Community grants

• Previous grants awarded

  2024 Community and Innovation Grants Program recipients

  The deserving recipients of the Community Grant program in its eighth year:

  Organisation	Purpose	Project
  Tassie Mums	Provides essential baby and children's items to social service and health organisations across Tasmanian that work with vulnerable and at-risk children.	Funds will contribute to the Safe Travels project which provides vulnerable babies and children with safe, age appropriate car seats and prams. This gives families greater access to their community and services for improved health and wellbeing.
  Salvation Army Launceston	Provides assistance to those in need through different services including emergency food relief, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, family support services and homeless assistance.	Will turn an unused grass area into a place where people in the community utilising the facilities can meet sit outside and have breakfast, lunch or just coffee. This would be done by laying a concrete slab and erecting sheltered seating.
  Spring Bay Suicide Prevention Network	A group of volunteers focused on building the A-B-C of community in their community (Buckland to Swansea). A=Awareness, B=Belonging and C= Connection. They predominantly run activities to foster social connection.	The funding will provide LiveLife Alarms to at risk elderly community members who live alone. The alarm alerts a nominated contact if there is a medical event, for eg, a fall or if they’re concerned for their safety.
  Miracle Babies	National organisation that supports premature and sick newborns, their families and the hospitals that care for them.	This project will provide 60 NICU Survival Packs to the Royal Hobart Hospital. NICU Survival Packs contain premature-sized baby products and resources to guide parents through aspects and concerns to give a better understanding of neonatal care and help them navigate the NICU.
  Swimming Association of King Island	Operates the fully enclosed heated swimming pool with changerooms and toilet facilities at Grassy on King Island.	The project is to install a non-slip surface to the pool surrounds. The heated pool provides physio rehab facilities for post operative King Island community members, swimming lessons for children, dive instruction lessons, social swims, fitness swims and a community area where people can meet and talk.
  Arthritis Foundation of Tasmania	Delivers programs and services statewide for the benefit of all Tasmanians affected by arthritis and related musculoskeletal conditions.	This project will offer two half-day events for young people aged 18 years and under affected by juvenile arthritis, and their families. The events will provide a vital opportunity for families to connect and seek support from one another, share information on the challenges of living with juvenile arthritis in a relaxing and supportive environment. There will be one event in the South and one in the North/North West.

   

  2023 Community and Innovation Grants Program recipients

  The deserving recipients of the Community Grant program in its seventh year:

  Project	Organisation	Purpose
  Audiology equipment for deaf children	The Shepherd Centre	The Shepherd Centre supports children with deafness and hearing loss, focusing on the development of listening and spoken language, social skills, literacy and emotional resilience. The grant will be used to purchase several tools to support the specialist early intervention services in Tasmania. Tools include software and diagnostic equipment.
  Seating in local community playground	Lilydale District Progress Association	Run by volunteers, the progress association was established in 1968 and promotes community initiatives for the Lilydale district. They will be using the grant to place seating in the local community playground. The seating will complement a newly installed playground, particularly important to parents and the elderly when visiting.
  Weatherproof shelters for Mural Fest	The Kentish Arts, Commerce and Tourism Inc.	Mural Fest is celebrating its 20th year in 2023. The annual festival is popular amongst the local community, volunteers, and visiting public. The grant will be used to install waterproof screens for artists and viewers of the outdoor Mural Fest.
  Repair outdoor play area	Cygnet Community Children's Centre	The Cygnet Community Children’s Centre is a registered charity located in Cygnet and plays an important role for families within the Huon Valley. They will use the grant to repair a section of their outdoor play area. The area is a vital space for ball games and sports to be played by the centre which provides day care, vacation programs and before and after-school care.
  Purchase of an automated external defibrillator (AED)	Citywide Baptist Church	Citywide Baptist Church operates in five communities in Tasmania. After a successful installation of an automated external defibrillator (AED) in their Mornington location and an increased safety for their visitors, they have made a commitment to install one in Lenah Valley.  The grant will cover the purchase of an AED for all users of their Lenah Valley Centre including neighbouring community buildings.
  Community Connection Reading program	Longford Primary School	Located in the Northern Midlands town of Longford, this state school services families in the local area. The grant will allow the school to launch an important community reading program for students.  The Community Connection Reading program will link early years students with local residents from the Toosey Aged and Community Care to have dedicated reading time. This program not only benefits early learning outcomes, it also creates a sense of connection and social interactions with the residents at the centre.

