Response Ready Community Grant- Round Two 2025/2026

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This is a preview of the CPIF-Specialist Stream- Response Ready Community Grant(RRCG) form. When you’re ready to apply, click Fill Out Now to begin.
 
 

Overview

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Council’s Community Development Team is pleased to announce that the next round of the Community Plan Implementation Fund – Specialist Stream will focus on supporting Emergency Readiness initiatives led by Community Planning Groups (CPGs) and Community Asset Committees (CACs).

This grant round aims to strengthen community preparedness, resilience, and capability by supporting small‑scale, high‑impact projects that enhance local readiness before, during, or immediately after emergencies. The program is designed to empower communities to take proactive steps that reduce risk, build confidence, and improve coordination across local groups and volunteers.

Communities across Greater Shepparton face increasing challenges relating to emergencies, including extreme weather events, power disruptions, communication breakdowns, and climate‑related risks. Many towns already demonstrate strong volunteer capacity and leadership, yet often lack the resources or tools needed to elevate their preparedness and strengthen their emergency response networks.

Through this Specialist Stream, Council seeks to support practical, community‑led initiatives such as emergency equipment upgrades, preparedness training, communication resources, resilience-building activities, and local mitigation measures. These projects help ensure communities are better connected, better informed, and better equipped when emergencies occur.

This initiative aligns with the principles of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), which recognises that communities already hold significant strengths, knowledge, and capabilities. By supporting locally driven solutions, this program builds on existing assets—volunteers, local leadership, skills, and lived experience—to enhance community resilience from the ground up.

By investing in Emergency Readiness projects, Council aims to:

  • strengthen community preparedness and support local emergency planning
  • enhance coordination between volunteer groups, community organisations, and emergency services
  • increase community confidence through practical tools, training, and resources
  • build local capacity to respond to and recover from emergencies
  • support climate mitigation initiatives that reduce future risk
  • ensure strong alignment with Community Plans and community‑identified priorities

Applicants are encouraged to design initiatives that are practical, community‑driven, and enhance safety and resilience for residents of all ages and backgrounds. Projects should clearly support the emergency-related priorities identified within their Community Plan and demonstrate a real, tangible benefit to local preparedness or resilience.

Greater Shepparton City Council invites CPGs and CACs to apply for funding to deliver Emergency Readiness initiatives within their community.

Projects must be delivered between April 2026 to December 2026. Council may consider applications outside this timeframe where appropriate.

Please provide a yes/no response and who you spoke to.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for funding, applicants must:

  • Be a recognised Community Planning Group (CPG) or Community Asset Committee (CAC) located within a small town in the Greater Shepparton municipality.
  • Demonstrate a clear connection to Community Planning, showing how the proposed project supports emergency preparedness, resilience, recovery, or climate mitigation priorities identified by the community.
  • Propose an initiative that benefits the broader community, improving readiness, safety, or local response capability during emergencies.
  • Demonstrate the capacity to deliver the project within the required timeframe, including appropriate planning, volunteer availability, and project oversight.
  • Be incorporated, or have an auspicing organisation willing to manage the funds on their behalf. Applicants must ensure the auspicing organisation is aware of, and agrees to, this responsibility.

Considerations to be made:

Applicants are encouraged to reflect on the following when preparing their proposal:

  • How will your project support community-wide emergency preparedness and resilience?
  • How will you ensure your initiative is inclusive, accessible, and relevant to residents of all ages and backgrounds?
  • In what ways does the project align with the principles of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD)?
  • How will you leverage local skills, strengths, volunteers, and existing community assets?
  • How will your project engage local groups, volunteers, and emergency‑focused organisations?
  • Does your project contribute to long-term community capability, knowledge sharing, or improved emergency response pathways?

FURTHER INFORMATION: 

Please contact your assigned Community Development or Committees Liaison Officer. 

Guidelines

Please read the Specialist Stream Guidelines - Community Plan Implementation Fund located on Council's website here.

Application Funding

Funds up to $2,000.00 are available per application.

Must be a dollar amount and no more than 2000. 

Conditions of Funding

To ensure consistency, accountability, and successful project delivery, the following conditions apply to all funded Emergency Readiness initiatives:

  • Projects must be delivered between April 2026 and December 2026.
    Extensions outside this period may be considered in special circumstances and must be discussed with Council in advance.
Funded CPGs and CACs must provide a short project update or presentation (format to be confirmed, future Its your place presentation) outlining:
  • What emergency‑preparedness priority the project addressed
  • Key actions and outcomes
  • How the project contributes to local resilience and Community Plan goals
  • Any next steps or ongoing maintenance needs

As part of the formal acquittal report, grant recipients must include a short written reflection summarising:

  • What worked well
  • Challenges or issues encountered
  • Lessons learned for strengthening future emergency‑readiness initiatives

This reflection may be informed by volunteer debriefs, community feedback, or informal discussions with partner groups.

Compliance Requirements

  • Applicants must hold current public liability insurance or be covered by their auspicing organisation.
  • All funded activities must meet relevant safety, emergency management, and local law requirements, including safe installation and appropriate permissions where infrastructure, equipment, or land use is involved.
  • Any equipment purchased through this grant must be used for community benefit and be accessible for emergency‑readiness purposes.

