2025-26 grant recipients

The following organisations and individuals received funding through Council's grant programs in 2025-26.

Arts and Cultural Grants

Recipient Description
Central Ringwood Community Centre Colours of Culture is an inclusive community art competition celebrating cultural diversity through creativity. Open to all ages and abilities, it invites locals to explore what culture means to them. Collaborating with Ringwood Art Society and culminating in a public exhibition at the Central Ringwood Community Centre hall, the project fosters connection, expression and community pride in Maroondah.
Claire Bridge Claire Bridge's exhibition The Water Carriers: Hybrid Futures, scheduled for the Maroondah Federation Estate Gallery, explores connections between women, water and the environment through a new series of sculptures and installations.
Community Music and Performances Three public concerts at Maroondah Federation Estate, including a large swing band, jazz with vocalist and a classical ensemble, to promote social inclusion and wellbeing.
Dr Ajay Castelino Melodies and Memories is a 15-week program offering weekly 45-minute music therapy sessions for people with dementia and their carers living in Maroondah.
Knaith Road Childcare Work with First Nations artist Simone Thomson to design and deliver a mural for the children's outdoor learning space at Knaith Road Childcare.
Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place The Women's Group will craft a Possum Skin Cloak to increase participation and give voice to Aboriginal women sharing their cultural connection journeys with one another and the community.
Your DNA Creative Arts FUZE Ensemble includes accessible, all-abilities workshops and a public performance that amplify the voices of disabled artists from Maroondah.

Community Development Grants

Recipient Description
4Tk Australia

Birds, Bugs and Bush is an environmental education project engaging young people with mental health challenges through their passions.

Funding allocation: $5,000

Australian Chin Community (Eastern Melbourne)

New website to support Hakha Chin community activities including settlement support, advocacy, cultural programs, sporting events and volunteerism.

Funding allocation: $4,000

Big Little Buddies

Intergenerational music program bringing together aged care residents, pre-schoolers and their carers.

Funding allocation: $3,996

Cancer Patients Foundation

Look Good, Feel Better face-to-face workshops to support the wellbeing, confidence and self-esteem of people living with cancer.

Funding allocation: $5,000

Chin Community Victoria

Healthy Women's Project is a program engaging Falam Chin women in wellbeing activities.

Funding allocation: $5,000

Community Houses Association of the Outer Eastern Suburbs

Living Our Best Life is a project supporting talking cafés to address social isolation in older people.

Funding allocation: $4,968

Croydon Hills Community Care

Bringing Karen and Chin seniors together to promote social connection and improve wellbeing.

Funding allocation: $2,200

Deshan Chinese Senior Community Group

Weekly social support group for elderly Chinese residents.

Funding allocation: $4,500

Eastern All Abilities Netball Club

Extending a new netball recruitment and training program to engage young people with a mild intellectual disability.

Funding allocation: $4,000

Eastern Climate Action Melbourne

Community education project raising awareness about the impact of pollutants and excessive stormwater flows on the environment and local waterways.

Funding allocation: $5,000

Eastern Sirens Synchronized Swimming

Delivering an inclusive and modified artistic swimming program for athletes with a disability.

Funding allocation: $3,000

Heathmont Tennis Club

Audio-visual history project celebrating 100 years of Heathmont Tennis Club.

Funding allocation: $2,500

Maroondah Chinese Senior Citizen's Friendship Association

Relieving social isolation and loneliness through a weekly cultural group for Chinese seniors.

Funding allocation: $3,000

Maroondah Volleyball

2026 Good Friday Volleyball Tournament. Delivered in conjunction with The Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal.

Funding allocation: $2,000

Melbourne Eastern Netball Association

Festival of Netball is an event focused on engaging people with a disability.

Funding allocation: $4,9920

Melbourne Highland Games & Celtic Festival

Logistical support for a festival that attracts thousands of people to Maroondah every year.

Funding allocation: $5,000

Outer Eastern Local Learning and Employment Network

Coach hire to transport Maroondah young people to a regional careers expo.

