2026-27 grant recipients

Expand the grants below to view the organisations and individuals approved for funding in 2026-27.

Annual Arts and Cultural Grants

Recipient Description
Barbara Ruth Davidson

In collaboration with VMCH Disability Services, Triple Art Murals Heathmont provides an opportunity to bring together local community through the creation of a public artwork at the walk-through from Salisbury Court to Heathmont Village.

Funding allocation: $7,508

Fresh Theatre for Social Change

Young at Arts includes a school holiday theatre program and workshops over 3 days including performance, for a variety of youth cohorts providing a safe space for up to 80+ young people to be creative and learn new skills.

Funding allocation: $5,500

Heartsleeve Creatives

Local theatre company to perform Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night in the rear gardens at Wyreena Community Arts Centre across several evenings during Summer 2027.

Funding allocation: $4,500

Maroondah Symphony Orchestra Incorporated

A Community Choral-Orchestral Collaboration. MSO will present Handel’s Messiah as a one-off large-scale choral-orchestral performance for public in November 2026 at George Wood Performing Arts Centre. This project will bring together a community orchestra, choir, four guest solo singers and a specialist trumpeter.

Funding allocation: $1,950

Mullum Netball Club

Mullum Netball Club will engage Aboriginal artist, Simone Thomson (Wurundjeri/Yorta Yorta) to design a culturally meaningful artwork to be used on all club players and volunteer uniforms, website, and social media and communications.

Funding allocation: $2,200

Ringwood Art Society

Maroondah Art Fair is a community arts event for local artists, students, and residents to feature an exhibition, artist stalls, workshops, and live demonstrations, providing opportunities for creatives to showcase and sell their work. Partnering with Ringwood Secondary College and Central Ringwood Community Centre.

Funding allocation: $6,300

Annual Community Grants

Recipient Description
4Tk Australia Ltd

4Tk in the Wild provides excursions and sessions to engage youth and raise awareness of Biolink environmental issues.

Funding allocation: $2,000

Australian Chin Community (Eastern Melbourne) Inc.

Upskilling program for Chin community leaders to strengthen engagement, improve operations and deliver quality programs.

Funding allocation: $7,000

Australian Skateboarding Federation

Deliver Croydon Shred, free elite-led skateboarding workshops that give youth, women and culturally diverse communities the skills and confidence to enjoy local skateparks.

Funding allocation: $5,000

Croydon Hills Community Care

A Healthy Senior Refugee Community supports older people through activities that build connection, participation and wellbeing.

Funding allocation: $3,000

Deshan Chinese Seniors Community Groups Inc.

A wellbeing program for Chinese-speaking seniors, offering group activities, peer support and dementia education.

Funding allocation: $3,000

Greek Elderly Citizens Club of Maroondah

Weekly lunches, games and outings for Greek seniors to reduce isolation and support affordable community connection.

Funding allocation: $2,000

Interchange Outer East

Evolve Social Hub offers activities including arts and crafts, board games, food and a sensory space, providing an inclusive environment for people with disability to connect and socialise.

Funding allocation: $5,000

Life's Little Treasures Foundation

Teddy Bears Picnic supports Maroondah families affected by premature babies through activities, connection and community awareness at Ringwood Lake.

Funding allocation: $3,000

Maroondah Indian Community Inc.

A 12-week program offering health education, movement and peer support for South and Southeast Asian adults.

Funding allocation: $10,000

Maroondah Italian Senior Citizens Club

Community wellbeing initiative for older Italian residents, offering lunches, social events and outings to reduce isolation and celebrate cultural identity.

Funding allocation: $2,000

Maroondah Volleyball

Volleyball to You uses volleyball to build relationships and connections between the Chin/Burmese community and the wider Maroondah community.

Funding allocation: $3,000

Melbourne Eastern Netball Association

MENA's Festival of Netball welcomes all ages, focusing on disability and seniors, while supporting connection, fitness and wellbeing.

Funding allocation: $2,550

Mullum Netball Club

Mullum Netball Club will partner with a local Indigenous artist to create a culturally meaningful artwork for uniforms, the website, social media and communications.

Funding allocation: $2,200

NFP Tech

A digital project connecting community workers to a shared service-mapping app, improving referrals and coordination for vulnerable residents.

Funding allocation: $10,000

Ringwood Church of Christ

A free English conversation program using interactive learning to help migrants and job seekers improve language skills.

Funding allocation: $5,000

Ringwood Japanese Playgroup

Weekly playgroup for Japanese families, offering play, learning and cultural activities to support child development.

