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About our community grant program
Since 2021, the department, through the North Richmond Precinct Project, has provided $4 million to fund more than 40 community-identified projects that aim to make North Richmond a safer, more vibrant and connected community.
Projects to date have included community art, a beginner’s cooking program, celebrations of local cultures, programs that support young people’s dreams and aspirations, and new playgrounds and outdoor gyms at the Richmond Estate.
2023-2024 community grants
As a result of direct feedback from the North Richmond Precinct Community Committee members, the 2023-2024 grants program is made up of two categories, with two streams in each:
| Category | Streams |
| Community Strengthening | $1000 - $5000 grants $5001 - $30,000 grants |
| Community Infrastructure | Planning grants: up to $30,000 Capital Works grants: $50,000 - $300,000 |
For more information about grant streams and categories download the community grant guidelines.
Successful projects
2022-23 projects
| Project | Project description | Applicant |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Women's Enterprise and Community Projects (WECP) Incubate Program | Small business mentoring and development program for women | Two Square Pegs |
| 2100 Media Productions | Record label based on the Richmond Estate will mentor 10 young musicians | Kon Deng (auspiced by Auspicious Arts Projects) |
| Arts for Richmond Community | Richmond Estate arts project | Belgium Ave Neighbourhood House (BANH) |
| Arts workshops for Aboriginal people who live, work, access services in North Richmond | Art workshops for local Aboriginal community members with completed art displayed in a public space. | BANH / Blak Pearl |
| Chinese Opera Training Class | Formation of an opera club for older people to enjoy and learn to perform traditional Chinese opera | Richmond Joy Choir (auspiced by BANH) |
| Community Dance and Connection (CDC) | African drumming and dance workshops facilitated by a social worker to discuss mental health and wellbeing | African Family Services |
| Community Haircut and Massage Project | Free haircuts and massages for disadvantaged North Richmond community members | Community Haircut and Massage Projects (auspiced by BANH) |
| Enriching North Richmond's Residents' Physical and Healthy Life | Traditional Chinese arts and culture activities to engage older members of the Chinese community | Yarra Ethnic Arts Exchange Association |
| Ethiopian and Eritrean catering | Local community events with traditional homecooked Ethiopian and Eritrean food | H&L Eritrean and Ethiopian Catering (auspiced by BANH) |
| Feed my Mind | Cooking program for adults with limited / no cooking skills. | Cultivating Community |
| Festival of Women Youth in Sport | A one-day festival as a vehicke to increase access to community sport, employment and health services for girls and women | Women in North Richmond Inc |
| Fostering Leadership and Active Participation through the Fitzroy Lions Soccer Club | Support for young people to play soccer at a club level; opportunities for young people to participate in the paid junior coaches program | Fitzroy Lions Soccer Club |
| Interpretive signage and launch of Aboriginal Gathering Space | Official launch, plus interpretive signage and educational materials to explain the cultural and spiritual significance of the Aboriginal Gathering Space to the wider community | BANH (in partnership with Wurundjeri Council and local Aboriginal Elders) |
| Healthy Minds Together | A community-led social enterprise to deliver culturally responsive mental health first aid (MHFA) training for 4 people to become MHFA instructors, with the aim of supporting participants to start culturally responsive MHFA businesses. | North Richmond Community Health |
| Life Hacks | Skills development for young people preparing for employment, further education, training and independent living | Young Assets Foundation |
| Mahjong competition, free community lecture | Events designed to increase connection within the local Chinese community | North Richmond Elderly Chinese Friendship Assoc Melbourne |
| Migrant Strengthening through Intergeneration Connection | Connecting young South Sudanese people with community elders, using traditional dance as a means of building and strengthening cross-generational connections and understanding. | Apuot Bol (auspiced by Mzuri Dance) |
| Murals and pigeon deterrents | Murals painted on the Richmond Housing Estate, plus industrial cleaning and installation of pigeon deterrents | BANH in partnership with Robbie Thorpe |
| North Richmond Markets | Provision of food relief at monthly Twilight Market, implementation of a Friday Caravan Market | BANH |
| North Richmond on the Grass: a Music and Community Festival | A one-day celebration of Somali, South Sudanese and East African music and culture | Village Festival of New Performance |
| Project One Lennox St Spring Markets | Two markets featuring street food, music, entertainment, workshops and stalls | Victoria Street Business Assoc |
| Referral & Support Workshop Program | Parent-focussed workshops, training and drop-in sessions to build educational and employment capacity and pathways | Carringbush |
| Richmond Self Defence & Boxing Program | Health and fitness program for young people living on Richmond Housing Estate. | NRCH |
| Roots and Rhythms: Embracing Diversity Through Art and Culture | School-based African dance and drumming workshops for children with complex vulnerabilities, to celebrate culture | Mzuri Dance |
| Teaching and Learning Traditional Chinese Peking Opera Project | Fortnightly classes traditional Chinese Peking Opera classes | Mei Lan Fang's Art Chinese Beijing Opera Friendship Association |
| The Seed Network Film Productions | Mentoring young people to build skills in digital film production | The Seed Network (auspiced by Youth Development Australia) |
| Thread Together North Richmond Shop | Employment of a Retail Development Officer responsible for operations and volunteer training at Thread Together charity store based at the Learning Bank | Yarra City Council |
| Trash to Treasure with @Ecopawsitive | Sewing project for older women to make and sell clothing and accessories for pets using recycled materials | Ecopawsitive |
| ATM Café | Takeaway coffee window at the Learning Bank's ATM Cafe that will provide barista training and employment for local community members | North Richmond Community Health |
2021-22 projects
| Project | Description | Project leads |
|---|---|---|
| Community Referral & Support Service | Assistance for Richmond Housing estate residents toconnect to local job education and employment services and programs | Carringbush Adult Education |
| Festival of Women | An inclusive one-day festival celebrating women | Sarah Cather |
| Migrant Strengthening through Engagement & Arts | A dance and community project designed to strengthen connection for African Australian migrant families. | Mzuri Dance, Apuot Bol |
| Women’s Health, Economic & Inclusion Project | A series of holistic, community-led programs designed to build capacity and resilience, to promote wellness and to empower local women. | Trang Du Mzuri Dance Hoa Tran Thuy Phuong No |
| Moon Lantern Festival | A three-day arts and cultural event celebrating the diverse community of North Richmond, featuring food, music, performance, dance, visual arts and a sideshow alley. | The Village Festival |
| Lennox Markets | Activating Lennox Street as a charming and vibrant multicultural Sunday market once a month. | Victoria Street Business Association |
| Richmond Homework Club | Education support for young people living in North Richmond | Young Assets Foundation |
| Victoria Street Alive! | Bringing the community’s ideas to life to revitalise Victoria Street through markets and art events. | Victoria Street Alive! |
| Intergenerational Recreation Space | A space on the housing estate designed to support younger and older people’s enjoyment of the entire space and to facilitate intergenerational exchange. | Alexei Collett / Homes Victoria |
| Outdoor Gym | Providing the community with a public and free outdoor gym facility to enhance physical fitness and community amenity of the estate. | Ali Warsame / Homes Victoria |
More information
Applying for a community grant
The department welcomes applications from all eligible community groups and organisations.