Apply for Children’s Week Community Grants Program (Australia)

Deadline: 31-Aug-2026

The Children’s Week Community Grants Program provides funding to eligible not-for-profit organisations and local government authorities to deliver free, community-based events and activities that celebrate children, encourage learning through play, and strengthen community connections. Grants can support activities that promote children’s wellbeing, family participation, community belonging, access to services, and awareness of children’s rights. Eligible applicants can receive up to $1,000 excluding GST per partner organisation. Collaborative applications involving multiple eligible organisations may receive up to $3,000 excluding GST in total, with the funding distributed among participating partners. What Is the Children’s Week Community Grants Program? The Children’s Week Community Grants Program supports local events and activities that recognize the importance of children and positive childhood experiences. The programme is designed to create opportunities for children and families to: For parents and caregivers, community events can also provide access to information, services, and local support networks. The grants therefore support both children’s participation and stronger community connections. What Does the Program Aim to Achieve? The Children’s Week Community Grants Program has several interconnected objectives. Celebrate Children The programme provides funding for activities that recognize children as important members of the community. Promote Learning Through Play Activities should recognize play as an important part of children’s learning and development. Strengthen Community Connections Funded activities should encourage children, families, organizations, and community groups to interact and build relationships. Promote Children’s Wellbeing Events can provide opportunities to connect families with information and community services that support children’s health and wellbeing. Increase Awareness of Children’s Rights The programme encourages awareness of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, helping communities understand children’s rights and participation. Encourage Local Partnerships The programme supports collaboration between eligible organizations and other local stakeholders to deliver larger or more effective community activities. What Types of Activities Can the Grants Support? Funding is intended for community events and activities that align with the objectives of Children’s Week. Activities connecting families with local services. Inclusive community gatherings. Events involving multiple local organizations. Activities promoting children’s health and wellbeing. Projects should provide a clear benefit to children and families and demonstrate a strong community connection. What Is Learning Through Play? Learning through play refers to children’s ability to develop skills, knowledge, confidence, creativity, and social relationships through play-based experiences. Community activities can encourage learning through: Applicants should consider how proposed activities can provide children with meaningful and enjoyable experiences. What Is Place-Based Community Programming? The programme supports free, place-based events and activities. Place-based programming means activities are designed around the needs and characteristics of a specific local community.

This approach can help organizations:

Respond to local needs. Involve local families. Use community spaces. Connect residents with local services. Build long-term community relationships. How Much Funding Is Available?

The maximum standard grant is:

$1,000 excluding GST per eligible partner organisation. Collaborative applications involving multiple eligible organizations may be considered for: Up to $3,000 excluding GST in total. In collaborative applications, the total funding is distributed among the participating partner organizations. Can Organizations Apply Together? Yes. The programme encourages local partnerships and collaboration, and collaborative applications for larger community events may be considered for up to $3,000 excluding GST in total. For example, multiple eligible community organizations could work together to organize one larger Children’s Week event.

The application should clearly explain:

Who the partners are. What each partner will contribute. How responsibilities will be divided. How the funding will be distributed. How the collaboration will benefit children and families. Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

Not-for-profit organizations. Local government authorities. Eligible Parents & Citizens (P&C) organizations associated with primary or secondary schools, where they meet the programme requirements. Applicants must meet the specific eligibility requirements of the programme. Can Parents & Citizens Organizations Apply? Yes, Parents & Citizens organizations of primary or secondary schools may be eligible, provided they satisfy the programme’s eligibility criteria. The P&C organization should apply as the eligible community organization rather than assuming that the school itself is eligible. Who Is Not Eligible? The following are not eligible to apply: Primary schools themselves. Secondary schools themselves. For-profit organizations. Certain types of care services. Other entities excluded under the programme’s detailed eligibility criteria. Organizations should verify their status against the official guidelines before preparing an application. Can a School Apply Directly? No. Primary and secondary schools themselves are not eligible applicants under the information provided. However, an eligible Parents & Citizens organization associated with a school may be able to apply if it meets the programme requirements. Can For-Profit Organizations Apply? No. For-profit organizations are not eligible for the Children’s Week Community Grants Program. The programme is intended for eligible not-for-profit organizations and local government autho