Community and not-for-profit groups have until this Saturday, 31 October 2026, to apply for Council's Community Grants Round 1. Two grant levels are available. Small Grants of up to $5,000 are co-funded by Senex Energy and do not require a co-contribution, although one is favoured. Major Grants range from $5,001 to $20,000 and require a co-contribution of up to 50 per cent. Groups can discuss their projects with Council's Local Development Officers before applying.
Murweh Shire Council is inviting local organisations to apply under its Community Grants Policy for projects and activities that benefit the shire. Eligible groups include sporting clubs, hobby groups, charities, not-for-profit organisations and religious organisations based in Murweh. The council generally provides in-kind help, such as use of its equipment, facilities or services, with cash grants considered only in exceptional circumstances. Applications open twice a year, ahead of the annual budget and half-yearly budget review. All applications are assessed against the policy criteria, and assistance is not guaranteed.
Not-for-profit groups with projects benefiting Eumundi have until October 30 to apply for a share of $25,000 in funding. The Experience Eumundi Sponsorship Program, backed by the town's markets, opened its fifth round on September 28. Groups based in the 4562 postcode are eligible, as are others whose work directly benefits the area. Past recipients include a youth mentoring program, an equine therapy service and a blanket warmer for Nambour General Hospital. General manager Mark Cameron urged applicants to read the sponsorship framework first, as competition is strong.
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Glenelg Shire Council has awarded more than $129,000 to 46 not-for-profit groups and organisations in its latest Community Grants round. Recipients include the Portland Dahlia Society, which received $2,000 for its dahlia and rose show, and the Tyrendarra Pastoral and Agricultural Society, which received $6,000 for its annual show. Projects range from gallery equipment to a generator for a tennis club and new safety lights for a karting club. Mayor Karen Stephens said the round was highly competitive and that the money will flow back into the local economy.
Bill Dowson, who built small businesses in hardware, self-storage and document management, now chairs The Cram Foundation. He advocates for people with disability across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions. Dowson joined the board in 2017, arguing that running a not-for-profit requires many of the same skills as running a business. He says the organisation has shifted from a clinical approach to a human rights approach, with people with disability entitled to the same freedoms and choices as anyone else. Dowson has been named a finalist for a 2026 social justice award.
The federal government will spend $630m on pay rises for more than 460,000 care sector workers. The funding follows a Fair Work Commission ruling that found female-dominated pay awards had been historically undervalued. Charities and not-for-profit organisations across 92 programs, including health, disability care and community services, will receive the money. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said closing the gender pay gap requires addressing that undervaluation. Health Minister Mark Butler said the changes could make the industry a more attractive career path.
A record 147 LGBTQIA+ not-for-profits and projects are taking part in GiveOUT Day, returning this Thursday, October 15. The campaign asks supporters to donate, host a fundraiser or share a love note for a cause. Organisers say LGBTQIA+ groups receive five cents of every $100 donated in Australia. Under the Give option, eligible donations will be doubled through funding partners, subject to limits. In 2025, the day raised more than $635,000 for 134 causes. Donations go directly to the organisations, with Rainbow Giving Australia covering running costs.
Parents say rising childcare fees are cutting into their earnings and limiting family plans. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wants universal childcare to be part of his legacy. The government has not yet chosen a model and is reviewing options with consultants, while a Productivity Commission report recommended income-tested free care. Childcare fees jumped 7.3% in the year to August, more than twice the inflation rate. Labor is also expanding not-for-profit providers, and the Greens and Coalition are preparing their own childcare positions ahead of the election.
Charities and not-for-profit organisations in regional NSW are invited to apply for grants from the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation. The annual grassroots grants program has more than $540,000 available for projects that support health and social wellbeing. Grants range from $25,000 to $50,000 for small initiatives that can be delivered within 12 months. A separate grant is available to organisations that rely on volunteers, for training, system improvements or recruiting volunteers. Applications open on Thursday 1 October and close at 11.59pm on 31 October.