Funding allocation: $1,000

Ringwood Spiders All-abilities Sports Club

Ringwood Spiders' Developing Lives program enriches members' wellbeing and skills, promoting inclusion and lifelong personal development through football.

Funding allocation: $2,550

SalamFest Incorporated

SalamFest's Islamic cultural program features workshops and talks that foster social connection, inclusion and celebration of Maroondah's diversity.

Funding allocation: $4,000

Sharing Hope

Stories & Strides brings together Myanmar refugee youth and the wider community through storytelling and sport, building inclusion, friendships and cultural pride.

Funding allocation: $8,000

St Kilda Gatehouse Incorporated

Specialist outreach and early intervention program for young women, disrupting exploitation and strengthening safety and wellbeing.

Funding allocation: $5,000

TeamSports4All

Sports participation project covering costs and supporting disadvantaged children and families to join local sporting clubs.

Funding allocation: $5,000

The Onemda Association Inc.

Inclusive pathways project for young people with intellectual disability, building work, volunteering and community participation opportunities.

Funding allocation: $9,700

Changemaker Grants

Recipient Description
Empowered Women in Trades

The THRIVE program is a targeted initiative in Maroondah, offering six interactive workshops and one-on-one consultations to help employers create inclusive, psychologically safe, and gender-equitable workplaces, especially in trades. Supported by Swinburne University and the Local Jobs Program, THRIVE aims to reduce barriers for women, strengthen workplace culture, and build a resilient local economy.

Funding allocation: $18,000

Migrant Information Centre (Eastern Melbourne)

Maroondah Burmese Social Enterprise Pathways will engage 50 newly arrived Burmese women in Maroondah to co-design pathways for social and economic participation. Through community consultation and partnerships with SisterWorks, Parks Victoria, and the Business Council, Year 1 will identify one preferred enterprise model (sewing, cooking, or gardening) for pilot implementation in Year 2.

Funding allocation: $20,000

Emergency Relief Grants

Recipient Description
Croydon North Community Meals

Community Service Days at Croydon North provide meals, support, and referrals, fostering connection and inclusion for all attendees.

Funding allocation: $6,000

Croydon Uniting Church Helping Hand

Croydon UC Helping Hand Project offers emergency food and toiletries to Maroondah locals, letting clients select what they need.

Funding allocation: $5,500

Eastern Food Rescue

EFR to ensure resilient, innovative, and uninterrupted food relief for Maroondah residents via daily free markets from a new venue provided by Eastland.

Funding allocation: $6,000

Feed One Feed All Inc

FoFA Volunteers to prepare 2,800 meals for Maroondah residents in need in 2026/27.

Funding allocation: $6,000

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Ringwood

Good Shepherd and Croydon Hills Baptist Church to provide a nutritious weekly dinner, fostering community and belonging for Winter Shelter guests.

Funding allocation: $3,500

Hope City Mission Inc.

Home delivery service, providing food relief to vulnerable Maroondah residents who cannot access services due to transport, health, or age barriers.

Funding allocation: $6,000

Maroondah Winter Shelter

Program to assist men experiencing homelessness, including meals and accommodation during winter.

Funding allocation: $7,000

New Community Ringwood

Provide meals and connection for vulnerable people in Ringwood and Croydon, in partnership with local volunteers and community groups.

Funding allocation: $5,000

North Ringwood Care

NRCare offers essential groceries, health and financial support, and referrals, while assisting Winter Shelter and local school meal programs, always prioritising dignity and nutrition.

Funding allocation: $4,000

Outer East Foodshare Inc.

OEF to supply food to Maroondah relief agencies, reducing their costs and enabling them to support more clients.

Funding allocation: $6,000

The Dining Room Mission Inc

The Dining Room Mission Meal Service offers a weekly dine-in or takeaway meal and welfare support for people in Croydon who are experiencing hardship

Funding allocation: $5,500

The Freedom Initiative

Foodbank Program providing food, vouchers, and referrals to vulnerable Maroondah households to address food insecurity and strengthen community wellbeing.

Funding allocation: $3,500

TLC Support Inc

TLC Church Foodbank provides food and hygiene assistance to people experiencing financial hardship in the Maroondah community and surrounding areas, subject to service availability and eligibility.

Funding allocation: $2,000

Urban Life Care

Support for food, toiletries, and clothing relief for Maroondah residents facing hardship.

Funding allocation: $3,500