Local community wellbeing events and initiatives will receive a $5 million funding boost as part of the NSW Government’s $130 million mental health recovery package aimed at mitigating the immediate and longer-term impacts of COVID-19 on the people of NSW.
The COVID-19 Community Connection and Wellbeing Program will support projects that aim to build social connection, resilience and well-being in a sustainable, embedded way. Grants of between $1,000 to $300,000 are available, with applications open until 2 May 2022.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations, unincorporated community groups, charitable and not-for-profit organisations, councils and joint organisations, are encouraged to apply.
Three funding pathways are open to applicants:
- Pathway 1 offers between $75,001 and $300,000 for larger scale projects that will be completed within 22 months.
- Pathway 2 offers between $10,001 and $75,000 for smaller projects that focus on local needs and will be delivered within 12 months.
- Pathway 3 offers between $1,000 and $10,000 for small projects or events that focus on local needs that can be delivered within 1-6 months. Local councils and joint organisations of councils are not eligible.
$4 million will be awarded through a competitive funding round open from 5 April to 2 May.
A further $1 million will be available to approved Pathway 1 projects for allocation at the 12-month milestone, where projects will be assessed against agreed key performance indicators. All projects must be completed by 30 June 2024.