   

   

  2022 Community and Innovation Grants Program recipients

  It was great to see so many applications submitted in our sixth year of our community grant program and the second year for our Innovation grants. The projects selected were:

  Project	Organisation	Purpose
  Racing wheelchairs and throwing frames	Tasmanian Little Athletics Association	The Tasmanian Little Athletics Association will use its community grant to purchase racing wheelchairs and throwing frames for children with a disability to allow them to have a fulfilling relationship with sport. The Association applied for the grant to increase the participation rate amongst people with a disability, and to make them feel included and fairly represented.
  Healthy You initiative	Cystic Fibrosis Tasmania	Cystic Fibrosis Tasmania will use its funding to continue their Healthy You initiative, which supports individuals with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) to access a venture, equipment, or registration that contributes positively to their mental and physical wellbeing. The financial, emotional, and symptom burdens of CF are significant. CF Healthy You will play a small part in helping individuals continue to participate in the activities that bring them joy, allow their finances to be directed to their medical care, and to encourage them to participate in healthy activities.
  Laptops and mobile phones	Fight Cancer Foundation's John Opie House	Located close to the Royal Hobart Hospital, the Fight Cancer Foundation's John Opie House is a home away from home for seriously ill patients and their families and carers, relieving some of the emotional, financial, and physical stress serious illness brings with it. Each year, John Opie House supports approximately 250 families with seriously ill members with 1500 nights; low- or no-cost accommodation when they when they must travel to Hobart to receive medical treatment. The Fight Cancer Foundation will use its Hydro Tasmania community grant to purchase the laptops and mobile phones it needs to ensure staff remain available to guests during the current health restrictions.
  VHF equipment	Wynyard Volunteer Marine Rescue	Wynyard Volunteer Marine Rescue provides a vital safety service for water users on the North West, and supports many recreational activities in the region. In the past three years, the unit has provided 125 hours of patrol, search and rescue to the community, and was responsible for providing 15 vessel escorts to people who would have otherwise been stranded at sea. It will use the support from Hydro Tasmania to purchase a new VHF base-station and long-range antenna, as well as six hand-held digital VHF radios for closer-range work, to improve communication and safety.
  Safety of girls and women program	Girl Guides Tasmania	Girl Guides Tasmania will use its Hydro Tasmania innovation grant to partner with the Women's Legal Service Tasmania and Laurel House to develop an innovative program of work that is designed to promote the safety of girls and women. Girl Guides Tasmania delivers girl-led leadership and self-development through the Australian Guide Program, which is delivered through weekly unit meetings and led by trained volunteers.
  Improving gender diversity initiative	Blueline Laundry	The Blueline Laundry is a 128-year-old registered charity operation that is the linen and laundry supplier of choice for Tasmania’s healthcare industry. It provides meaningful employment for people experiencing disadvantage and other forms of barriers to employment, with 35 per cent of its workforce having a disability, and migrants making up another 35 per cent. Thanks to Hydro Tasmania's innovation grant, Blueline Laundry can improve its gender diversity by sponsoring women in its workforce to gain their forklift and medium rigid truck licenses.

   

  2021 Community Grants Program
  

  The projects selected for the 5th year of our community grants program were:

