An ACT Government Website

Multicultural Inclusion Grants

This grant is for projects and events in the ACT that celebrate:

  • cultural diversity
  • social cohesion.

The grant promotes:

  • community participation
  • cultural diversity
  • inclusion in the ACT.

Who this is for

This grant is for organisations.

What you get

A grant of up to:

  • $3,000 for a cultural celebration
  • $6,000 for community programs to enhance social connection and inclusion.

Check if you can apply

Organisations can apply if they:

  • operate in the ACT
  • are a non-government, legally incorporated entity, or supported by an incorporated auspicing organisation
  • are a registered not-for-profit or a charitable organisation
  • have no overdue acquittals
  • have the right insurance to cover your activity.

What you can do

You project or initiative can focus on one or more of the following:

  • Collaborative projects, events and programs that strengthen and promote diversity, community inclusion and social connection.
  • Raising community awareness of and responding to racism and discrimination.
  • Promoting, sharing, and strengthening the value and understanding of Canberra’s cultural diversity.
  • Celebrations and observances of significant cultural days.
  • Supporting access to services, programs, and information in culturally appropriate ways.

Before you apply

After you apply

We'll assess your application and let you know the result in late March 2025 by email.

Assessing your application

Following the eligibility check, the Grant Assessment Team will assess your application. The Grant Assessment Team includes:

  • a chairperson
  • 2 other assessors

It may also include a member of the community. We appoint Grant Assessment Team members based on their knowledge of the priority areas.

Grant Assessment Team members will assess your application with the information you provided against the grant’s selection criteria.

If you have been successful in other recent grant rounds, the assessors may consider this during their assessment if we receive a high number of applications. This is to ensure fairness across all applicants.

All decisions on whether to award, or the amount of, a grant is at the sole discretion of the Community Services Directorate.

If you get the grant

Successful applicants must enter into an Agreement. This will be by a Letter of Offer with the Community Service Directorate. The Letter of Offer will include:

  • the grant we are offering
  • how to accept an offer
  • details on the funded grant amount
  • the purpose or activity for which you have the grant
  • the term of your funded activity for which you must spend the grant amount in full
  • how to acquit your grant funds when you have completed the project.

Past recipients

Find out about recent grant recipients and projects.

