Applications have opened for Australia Post’s 2023 Community Grants program, which funds community-led, local projects that connect individuals and communities to improve mental health and mental wellbeing.
From today, eligible not-for-profit groups across Australia can apply for grants of up to $10,000 to support projects which have the primary purpose of improving mental health and wellbeing in local communities. Last year’s program saw half of all grants, totalling over $200,000, awarded to organisations located across regional and remote Australia.
Australia Post Executive General Manager, Community, Sustainability and Stakeholder Engagement, Tanny Mangos, said the wide range of grant recipients from last year’s program demonstrates a genuine need to continue the support of community-led projects.
“Each year there is diversity across our Community Grant applicants and the valuable services they provide their community. From after-school programs that help teenagers navigate loss, to groups supporting people experiencing loneliness while living or caring for someone with dementia.
“The common thread running through all the projects Australia Post supports is a primary focus on improving mental health and wellbeing,” Ms Mangos said.
In Victoria, one such organisation is Six Degrees, whose program, Helping Hands, is a community-based, peer-support program for young Muslim people.
The program connects ‘Help Seekers’ with ‘Help Givers’, who have basic knowledge in psychology, but it’s the connection between community members that often offers the most benefit.
Helping Hands Management Lead, Hana Umer said it was important for them make sure people accessing the program knew that it was for them.
“That’s why Helping Hands is so unique because we connect young Muslim people with experienced individuals who understand their background.”
Funds from the 2022 Australia Post Community Grant enabled the Six Degrees team to create promotional materials for their community events, provide more resources to their ‘Help Givers’, and curate a welcoming space for people to attend sessions.
“As a society we’re making strides towards improving our collective mental health and wellbeing, but communities need bespoke, localised approaches if we want to make a real difference at a local level,” Ms Mangos said.
“Our Post Offices are at the heart of Australian communities, so we’re deeply connected to the impact of locally-led initiatives. We’re incredibly proud of our Community Grants program and its role in supporting groups as they work to deliver positive mental health outcomes across Australia” Ms Mangos concluded.
Since 2013, 750 projects have been awarded a Community Grant from Australia Post, with 70 grants in 2022. The Community Grants program illustrates Australia Post’s commitment to mental health, which includes a partnership with Beyond Blue that to date has delivered mental health resources to more than seven million letterboxes across Australia. Australia Post is also a founding member of Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds, which supports mental health and wellbeing in the transport and logistics industries.
Organisations interested in applying are encouraged to review the Community Grant guidelines carefully to check eligibility requirements, with eligible community organisations able to apply until 11.59pm on 2 July 2023 at auspost.com.au/grants.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome in September 2023.
Media contact:
Anna Garcia, Senior PR Manager
M: 0409 402 966
