Grants and Community Assistance

Funding is open all year round.

Objectives of Flinders Shire Council Community Grants Program – Events Stream

The objectives of the Flinders Shire Council’s Community Grants Program – Events Stream is designed to build relationships with community organisations to provide benefits to the Flinders Shire residents and visitors by ensuring Flinders Shire is a vibrant active community.

This program aims to support community organisations in Flinders Shire by:

• Providing funding opportunities to community organisations to strengthen their organisation and develop their future events;
• Promoting community awareness and value of cultural and community events and festivals;
• Enhancing the profile and appeal of the region and attracting new visitors to the region by a diverse events and festivals program;
• Facilitating community interaction and stakeholder relationships with Flinders Shire Council;
• Generating local economic activity and development.

The Events Stream Funding categories

Event Support – Up to $2,500

• Focusing on supporting local events.
• Applications are limited to one per community group/organisation per event.
• Applications are open all year round and must be received 8 weeks prior to the project start date.

Event Development – Up to $10,000

• Focusing on the development and building capacity of events and seed funding for new and developing initiatives.
• Applications are limited to one per organisation per financial year.
• Applications must be received a minimum of 8 weeks prior and no later than 6 months before the event.

Event Special Request (Major Events) – Up to $20,000

• Focusing on supporting major events that demonstrate a strong social / community and economic development benefit.
• Applications are limited to one per organisation per financial year.
• Applications must be received a minimum of 8 weeks prior and no later than 6 months before the event.

For full Guidelines and to apply please visit - https://flinders.smartygrants.com.au/

For further information and assistance, including advice on eligibility and application forms, please contact:

Community Development Officer – Health & Wellbeing

Flinders Shire Council

Phone: (07) 4741 2900

Email: sportandrec@flinders.qld.gov.au

Funding open all year around.

Objectives of Flinders Shire Council Community Grants Program – Infrastructure and Equipment Stream

The objectives of the Flinders Shire Council’s Facility Infrastructure and Equipment Stream is to provide assistance to local community groups/organisations to encourage and assist them in the development and upgrading of existing facilities and access funding for the purchase of equipment that is integral to the operations, sustainability and growth of the group/organisation.

Facility Infrastructure and Equipment Categories

• Facility Infrastructure and Equipment – Up to $10,000.
• Facility Infrastructure and Equipment Special Request – Up to $20,000.

For full Guidelines and to apply please visit - https://flinders.smartygrants.com.au

For further information and assistance, including advice on eligibility and application forms, please contact:

Community Development Officer – Health & Wellbeing

Flinders Shire Council

Phone: (07) 4741 2900

Email: sportandrec@flinders.qld.gov.au

1.0 COMMUNITY QUICK RESPONSE DONATIONS INFORMATION

The objectives of the Flinders Shire Council’s Community Quick Response Donations Program, is designed to build relationships with community organisations to provide benefits to the Flinders Shire residents and visitors by ensuring Flinders Shire is a vibrant active community.

This program aims to support community organisations in Flinders Shire by:

• Providing mentoring opportunities to community organisations to strengthen their organisation;
• Promoting community awareness and value of cultural and community events and festivals;
• Enhancing the profile and appeal of the region and attracting new visitors to the region by a diverse events and festivals program;
• Facilitating community interaction and stakeholder relationships with Flinders Shire Council;
• Generating local economic activity and development

1.1 GUIDELINES

• The decision of Council on funding applications is final.
• Financial Support from the policy may require compliance with specific conditions before payment. Should these conditions not be met by the specified date, Council reserves the right to revoke the offer of support.
• Flinders Shire Council would appreciate relevant acknowledgement for their donation.
• All successful recipients will be recorded in a donations register which Council will have the right to publish as they see fit.

1.2 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Be a Community Organisation – An incorporated non-profit organisation / club or charity consisting of people having common interests. Includes sport and recreation clubs, social clubs, school P&F / P&C associations, arts and cultural groups, hospital foundations, religious orders and service organisations. Community organisations exclude schools, businesses and government agencies.

• Donation request does not exceed more than $500.
• The donation request directly supports a demonstrated need within the community or the project provides a direct or indirect benefit for residents in the community.
• Have a valid public liability certificate.