Funding allocation: $780

Ringwood Ballet Group

Free matinee performance of Coppélia for members of the Maroondah community who may not normally access cultural events.

Funding allocation: $3,500

Ringwood Clocktower Probus Club

Encouraging physical activity, participation and healthy eating through a weekly gardening group.

Funding allocation: $1,000

Ringwood Community Church Seniors Group

Providing a home-cooked meal and reducing social isolation for seniors who mostly live alone and no longer cook for themselves.

Funding allocation: $700

Ringwood Japanese Playgroup

Funding to support a weekly playgroup for Japanese families.

Funding allocation: $1,000

South East Melbourne Tibetan Cultural Group

Weekly social support group for the Tibetan community to relieve social isolation.

Funding allocation: $4,994

St John Ambulance Australia (Victoria)

Interactive CPR training delivered to community members at the Maroondah Festival.

Funding allocation: $1,000

St Kilda Gatehouse

Support for vulnerable secondary school young women through early intervention, outreach and counselling services.

Funding allocation: $4,000

Stroke a Chord Choir

Assistance with venue hire for a choir supporting stroke survivors with aphasia.

Funding allocation: $1,070

Zo Community Australia

Bringing together the Zo community to celebrate their Harvest Festival.

Funding allocation: $3,000

Zomi Community Melbourne

New after-school club for Zomi community primary and secondary students.

Funding allocation: $4,680

Emergency Relief Grants

Recipient Description
Croydon North Community Meals

Provide food for weekly community meals and supplementary services, including dental and hearing checks in partnership with EACH.

Funding allocation: $5,500

Croydon Uniting Church Helping Hand

Provide food, toiletries, fuel, transport and material aid to Centrelink recipients.

Funding allocation: $5,500

EACH

Provide pantry supplies, toiletry items and medication as an extension to an existing holistic approach to youth health.

Funding allocation: $2,500

Eastern Food Rescue

Expand capacity to distribute rescued food through portable refrigeration and food transport equipment.

Funding allocation: $5,000

Empower Australia

Upgrading frozen food storage facilities to increase variety and expanding multilingual support to strengthen community outreach.

Funding allocation: $7,000

Feed One Feed All

Provide chef-made meals to local agencies for distribution, using upcycled fresh ingredients.

Funding allocation: $6,500

FoodFilled

Seed funding for a youth-led volunteer food rescue initiative that is new to Maroondah.

Funding allocation: $4,500

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Support Maroondah Winter Shelter by organising a weekly food collection service.

Funding allocation: $3,500

Hope City Mission

Assistance with maintenance and running costs towards delivery of weekly food relief parcels to people's homes.

Funding allocation: $7,000

Maroondah Winter Shelter

Support program costs to assist men experiencing homelessness, including meals and accommodation during winter.

Funding allocation: $6,000

New Community Ringwood

Support a home-cooked meals program for socially isolated community members.

Funding allocation: $5,000

North Ringwood Care

Provide pantry service and support for school breakfast and lunch programs, and vouchers for clothing, medical and school supplies.

Funding allocation: $4,000

Outer East Foodshare

Expand provision of healthy, rescued food to more Maroondah emergency relief agencies.

Funding allocation: $7,000

St Vincent de Paul Croydon Conference

Support disadvantaged children and families in partnership with local schools.

Funding allocation: $1,500

The Dining Room Mission

Support weekly dine-in and takeaway meals for people who are marginalised.

Funding allocation: $5,000

The Eastern Emergency Relief Network

Provide food and toiletry parcels to supplement an established material assistance program.

Funding allocation: $5,000

The Freedom Initiative

Provide food items, including fresh produce and meat, through a daily pantry service accessed by individuals and households experiencing hardship.

Funding allocation: $3,000

TLC Support

Support provision of food parcels to people experiencing financial hardship.

