Older and Active Community Grants

1. New and emerging older adult community groups, especially those who can address an unmet need to the Darebin community.

2. Age-friendly events and celebrations run by older adult community groups, including culturally specific celebrations and community-led events during Seniors Month in October.

3. Activities that can increase social connection amongst older adults within the City of Darebin, particularly with those who are feeling socially isolated and/or experience barriers to social connection.

To apply for the Older and Active Community Grant 2026-2027, applicants need to be either:

• a not-for-profit organisation, charity or incorporated association

• auspiced by another not-for-profit, charity or Incorporated association

• not incorporated and have a bank account in the name of the community organisation

• hold public liability insurance up to $20,000,000 at application time and when the project has commence.

To ensure Council funding is distributed fairly to the Darebin community, the following cohorts are ineligible for the Older and Active Community Grant 2026-2027:

• Applicants who already receive funding within the Funding and Support Program from Darebin City Council.

• Applicants that facilitate activities that are the responsibility of other levels of government (i.e. state, federal).

• Individuals.

• Political organisations.

• Religious organisations, applying with the purpose of promoting religion or proselytising.

• Businesses or for-profit organisations.

• Previous Darebin Council grant recipients who have not submitted their Acquittal Report and/or have outstanding debts with Council.

• Applicants that own or operate Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs) or hold events/activities/meetings in venues that have EGMs and/or receive sponsorship or support (in-kind or cash) from EGM revenue.

• Incorporated, not-for-profit organisations can apply up to $3,000 per application.
• Not-incorporated community groups can apply for grants up to $2,000 but must have a bank account in the name of the organisation and demonstrate that they operate as a not-for-profit organisation.
• Not-incorporated community groups that are auspiced by an incorporated association can apply up to $3,000 for their application.

• Venue hire
• Insurance (e.g. Public Liability Insurance).
• Incorporation or other registration fees
• Staff hire (e.g. exercise instructors, teachers, cooks, cleaners, entertainers, interpreters).
• Equipment (Purchase or Hire) such as musical instruments, mobile phones, laptop, tablets, audio-visual equipment, sports equipment, craft materials.
• Costumes and decorations.
• Printing, stationary, advertising and promotional costs
• Catering and grocery costs
• Transport
• Outings and other activity costs

• Activities that do not align with the Our Darebin Plan 2025–2029 or the priority areas of the Older and Active Community Grant 2026–2027.
• Activities that are the responsibility of other levels of government (e.g. state, federal).
• New building projects, capital works and facility maintenance projects.
• Activities or projects that have a religious or political purpose which seeks to promote core beliefs & religious functions.
• Activities already funded through other Darebin City Council programs or activities, including grant and sponsorship programs.
• Activities that duplicate existing services/activities unless it can be demonstrated that it meets an unmet community need.
• Capital equipment purchases (i.e. power tools, building maintenance or capital improvements such as heating/cooling systems, shade sails, solar panels etc.).
• Outstanding loans and debts.
• Projects and activities that have already commenced where the organisation has committed expenditure prior to the grant notification date (activities will not be funded retrospectively.)
• Gift vouchers, prizes and trophies.
• Recurrent rent of private venues.
• Utilities (gas, electricity, water.)  
• Any project also funded (cash or in-kind) through Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) revenue, including sponsorship or venue hire.
• Any project that operates in a venue with EGMs.
• Any project that promotes gambling.
• Alcohol purchases.