  Project	Organisation	Purpose
  School fruit box program	Jordan River Service	Supporting children to learn and have access to adequate nutrition are key outcomes of the School Breakfast Program, delivering yummy goodies to up to 1000 children in southern Tasmanian schools. The funding will allow the Jordon River Service to provide weekly fresh fruit boxes to five schools and support the current breakfast program, ensuring kids have the best start to their day.
  Trauma care workshop	CareFlight	CareFlight delivers free community training and education across the state and has 5500 SES and 300 Ambulance Tasmania volunteer first responders. The funding will help CareFlight to deliver a Trauma Care workshop for volunteer first responders, giving them the skills, knowledge, critical thinking and confidence to fulfil their vital community role.
  Touch-free water bottle refilling station	Lions Club of Flinders Island	Funding will support the Lions Club to create positive health and waste outcomes on Flinders Island. Purchase of a ‘touch free’ portable water bottle refill station and branded food grade water bottles for use at Island events will help reduce plastic waste and ensure a COVID safe environment for community events. Free water also encourages good health habits in the community and branding the bottles means the Club gets more awareness!
  Upgraded heating	Launceston Elderly Citizens Club	With 150 community members using the Launceston Hall on a weekly basis, the Elderly Citizens Club was keen to ensure it is a welcoming space especially in the cold months. The Club will use the funding to replace and upgrade wall heaters to keep regular hall users comfortable and remove previous potential trip hazards caused by electrical cords.
  Upgraded community centre kitchen facilities	Oatlands Community Association	Oatlands Community Association offers many vital services to the community, including the Southern Midlands Meal Initiative – a weekly drop-in for residents to collect frozen meals and have a cuppa and a chat. A growing number (especially the most vulnerable in the community) are coming to the space to socialise and connect with others. A small kitchen and COVID spacing restrictions are making things harder for staff in food preparation and clean up so they plan to use the funding to improve kitchen facilities by installing a new dishwasher.
  Hall preservation and maintenance works	Lower Barrington Community Hall	As one of the few halls solely owned and run by the community, the Lower Barrington facility is much loved and used by the community. Ongoing maintenance is needed to ensure it can continue to perform its vital community function. The funding will support an external make-over of decaying weatherboards, weathered window trims and wall edging plus a fresh coat of paint. This work will support the latest project of a series of mural panels for the hall’s exterior.
  Innovation grants
  Free online cancer counselling services	Cancer Council Tasmania	COVID-19 forced the Tasmanian branch to close its Cancer Support Centres and adapt its counselling to be run virtually. While things are slowly returning to normal, the branch sees value in continuing to run programs online for those who are isolated for health or geographical reasons. The funding will allow specifically trained facilitators to run a suite of health programs, directly benefiting a large number of patients undergoing (or recently completed) cancer treatment. Positive benefits of the courses include reduced depression and anxiety, better ability to tolerate treatment and a reduction in side effects.
  Phase one of sustainable heating	Great Lake community centre	Great Lake is in the centre of Tasmania and its community centre is the thriving hub of this isolated town. The centre’s committee has ambitious plans for future sustainability of the centre including solar power, a community green house and men’s shed. The first step is to install upgraded heating to reduce the committee’s electricity bills and improve ongoing financial viability, which was severely impacted during COVID-19.
  Equipment and infrastructure for Life Lab	Smithton High School	The (Life Lab) program run in the far North West of Tasmania was born out of the need to re-connect with disengaged students during COVID lockdown period and recovery. Life Lab aims to allow students to develop work ready skills alongside basic maths and numeracy outcomes. They can also access the VET programs and Trade Training Centre. The funding will allow the school to create a new outdoor area (including a large garden area), making the space more practical and useable in all weather and allowing them to take on even more students and more projects.

   

  2020 Community Grant Program
  

  For the fourth year of our community grant program, we received 69 applications. The projects selected for the 2020 community grants were:

