{"id":8139,"date":"2026-10-02T14:45:19","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T04:45:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/?p=8139"},"modified":"2026-10-02T14:49:59","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T04:49:59","slug":"strengthening-local-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/latest-news\/strengthening-local-communities\/","title":{"rendered":"Strengthening local communities"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"8139\" class=\"elementor elementor-8139\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-286b5191 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"286b5191\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a2897f1 e-con-full home-banner e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a2897f1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d7849bb elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-laptop__width-initial elementor-widget-tablet_extra__width-initial elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2d7849bb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Strengthening local communities<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-741242e8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"741242e8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-f88c87c elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time> 2 October 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b4dd185 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4b4dd185\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6191cc23 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6191cc23\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af8589f link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"af8589f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW42524755 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\"><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW158526775 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW12745220 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW12745220 BCX8\">The Australian Government\u2019s Stronger Communities <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW12745220 BCX8\">Programme<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW12745220 BCX8\"> is offering grants of up to $20,000 for small infrastructure projects that create social benefits for local communities. Each federal electorate has funding available, with local MPs <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW12745220 BCX8\">identifying<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW12745220 BCX8\"> potential projects and inviting eligible <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW12745220 BCX8\">organisations<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW12745220 BCX8\"> to apply.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW12745220 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-42e7fec link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"42e7fec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW50117755 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW50117755 BCX8\">This could be an opportunity to make a practical improvement in your area for people supported by Melba and the wider community. Think about what would make a local space more welcoming, accessible, <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW50117755 BCX8\">connected<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW50117755 BCX8\"> or sustainable. Ideas might include improving access to community infrastructure, creating an inclusive outdoor area, upgrading technology that supports connection, or adding features that build community and belonging.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW50117755 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fee8b82 link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fee8b82\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW134588603 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW134588603 BCX8\">We would like to hear about improvements that could make a meaningful difference. At this stage, you do not need a fully developed proposal, just share the need you have noticed, your idea and who could benefit.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW134588603 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-52bec94d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"52bec94d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-745d1a15 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"745d1a15\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e395967 link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e395967\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW27984906 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW27984906 BCX8\">Please send your ideas to <\/span><\/span><a class=\"Hyperlink SCXW27984906 BCX8\" href=\"mailto:communications@melbasupport.com.au\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW27984906 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW27984906 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">communications@melbasupport.com.au<\/span><\/span><\/a><span class=\"TextRun SCXW27984906 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW27984906 BCX8\"> by Friday 30 October.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW27984906 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-464d84e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"464d84e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e06bd21 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6e06bd21\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-16b164e3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"16b164e3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Share<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67a67c73 elementor-share-buttons--view-icon elementor-share-buttons--skin-flat elementor-share-buttons--shape-circle elementor-share-buttons--color-custom elementor-grid-0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-share-buttons\" data-id=\"67a67c73\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"share-buttons.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_facebook\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Share on facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fab-facebook\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path 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92.3-47.6 102-74.1 131.6-96.3 154-113.7zM256 320c23.2.4 56.6-29.2 73.4-41.4 132.7-96.3 142.8-104.7 173.4-128.7 5.8-4.5 9.2-11.5 9.2-18.9v-19c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48H48C21.5 64 0 85.5 0 112v19c0 7.4 3.4 14.3 9.2 18.9 30.6 23.9 40.7 32.4 173.4 128.7 16.8 12.2 50.2 41.8 73.4 41.4z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Australian Government\u2019s Stronger Communities Programme is offering grants of up to $20,000 for small infrastructure projects that create social benefits for local communities. Each federal electorate has funding available, with local MPs identifying potential projects and inviting eligible organisations to apply. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":8149,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Strengthening local communities | Melba Support Services<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Australian Government\u2019s Stronger Communities Programme is offering grants of up to $20,000 for small infrastructure projects that create social benefits for local communities. 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