Program Expectations

  • Council encourages projects that are practical, locally driven, and reflect the unique risks and strengths of each town.
  • Initiatives should clearly demonstrate how they improve community preparedness, resilience, response capability, or climate‑related risk mitigation.
  • Projects must align with Community Plan priorities and contribute to long‑term community safety and readiness.

Support from Council

The Community Development Team will work closely with successful applicants to support:

  • Project planning and coordination
  • Liaison with relevant Council departments and emergency stakeholders
  • Delivery, promotion, and acquittal requirements

Council is committed to enabling communities to strengthen their preparedness and build local resilience through clear, practical and collaborative emergency‑readiness initiatives.

Contact Details

Please provide the primary contact details for your group or committee
Must be an Australian phone number. 
Must be an email address. 

Proposed Project Details

Has the idea for this event/activity been identified in a Community Plan or discussed in a previous meeting as a future opportunity to explore? * Required
Explain the emergency‑preparedness need that this project responds to. Describe any local risks, recent events, gaps in preparedness, or community‑identified priorities that informed the idea. Please reference your Community Plan where relevant.
What are the main goals of the project? What outcomes do you expect for your community? Examples may include increased readiness, improved access to equipment, stronger volunteer coordination, or enhanced communication during emergencies.
Describe how this project aligns with the priorities in your Community Plan. Which goal, action, or theme does your project strengthen? How does it contribute to long‑term community resilience or emergency mitigation?
Identify the groups, residents, or organisations who will directly or indirectly benefit from this project. Consider age groups, vulnerable cohorts, volunteers, emergency responders, and the wider township.
List any local groups, clubs, emergency services, or volunteers who will be involved in planning, delivery, or use of the project.
Provide an estimated timeline for planning, purchasing, delivery, installation, training, or other components of the project. Projects must be delivered between April 2026 and December 2026.
Explain how the impact of the project will continue beyond the grant period. Who will maintain equipment? How will learnings be shared? How will the project continue to support community readiness into the future?

Budget/Expenditure Breakdown

How will the funds be allocated / spent?

Complete to the best of your ability with the details you have.

Refer to the below for an example- 

$200 for facility hire to secure a suitable venue, $600 for catering to provide light refreshments for attendees, and $200 for promotional materials including flyers, signage, and social media advertising to ensure broad community awareness and engagement.

Expenditure$

Must be at least 1 rows

Budget Totals

This number/amount is calculated. 

Partnerships

Applications that demonstrate strong community partnerships with other local groups or organisations will be viewed favourably and scored higher. 

Will there be any community partnerships involved? * Required
At least 1 choice and no more than 1 choice may be selected. 

Partner contact details (Not Applicable)

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "Will there be any community partnerships involved?" on page 1

Please enter the details of any partner organisations/groups and describe their role with this event. 

Organisation nameContact personContact detailsHow will they assist with your event?
 * Required
 * Required
 * Required
 * Required

Must be at least 1 rows

Payment details

If your application is successful Council will need to know who to pay the funds to.

Is your Community Planning Group or Asset Committee incorporated? * Required
At least 1 choice and no more than 1 choice may be selected. 

Incorporation information (Not Applicable)

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "Is your Community Planning Group or Asset Committee incorporated?" on page 1

The ABN provided will be used to look up the following information.
Click Lookup above to check that you have entered the ABN correctly.
Australian Business Register Information
ABN
Entity name
ABN status
Entity type
Goods & Services Tax (GST)
DGR Endorsed
ATO Charity Type
More information
ACNC Registration
Tax Concessions
Main business location
Must be an ABN. 

Auspice Organisation details (Not Applicable)

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "Is your Community Planning Group or Asset Committee incorporated?" on page 1

If your Community Planning Group or Asset Committee is not incorporated, you will need to arrange an organisation or group that is able to auspice your project.

This means they will receive the funds for you.

Use the arrow keys to navigate suggestions. Press Enter to select a suggestion. Start typing a name or address to see prefill options.
Must be an Australian phone number. 
Must be an email address. 
The ABN provided will be used to look up the following information.
Click Lookup above to check that you have entered the ABN correctly.
Australian Business Register Information
ABN
Entity name
ABN status
Entity type
Goods & Services Tax (GST)
DGR Endorsed
ATO Charity Type
More information
ACNC Registration
Tax Concessions
Main business location
Must be an ABN. 

Document Checklist

Attach a copy of your Certificate of Currency for your Public Liability Insurance
Upload new fileSelect stored file

    Applying with an Auspice Organisation

    Attach an electronic copy of a letter from your auspice organisation stating their willingness to accept and administer the grant
    Upload new fileSelect stored file
      Must be a formal Letter with Auspice Letterhead
      Attach a copy of your auspice organisations Certificate of Currency for Public Liability Insurance
      Upload new fileSelect stored file
        Must be a formal Letter with Auspice Letterhead

        Supporting Documents

        Please attach Quotes
        Upload new fileSelect stored file

          Privacy Statement

          Greater Shepparton City Council manages your personal information in accordance with its Privacy Policy and the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic). Your personal information is collected to communicate with you regarding your grant application. It is disclosed to Council Officers for review of your application and may be disclosed to other areas of Council to administer your grant application. If you do not provide the requested information we may be unable to process your application and keep you informed of the outcome of the application. Council may also use your personal information to contact you regarding future grant rounds. 

          Declaration

           
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