  Project	Organisation	Purpose
  Recycling and reusing education program	Resource Work Cooperative	Creative approaches to managing waste will be promoted by the Resource Work Cooperative, which operates the beloved South Hobart Tip Shop. Their education centre will develop materials on the benefits of recycling and minimising waste, along with workshops and tours that will explore practical 'upcycling', creative re-use and even turning trash into art.
  Suicide prevention training	Kentish Regional Clinic	Funding for the Kentish Regional Clinic will provide free suicide prevention training in schools, using the Tasmanian-developed Community Response to Eliminating Suicide (CORES) program. Their focus is on students aged 15 - 17 years, for who suicide is a leading cause of death, together with their teachers, parents and carers, and those who work with youth.
  Modernisation of equipment and facilities	Derwent Valley SES	There are few organisations more relied on by the community than the State Emergency Service (SES). This grant will allow the Derwent Valley SES to update their equipment and facilities, enabling them to retain more members and to respond more effectively when they're needed the most.
  Derwent Valley Autumn Festival Wood Chopping Carnival 2021	Southern Tasmanian Axemen's Association	The sport of wood chopping will get a boost from the Southern Tasmanian Axemen's Association, who will deliver a full-program wood chopping carnival at the Derwent Valley Autumn Festival in 2021, including at least one state championship title.
  Development program for teachers	Teach for Australia	Teach for Australia is breaking the cycle of educational inequality, with training, mentoring and coaching for teachers and leaders in schools where students face a range of social challenges. Through this funding, 20 Tasmanians will join their Leadership Development Program, equipping them with the skills to enhance the engagement of students who need it the most.
  Online workshops to improve employment opportunities	Dress for Success	Dress for Success is about empowering disadvantaged women to achieve economic independence, providing not only professional attire but also training and confidence building for interviews, help with preparing CVs and skill development. A series of online workshops during 2020 will be developed and provided to Tasmanian women in need.
  Tools to build new workbenches	North West Woodcraft Guild	For 30 years, the North West Woodcraft Guild has been sharing a love of woodcraft with beginners and artisans alike, letting people learn and create in a friendly space, and even building toys for charity. The guild is moving to a new premises in Ulverstone's Cultural Precinct Building and will buy new tools, which will be used to build workbenches for their new workshop.
  Training equipment	Ulverstone Surf Life Saving Club	The club has been part of this coastal community for nearly 100 years, with volunteers providing beach patrols, youth development programs, emergency search and rescue, medical services, and much more. With this grant, the club will be able to purchase a life-saving defibrillator and a first-aid training mannequin.
  Expansion of science program	Edge Radio	New equipment and training for the award-winning radio show, Now that's what I call science which is syndicated nationally from Hobart's Edge Radio. The show has a special focus on creating engaging youth and women in STEM subjects. This grant will enable the team to continue their expansion to a national audience.
  Greenhouse for school project	Waverley School Association	The Waverley School Association will build a new greenhouse for their community garden on the grounds of Waverley Primary School. The garden already provides healthy, accessible and cost-effective food for the local community and a shared community space for all age groups. A new greenhouse will produce seedlings and keep the garden active during the winter months.
  School garden	Sheffield School Association	The establishment of a working garden for Prep to Year 6 classes at the Sheffield School, giving students a greater appreciation of farm-to-plate food production, along with the opportunity to learn about sustainability. Produce from the garden will be sold at Sheffield School's annual fair.

   

  2019 Community Grant Program

  For the third year of our community grant program, we received 90 applications. The projects selected for the 2019 community grants were:

  Project	Organisation	Purpose
  Older person mental health community training	Rural Alive and Well (RAW) Based in Oatlands	Currently, the highest age-specific suicide rate is men 85 years and older. This training will help older people who are experiencing mental health issues and their carers and will be rolled out to rural Tasmanians state-wide.
  Brothers of Country	Moonah Arts Centre	Through a series of workshops, Brothers of Country will use Aboriginal practices and connection to country to bring together diverse cultural groups. From these workshops a performance will be created and presented at the Moonah Arts Centre, Moonah Taste of the World Festival and produced into short online films. The project aims to promote diversity and inclusion through sharing different cultures in a creative way.
  Replacement of old marching percussion equipment	Latrobe Federal Band	The Latrobe Federal Band is a much loved institution and contributes significantly to the Latrobe, Railton, Sheffield and Port Sorell areas. It provides music for the community at events such as ANZAC Day services, Christmas carols, parades and numerous public concerts. The members are proud to be part of the oldest continuous brass band in Australia (established in 1872) with ages ranging from seven to 70, including some third generation participants.
  Family Recovery Centre upgrade	Mates4Mates Hobart	Mates4Mates provides rehabilitation services for current and ex-serving Defence Force personnel and their families. The Hobart Family Recovery Centre has seen a 600% increase in people accessing its services. This grant will be used to install new kitchen appliances. Good nutrition and sharing meals are an integral part of social connection and well-being and restoring a sense of belonging.
  Dad's Book - A manual for the most important job you'll ever have	Men's Resources Tasmania Based in Lewisham	The Dad's Book will focus on the needs of new dads and provide information and contacts for support. Fatherhood is often missing from the conversation about new parenthood and is essential for effective sole or co-parenting.
  Community Rail History Centre	Derwent Valley Railway	A section of the New Norfolk Railway Station will be converted to an interpretation/history centre to share the story of how the Derwent Valley's railway was built and its role in developing the region.