Funding allocation: $1,800

Urban Life Community Care

Provide pantry items for the Ringwood community as well as support for Maroondah Winter Shelter meals.

Funding allocation: $2,000

Small Equipment Grants

Recipient Description
3rd Croydon Scout Group

Marquees for programs and events.

Funding allocation: $526

3rd Ringwood East Scout Group

Printer, scanner and ink to support group operations.

Funding allocation: $585

7th Ringwood Scout Group

Hiking tents to support group activities.

Funding allocation: $536

Alabaster Church

Miscellaneous indoor play equipment.

Funding allocation: $385

Arrabri Community House

Trestle tables to support community events.

Funding allocation: $750

Croydon & District Obedience Dog Club

Dog jump for agility training and a benchtop dishwasher for clubrooms.

Funding allocation: $700

Croydon Community Garden

Battery-operated line trimmer to assist with garden maintenance.

Funding allocation: $738

Croydon Conservation Society

Update website to make it mobile-friendly.

Funding allocation: $750

Croydon Park Probus Club

Website improvements to assist club administration and communication.

Funding allocation: $396

Croydon Walking Club

First aid kits to support the safety and wellbeing of members.

Funding allocation: $347

Dokham Chushi Gangdrug Victoria

Stage speaker to support singing and cultural performances.

Funding allocation: $749

Eastwood Golf Lawn Bowls Club

Handrail addition for portable accessibility ramps to improve access to the bowling green.

Funding allocation: $380

Ellie V. Pullin Preschool

Updated book resources to support literacy development.

Funding allocation: $750

EV Strengthening Communities

Painting easels to support creativity, fine motor skills and early learning experiences.

Funding allocation: $750

First Friends of Dandenong Creek

Equipment including litter pickers, signage, high-visibility vests and barbecue tongs to support group activities.

Funding allocation: $750

Footscape

Foot care kits to promote foot health for vulnerable community members.

Funding allocation: $750

Glen Park Community Centre

Cash safe and commercial toasters to support the emergency relief service and social enterprise café.

Funding allocation: $699

Kurboroo Kindergarten

Binder machine to support the creation of resources for children and families.

Funding allocation: $750

Life Activities Club Croydon

Trolleys and stationery to support club activities and communications.

Funding allocation: $634

Lightbox Productions

Foldback speakers to support musical theatre productions and reduce equipment hire costs.

Funding allocation: $750

Maroondah Bushwalking Club

Personal locator beacons for overnight and remote hikes.

Funding allocation: $750

Maroondah Preschool Parents Club

Printing costs to support production of resources, portfolios and parent communications.

Funding allocation: $400

Mountain District Learning Centre

Science, art and sports equipment to support educational programs for young people.

Funding allocation: $750

Mullum Mullum Netball Club

Age-appropriate training equipment to support young children learning netball.

Funding allocation: $730

North Ringwood Community Children's Centre

Replacement home corner furniture to encourage imaginative play.

Funding allocation: $750

Pinemont Pre School

Multicultural education resources to improve cultural representation in teaching and learning activities.

Funding allocation: $700

Ringwood East Senior Citizens Centre

Cordless stick vacuum and electric urns for community groups using the facility.

Funding allocation: $647

Ringwood North Netball Club

Netball equipment to enhance training programs and replace worn equipment.

Funding allocation: $750

Sharing Hope

Laptop to support community education, leadership activities and promotion.

Funding allocation: $750

Tarralla Kindergarten Association

Musical instruments to support a rhythm and movement program.

Funding allocation: $629

The Skylarkers

Trolley, keyboard and stationery to support group performances.

Funding allocation: $350

U3A Croydon

PA system and speakers to improve Musicology and dance group experiences.

Funding allocation: $750

U3A Ringwood

Printing supplies to support member communications.

Funding allocation: $626

Vocal Vibes

Portable PA system to replace ageing equipment.

Funding allocation: $750

Yarrunga Community Centre

Safety barriers and signage for the new outdoor decking area.

Funding allocation: $750