The Hon Barnaby Joyce MP

Member for New England

MEDIA RELEASE

27 September 2026

STRONGER COMMUNTIES PROGRAMME ROUND 10

GRANTS TO COVER UP TO 100% OF PROJECT COSTS BUT EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST CLOSE SHORTLY

Federal Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce has welcomed Round 10 of the Stronger Communities Programme. Grant recipients will be covered for up to 100 per cent of eligible project costs except for local governing bodies where grant funding will be up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs.

A maximum of 20 projects will be funded in each electorate, with successful projects receiving a grant of between a minimum of $2,500 and a maximum of $20,000 for projects not exceeding a total cost of $50,000.

Mr Joyce is calling on local councils and community organisations across the New England to start preparing applications for projects to receive a share in $150,000 of an overall $22.5million in total funding nationally.

“The last round of this program was extremely popular as always, so I’m pleased that Community Groups in the New England will have an opportunity to apply for funding again.” “Regional Australians deserve the same opportunities that people in metropolitan cities have, and the Stronger Communities Programme helps make this happen,” Mr Joyce said

 Walcha and District Historical Society Incorporated

 Tamworth Regional Craft Centre Inc

       Scone Neighbourhood Resource Centre Incorporated

 New England Railway Incorporated

 Sunnyfield 

             North, West, Slopes and Plains Mountain Bikers Inc

             Bolivia Progress Association Incorporated

             Inverell & District Soccer Association

             Uralla Historical Society Inc

              Inverell Community Radio Incorporated 

             Merriwa and District Rescue Squad Inc

              Legacy Club Services

              School of Arts Tenterfield Incorporated 

“It is important that we fund not only the big infrastructure projects but the smaller ones too because local organisations are vital to the fabric of our local communities here in the New England,” he said.

To register your interest in applying for a grant to download an Expression of Interest form (attached below) and lodge with Mr Joyce’s office by 5pm Friday, 23 October, 2026. For more information, including eligibility and grant guidelines, visit: Business.Gov/Grants

ENDS