   

  2018 Community Grant Program

  2018 was the second year of our community grant program. The projects selected for the 2018 community grants were:

  Project	Organisation	Purpose
  New seating at the Lake Barrington rowing course	Rowing Tasmania	The Lake Barrington International Rowing Course has 50,000 plus visitors every year. Rowing Tasmania wants to improve the facilities for the water sport community and visitors. This grant will be used to replace the seating that is now over 35 years old.
  Rewiring the CWA Hall on King Island	Pegarah Country Women’s Association	Like most small communities, the CWA Hall is an essential community gathering point. It is used for get-togethers, exercise classes, markets, flower and art shows. The grant will go towards the long over-due re-wiring of the hall and bring the building up to current safety standards.
  Art therapy workshops	Magnolia Place (Launceston Women's Shelter)	The Launceston Women’s Shelter is going to provide art therapy workshops for residents and their children who have suffered trauma. Research has shown that these workshops can reduce isolation, improve physical and mental health and aid recovery.
  Op shop revival	Mole Creek Opportunity Shop	The Mole Creek Op Shop has been a focal point in the community for over 30 years but needs some maintenance. It’s a volunteer-run shop and all profits go back into the community. This grant means that for the first time the volunteers, whose average is 80, will have heating.
  Purchase of a defibrillator and machinery upgrade	Campbell Town and Districts Men Shed	This Mens Shed is seeing an influx of new members. The members host a ‘Special Day’ each week for ladies and provide instruction in woodwork for the disabled. This grant will enable them to have a defibrillator and upgrade some of the machinery and tools.
  Meal support for new mums and their families	Esther’s House Pregnancy and Parenting Support	Esther’s House assists women across the State with emotional and practical support during and after a difficult pregnancy. The meal support program provides at least one home-cooked healthy meal for the whole family. Eating well is essential for well-being at this time and the consistent social contact means extra support can be provided if needed.
  Harvest Helpers program to preserve excess fruit and reduce waste	Deloraine Community House	The Harvest Helpers pick fruit that people are no longer able to pick themselves. The fruit then gets preserved and shared with the community. It’s used for provisions during an emergency, food for those in need and community get-togethers.

  
  

  2017 Community Grant Program

  The first round of community grants was awarded in 2017.

  We received applications from all around Tasmania from a wide range of organisations.

  The projects selected for the inaugural grants were:

  Project	Organisation	Purpose
  Work-ready program for unemployed young people	Geeveston Community Centre	The young people in this program have literacy and numeracy barriers to getting a job. This program provides training and support to help them enter the workforce, break the cycle of inter-generational unemployment and gain the confidence to be role-models in their family network.
  Upgrade of broadcast equipment	Coast FM in Wynyard	Coast FM is a community radio station that connects diverse communities and is a ‘friend’ to many elderly, housebound or marginalised people. The volunteer-based team is using outdated equipment which is not only sub-standard but unlikely to engage younger volunteers who are essential for this service to continue.
  Spinal injury equipment for Rosebery and Zeehan swimming pools	Rosebery Community House	These swimming pools are popular with locals and tourists during the summer months for both fun and fitness. The lifeguards have all been trained in spinal injury management but cost has prohibited them from having this essential equipment.
  Registration software for the biennial Gathering event in Latrobe	Tasmanian Women in Agriculture (TWiA)	The women in TWiA are mothers, wives and partners in farms, fishing and agribusinesses. Many of them also work in towns and volunteer for rural community services. They are the voice of issues affecting rural families. The software for the biennial gathering (18/20 May in Latrobe) will upskill the volunteers and will be loaned to other volunteer-based community groups in farming communities.
  Equipment needed for the annual Mannalargenna Day celebrations held at Musselroe Bay	Melythina Tiakana Warrana Aboriginal Corporation	Mannalargenna Day is an annual event that celebrates Aboriginal culture and history on Ancestral Country. Hundreds of people converge on the North-East to commemorate the life of an important Aboriginal ancestor and learn about the deep and historical connection Aboriginal people have with the area.
  Equipment to run a healthy gardening program	Phoenix Community House on King Island	30 per cent of King Islanders suffer from a chronic illness. This gardening program will teach people how to grow their own fresh produce to improve their health. The added benefit is having a social, outdoor activity that will bring people together.
  Upgrade to the existing car park	Longford Men's Shed	The Longford Men’s Shed is housed in a hall used by many community groups. Parking is limited and dangerous for older or less able people. The upgrade will make the car-park safer and more useable for this valued community centre.