Community Development

Council invites applications that help address the priorities of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy. One of the most powerful ways to support good health and wellbeing is through building social connections and a sense of belonging. Almost all grant projects aim to do this in some way.

A key action in the new Strategy is to:

• Promote community-led projects supporting belonging, creativity, and cultural participation.

Council encourages locally focused applications that respond to health and wellbeing issues. We invite strength-based projects that tap into local skills, knowledge, and energy, to meet needs and take up opportunities to build more connected and vibrant communities.

For example: Yarra Ranges residents can increase their social connection through participation in group activities. This can be particularly important for people who may be more vulnerable or isolated.

This category looks to foster connected and healthy communities through projects that:

• Build and enable mental wellbeing by supporting strong and sustainable social connections.
• Promote and support physical health.
• Nurture thriving local communities.
• Build our food system, increasing access to healthy food and skills to grow and cook food.
• Build respect and inclusion.
• Increase participation of people with disability.
• Welcome people from all backgrounds.
• Build disaster resilience by strengthening social connection and networks, and increasing knowledge, skills, and planning for emergencies.
• Include people from diverse cultural backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and LGBTQIA+ community members.

Applicants can find out more by exploring Council’s Health & Wellbeing Strategy. Applicants applying for projects that focus on Health and Wellbeing must first speak with the Health and Wellbeing team.

Please contact Rachel Giddens r.giddens@yarraranges.vic.gov.au or call 03 9294 6882

Projects that help achieve the goals of the Liveable Climate Plan 2030 and Nature Plan 2024-34 are invited. This may include skills development, engaging with nature and championing sustainability and environmental stewardship. This category supports environmental sustainability.

Priority will be given to applications that address one or more of the following:

• Nature Conservation: projects that restore, protect and enhance local biodiversity.

• Environmental Stewardship: initiatives that raise community awareness about environmental issues, fostering conservation and sustainability understanding.

• Climate Resilience: projects that improve community resilience and adaptation to climate change and extreme weather.

• Water Resource Management: initiatives that conserve water, improve water quality, and/or protect freshwater ecosystems.

• Innovative Sustainability: projects that use innovative tech and practices for sustainability, such as waste reduction, energy efficiency and sustainable transport, with clear impact measurement outcomes.

Applicants applying for projects with a focus on Environment must first speak with the Environment team. Please contact Amanda Smith amandasmith@yarraranges.vic.gov.au or Sarah Bond s.bond@yarraranges.vic.gov.au.

Applications can find out more by exploring Council’s Environment Strategy.

Projects in this category will strengthen the relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Priority will be given to applications that address one or more of the following:

• Celebrate and protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage.

• Break down stereotypes and discrimination.

• Increase understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing.

• Enhance community driven initiatives that contribute to community wellbeing, economic participation, and cultural strengthening.

Applicants applying for projects that focus on Reconciliation must first speak with the Indigenous Development team.

Contact

• Indigenous Development -Garry Detez g.detez@yarraranges.vic.gov.au 
• Arts focused Indigenous projects - Sam Piper s.piper@yarraranges.vic.gov.au .

View Council’s Innovate Reconciliation Plan

The Key Life Stages Plan (2025–2029) focuses on projects that support people at different ages and stages of their life, helping them connect with others, meet local needs, and make the most of opportunities for both younger and older community members.
It spans the following criteria:

• early years,
• middle years and families,
• young people, and
• healthy active ageing.

This category is for innovative projects that enhance the wellbeing and resilience of children and young people 0-14 years, and their families living in the Yarra Ranges.

Priority will be given to applications that address one or more of the following:

• Children, young people and their families have access to initiatives that are culturally safe and support connection.

• Design and deliver initiatives with a focus on improving wellbeing outcomes and promoting access to supports for children, young people and their families.

• Design and provide opportunities for children, young people and families to actively engage in their community and be involved in decision making.

Applicants must talk with the Early or Middle Years officer Loren Hedger l.hedger@yarraranges.vic.gov.au prior to applying.

Learn more about Child Safe Standards at Yarra Ranges.

Please Note: Child Safe Standards compliance is essential. Council does not fund overnight camps /activities for children and young people.

If you are a not-for-profit organisation, you can apply or auspice a young person to apply for an Annual Grant under this category. 

The need for your program must support Yarra Ranges young people aged 12 to 25 years.

This can be done by a co-design process, or consultations with young people.Data and research should inform applications.

Programs that engage young people in the diverse locations of Yarra Ranges will be prioritised. These include Warburton, Healesville, and the small townships across the region.

Priority will be given to projects that:

• Promote opportunities for young people to engage in their community, build social connections, and give young people a voice in decision-making.

• Target culturally diverse, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, all ability and LGBTQIA+ community members.

• Strengthen respectful relationships and focus on building resilience and promoting gender equality.

• Increase soft skills and pathways to employment for young people.

Applicants must talk with the Youth Development Coordinator Dudu Orman on 03 9294 6134 or d.orman@yarraranges.vic.gov.au prior to applying.

Please Note: Council will not fund camps and overnight camps

The Healthy Ageing category aims to promote innovative activities and initiatives that support individuals aged 50 years and over living in Yarra Ranges.

Priority will be given to projects that:

• Provide opportunities for people aged 50 years and over to actively engage in their communities of choice.

• Support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, culturally diverse, LGBTIQA+, people living with dementia, people with disbilities and unpaid carers

• Address issues of ageism

• Improve outcomes for individuals experiencing social isolation and loneliness.

Applicants must talk with the Healthy and Active Ageing Officer Ellie Thompson e.thompson@yarraranges.vic.gov.au or Melissa Manfelds m.manfelds@yarraranges.vic.gov.au prior to applying.

• How the project responds to community opportunities or need/s
• Alignment with one or more Council key strategies or priorities
• Backed by evidence (data, consultation findings, letters of support) where appropriate
• Identifies what your project seeks to change (short or medium term impacts of the initiative)

Your application should show:

• Strong partnerships with other groups or organisations (new or existing).
• How the community has been involved in designing or shaping the project.
• How volunteers will be involved and how the project builds local skills or capacity.

Demonstrate consideration of inclusion principles, specifically including people with disability, unpaid carers, people across all ages and life stages, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, migrant and refugee community members, LGBTQIA+ community members, women and girls, and those experiencing social isolation.

You need to show:

• A clear and well planned project outline.
• That your organisation has the skills and systems to deliver the project, including good governa 

Your budget must:

• Clearly link costs to project activities.
• Show the project is realistic and achievable within the proposed budget.
• Identify any other funding or in-kind support (including your own organisation’s contribution).
• Please indicate in your budget if you have applied for other funding and whether the funding is confirmed

• Read the Annual Grant Guide for your relevant stream.(PDF, 3MB)

• Check that you meet the eligibility requirements.

• Speak with a relevant council officer.

• Allow adequate time to obtain quotes for expenses over $750 and obtain letters of support.

• Ensure you have appropriate type and level of insurance ($20M Public Liability) for this grant application.

• Check you have acquitted all completed projects funded by Yarra Ranges Council.

• Secure an auspice well in advance (for individual/artist or a not-for-profit unincorporated community group).

• Allow two weeks if you are requiring a quote for use of council's venues and open spaces.

• Use the Grant Templates and Examples to help prepare you application.

• Allow adequate time to complete this application.

Before submitting your application, you are required to discuss your project with one of the relevant Council Officer.

You can find a contact list to speak to a Council Officer in the table within this section. Otherwise if you prefer to speak with an Officer you can call 1300 368 333 and ask for the relevant officer.