1.3 INELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

• Organisations are ineligible if previous Council donations are not satisfactorily acquitted.
• Organisations / Clubs that have an outstanding payment owed to Council.
• Individuals, unincorporated groups, political, businesses and for-profit groups.

1.4 SELECTION CRITERIA

Applications must demonstrate:

• Donation request does not exceed more than $500
• The donation request directly supports a demonstrated need within the community or the project provides a direct or indirect benefit for residents in the community and
• The applicant organisation is making a contribution to the project and
• Have current public liability to the value of $20m and
• All eligibility criteria have been met.

1.5 INELIGIBLE ITEMS

The following will not be considered for funding:

• General operating costs (eg electricity, rates, phone, rent, meals, accommodation, and maintenance)
• Private/commercial ventures.
• Support for an individual pursuit.
• Commercial activities.
• Ongoing salaries/wages for staff (a position created for the length of a project is considered eligible).Projects that do not involve the Flinders Shire Council community.

1.6 HOW AND WHEN WILL I BE NOTIFIED

In determining the level of assistance required, Council shall:

• Assess application against the Selection Criteria and Policy
• Establish the level of funding available in terms of its’ coming budget requirements;
• Apportion such funding across each application eligible for funding.

Process

Applications will be submitted for consideration at the monthly council meetings. Applications must be submitted a minimum of 6 weeks prior to event to allow adequate time for processing.

Successful applicants

You will receive an Approval Letter and a purchase order for the donation amount requested within 2 weeks of approval. Your Community Organisation will be required to submit an invoice for payment.

Unsuccessful applicants

Failure to receive funding is not necessarily due to a poor application but may be the result of the demand for funds. For feedback on your application, please refer to the contact phone number given in your notification letter. You may wish to consider submitting your application to another round of donations.

PLEASE NOTE

Last minute applications outside the 6 week time frame will not be considered.

2.0 QUICK RESPONSE CONTRIBUTION TO SPORTING EXCELLENCE INFORMATION

The Quick Response Contribution to Sporting Excellence is a program to help foster and support our local participations in representational sports. The program is to assist with costs associated with attending events.

2.1 GUIDELINES

If Council approves the contribution application, the applicant must adhere to the following requirements:

• Obtain all necessary consents and approvals.
• If under any circumstances the competitor does not attend the event, they must return all funds to the Council within two weeks after the completion of the event.
• An obligation to notify Council of any material changes in the event. E.g. event dates changed.
• Appear in Flinders Shire promotional material and media releases in the form of written press, photographs and digital media and give public acknowledgement to the Council’s contribution.
• Council must receive a completed application form from the competitor towards the costs of their sporting activity four weeks prior to the actual event or as soon as practical after selection;
• The application must detail their sporting achievements over the last twelve months and include confirmation from the peak body of their selection;
• The applicant must be a current resident of Flinders Shire, or a child a dependant of a Shire resident, e.g. student at boarding school;
• The trip must be organised by a regional, state, national or internationally accredited peak body/organisation;
• The applicant must have been selected through a point systems, placings or selection through a formal sporting body in their chosen sport.
• Council will not consider school trips/excursions under this policy;
• Successful applicants must be willing to appear in Flinders Shire promotional material and media releases in the form of written press, photographs and digital media.
• Flinders Shire Council requests the competitor to give public acknowledgement of Council’s contribution.

2.2 FUNDING TIERS

3.0 CONTACT

Community Development Officer - Health and Wellbeing

Flinders Shire Council

P (07) 4741 2900

E sportandrec@flinders.qld.gov.au

4.0 APPLICATION AND GUIDELINES

Applications are open throughout the year, however do have a six week turn around time. Apply via https://flinders.smartygrants.com.au

Flinders Shire Council proudly collaborates with Arts Queensland to bolster arts, culture, and heritage endeavours via the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF). RADF serves as a catalyst for recognising the significance of arts, culture, and heritage by aligning with local preferences. This initiative, a collaborative effort between the Queensland Government, Arts Queensland, and Flinders Shire Council, underscores its commitment to nurturing Arts, Culture, and Heritage within the Flinders Shire region.

Important dates

Community rounds open in September each year and remain open until all funds have been expended.

