making the total project cost $55,000. This includes temporarily employing a social worker who will support families participating in the pilot program.
The project is a success and, using the evaluation of the pilot project, the organisation gains support from both the state government and a philanthropic funding source to establish a long-term program in Wyndham in a more permanent location.
How to apply
Step 1: Download and read the Community Grant Guidelines.
Step 2: Prepare any documentation to support your application
Step 3: Apply here
If you need assistance in completing your application, contact Wyndham City’s Grants Team for assistance on 1300 023 411 or email funding@wyndham.vic.gov.au.
Grant Finder
Looking for other funding opportunities for community business, sports, infrastructure, government and more?
This grant finder is a hub of all funding opportunities available to you.
Key dates
Grants |
Open |
Close |
| Medium Grants (Round 1) | 14/07/2025 | 17/08/2025 |
| Community Pathways Scholarships | 01/08/2025 | 31/05/2026 |
| Small Grants | 01/08/2025 | 31/05/2026 |
| Medium Grants (Round 2) | 06/02/2026 | 06/03/2026 |
| Large Grants | 15/09/2025 | 24/10/2025 |
Scholarships
Community Pathways Scholarships
Scholarships provide support to individuals who have been selected to pursue achievements in sports and recreation competitions, arts, cultural and academic endeavours.
Arts & Culture
- Up to $500 (Individuals or $1,000 if appropriately auspiced)
- Frequency: Fortnightly
- Eligible applicants: Individuals; creative performer/practitioners
- Project start date: Scholarships take up to two weeks between application close (15th of each month & the end of each month) and the funding outcome. No grant will be funded retrospectively.
Community Leadership
- Up to $500 (Individuals or $1,000 if appropriately auspiced)
- Frequency: Fortnightly
- Eligible applicants: Individuals; attending leadership development opportunities
- Project start date: Scholarships take up to two weeks between application close (15th of each month & the end of each month) and the funding outcome. No grant will be funded retrospectively.
Sports & Recreation Competitions
- Up to $500 (Individuals/non-Incorporated Groups)
- Frequency: Fortnightly
- Eligible applicants: Individuals; 25yo or younger (Parents/Guardians apply for those underage)
- Project start date: Scholarships take up to two weeks between application close (15th of each month & the end of each month) and the funding outcome. No grant will be funded retrospectively.
Student Academic Support
- Up to $500 for individual student
- Frequency: Fortnightly
- Eligible applicants: Schools; behalf of a student who resides in Wyndham
- Project start date: Scholarships take up to two weeks between application close (15th of each month & the end of each month) and the funding outcome. No grant will be funded retrospectively.
How to apply
Step 1: Download and read the Community Grants Guidelines.
Step 2: Prepare any documentation to support your application.
Step 3: Apply here
If you need any assistance completing your application, contact Wyndham City’s Grants Team for assistance on 1300 023 411 or email funding@wyndham.vic.gov.au.
Key documents
Community Grants Guidelines
As an applicant it is essential for you to check you or your groups eligibility and whether your project matches the guideline criteria before you submit an application.
Community Grants Policy
This policy relates to the provision of grants and subsidies by Wyndham City Council adopted in May 2021. Grants and subsidies are provided in order to achieve outcomes towards Council’s strategic objectives.
Previously Funded Projects
Wyndham City has awarded funding for projects and events to the following individuals, community groups and organisations.
Download: 2024-2025 Community Grants Awarded (Medium Grants)
Community Training Calendar
First Nations Cultural Awareness
This session explores challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, examining historical policies & their impacts while addressing misconceptions to promote respectful engagement.
Other Training Opportunities
Discover more low cost or free community training delivered by other organisations.