How to apply

Complete the online RADF grant application form

NOTE: Applications must be submitted online using the SmartyGrants form.

RADF Community Grant documents

• Download the suite of documents HERE(ZIP, 10MB)
• RADF Guidelines(PDF, 9MB)
• Auspice Agreement(PDF, 85KB)
• Eligibility Checklist(PDF, 72KB)
• Logos - Portrait(PNG, 619KB) or Landscape(PNG, 634KB)
• Project Proposal(PDF, 35KB)
• Risk Assessment(PDF, 122KB)
• Tax Invoice template(PDF, 9KB)

For further information about the RADF Program or help completing the application please contact council on (07) 4741 2900 or via email at flinders@flinders.qld.gov.au.

Office hours are 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).

RADF Assessment Panel

RADF Grants are assessed by a panel of community members and Flinders Shire Councillors. Their assessments are collated by Flinders Shire Council staff and a recommendation is prepared for Council approval. The Flinders Shire Council invites community members to join the RADF Assessment Panel, contact us if you are interested in this volunteer opportunity.

Arts Advisory Group

Have your say and champion arts and culture within the Flinders Shire region. For further information and to complete the online form - Group Member Information and Nomination Form

The Flinders Shire Businesses and Investors Incentives Policy is a Flinders Shire Council initiative to attract new investments, to support revitalisation of local Businesses, generate investment and create employment opportunities across the Flinders Shire region. The goals of this program are to increase the economic opportunities for businesses through increased patronage, support new investments that generate economic benefit to the region, support the preservation and improvement of buildings and make more attractive commercial streetscapes across townships in the Shire.

Council will work in partnership with local business owners and operators to facilitate and support their requirements.

Businesses Incentives Policy(PDF, 3MB)

Businesses Incentives Application Form

Flinders Shire Council is offering an annual scholarship, up to the value of $5,000 per annum, towards an approved course equivalent to AQF Level 7 or higher in the fields listed below under “Eligibility”.

Council selects approved courses based on skills shortages in these fields throughout Local Government areas in Queensland, especially in rural and remote Communities with the intent of developing and retaining qualified professionals in the region.

This is an annual Scholarship that must be applied for and will be awarded on an annual basis.

To be eligible for a Scholarship, the student needs to either be a Flinders Shire resident or maintain their residency in the Flinders Shire through their parents/grandparents/guardian (e.g. after commencing an eligible, approved course). The student therefore may be attending an educational institution outside the Shire when they apply for a Scholarship.

Scholarship applicants may be a completing their senior school study and be commencing, or have already commenced, study towards a degree qualification.

Council at its discretion may award more than one Scholarship in a single year, however Council is not obligated to provide a Scholarship every year, even where Council has called for and considered nominations for the Scholarship.

Applications for the 2025 Round of Scholarships

• Open – TBA
• Close – TBA

Eligibility

To be eligible for scholarships, applicants must have enrolled in or intend to enrol in study for 2025 or have already commenced full-time study towards a Bachelor Degree (AQF7 or higher) in the following fields:

• Business Management (including Accounting and IT)
• Health Services (including Doctor, Nursing, Veterinary, Allied Health, Aged Care and the like)
• Engineering (Civil, Water and Wastewater)
• Manufacturing (Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers)
• Agricultural sciences (including Agribusiness, Agriculture, Natural resources and land management, and Horticulture).

Applicants must be a permanent resident of Australia, Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen or a permanent Australian Humanitarian Visa holder.

They must also be:

• a resident of the Flinders Shire Council for a minimum of two years immediately prior to, and at the time of, the application; or
• be a child or a grandchild of a current resident of the Flinders Shire (minimum of 5 years immediately prior to, and at the time of, the application) and are living away from the shire to pursue higher education; and provide a commitment to live and work in Flinders Shire Region after the completion of studies.

To Apply

To apply for a Flinders Shire Council University Scholarship:

• Please complete the Application Form
• Refer to the “Supporting Documentation” section of the form and ensure that you have attached the necessary documents to allow Council to effectively assess your application.
• Refer to the “Submitting Your Application” section of the form for information on how to submit your application.

Application Form(PDF, 301KB)