2023-24 recipients

  • ACT Chinese Australian Association Inc - $4,500 - To assist with a series of activity programs such as a talent show, food, craft, and art displays, and learning activities and an event to celebrate Chinese culture.
  • ACT Chinese Opera Association Incorporated - $1,500 -   To assist with costumes and musical instruments for weekly sessions for Canberra residents to learn and practice Chinese Opera.
  • ACT Chinese Women Cultural Association Incorporated - $2,000 - To assist with a photography exhibition focusing on the life of Chinese immigrants in Canberra and celebrations for Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Double Ninth Festival, Moon Festival, International Women’s Day, and Australia Day.
  • ACT Community Language Schools Association Inc - $3,100 - To assist with an annual Open Day to celebrate achievements and includes cultural performances and an annual dinner.
  • ACT Somali Community Association Incorporated - $3,500 - To assist with an event for social programs for the Somali and mainstream community which include Australia Day celebration, Ramadan gathering, end of Ramadan Eid festival and Eid Adha Somali Day celebrations.
  • ACT Table Tennis Association Incorporated - $3,000 -  Free vouchers for CALD people in the ACT to join in table tennis club coaching activities.
  • ACT-Tongan Language and Cultural School - $2,000 - To assist with events to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Community Language School including cultural performances and production of a 10th year magazine.
  • Alo-Enlightened Women Incorporated - $2,800 - To assist with facilitating 2 workshops on digital financial safety and wellbeing for new migrants, international students, and senior citizens.
  • Art of Living Foundation Ltd - $2,500 - To assist with a program of spiritual education and mental wellness workshops.
  • Artsound Incorporated - $3,300 - To assist with a symposium of 10 representatives from within Canberra’s multicultural diversity to record a series of 1 hour round table radio programs with music and cultural insights.
  • Australia Colombia Friendship Association - $2,000 - To assist with a series of cultural events scheduled throughout the year, and Colombian Independence Day celebration.
  • Australian Dongbei Chinese Association Incorporated - $3,100 - To assist with events and cultural showcases, and a Chinese New Year festival.
  • Australian Multicultural Action Network Incorporated - $4,500 - To assist with a program of activities including storytelling, language and dance workshops, cooking classes, senior’s talent show and celebrations for Harmony Day, Vesak, Teej, Pongal and Festival of Lights.
  • Australian Muslim Voice Inc - $2,000 - To assist with an inclusive festival celebration of the end of Ramadan.
  • Australian Rohingya Welfare Organisation Incorporated - $4,000 - To assist with an event Rohingya community, CALD community leaders, government representatives and NGO’s to launch Australian Rohingya Welfare Organisation and EID celebrations.
  • Australian Tamil Cultural Society of the ACT Incorporated - $5,500 - To assist with a talent showcase, a community sports day and a youth week celebration, and cultural celebrations for Tamil Puthandu Kondattam and Deepavali Night.
  • Bangla Radio Canberra - $2,000 - To assist with promoting, participating, and broadcasting the significant ACT multicultural events
  • Beseda Czechoslovak Australian Association of Canberra Inc - $2,500 - To assist with cultural celebrations for St Nicholas Celebration, The Burning of the Witches, Children’s Day, and decorating Easter egg event.
  • Borobudur Dance Troup - $2,700 - To assist with cultural performances and workshops at various multicultural events, festivals and schools in ACT and surrounding region.
  • Canberra Ayyappa Samajam - $1,000 - To assist with a celebration of Vishu.
  • Canberra Punjabi Sports and Cultural Inc - $2,500 - To assist with a community Punjabi dinner, Canberra Khed Mela event, seminars promoting Punjabi language and literature, and a celebration for the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
  • Canberra Refugee Support Incorporated - $6,000 - To assist with a scholarship program for students with a refugee/asylum seeker background who are engaged in primary, secondary or post-secondary education to recognise and celebrate their achievements.
  • Canberra Swiss Club Incorporated - $660 - To assist with the support of choir practice and performances, issuing newsletters, performance at 2024 National Multicultural Festival and celebrations for Samichlaus, Jass Tournament and family picnic days.
  • Canberra Tamil Association Incorporated - $1,500 - To assist with celebration event of Tamil New Year.
  • Canberra Tamil Women's Forum Association - $3,900 - To assist with financial literacy and education, and mental support programs and International Women’s Day events and Diwali celebration.
  • Celebration of African Australians Inc - $6,000 - To assist with a cultural event of live Afrobeat music and awards ceremony, and International Day of the African Child.
  • Collective on Anti-Racism - $2,000 - To assist with a 10-month program of monthly anti-racist discussion groups in a book club format for anti-racist education and learning centred around the attendees’ lived experiences and social community events.
  • Das Zentrum Australian-German Institute Incorporated - $5,000 - To assist with Austrian National Day celebration, a range of multicultural activities including open days, film evenings and magazine publication.
  • FCCCI Chinese School -$1,500 - To assist language students to participate in cultural events such as the National Multicultural Festival, Australia Day, Dragon Boat Festival and Moon Festival.
  • Federation of Chinese Community of Canberra Inc -$3,500 - To assist with Chinese New Year, Dragon Boat Festival, Moon Festival, and Chinese Culture Day.
  • Federation of Indian associations of ACT (FINACT) Incorporated -$3,500 - To assist with AusIndia Fair, cricket tournament, educational events for awareness for domestic and family violence and a community Harmony Day celebration.
  • GOPIO Canberra Incorporated -$2,500 - To assist with 3 community celebrations, Holi festival of colours, Sawan Teej festival of women empowerment and Diwali festival of lights.
  • HelpingACT -$5,000 - To assist with a forum of local organisations to discuss critical issues relating to food security and food packs for Eid, Diwali, Easter, and Christmas.
  • Indian Senior Citizens Association of the ACT (Inc.) -$2,000 - To assist with a celebration of the Indian festival Holi.
  • Interfaith Forum ACT -$3,000 - To assist with a Harmony Week event, outdoor cultural and spiritual event in the Environment Healing and Meditation Garden, an International Peace Day symposium, and a youth event.
  • Multicultural Association of Canberra Incorporated -$1,000 - To assist with a Diwali festival in November 2024.
  • Navya Andhra Telugu Association Incorporated -$4,500 - To assist with a range of activities and events for all ages including sport, carom and chess championships, traditional art, STEM lab, talent show and spelling bee and celebration of Sankranthi Andhra culture, Indian New Year Yug-Adi, and Sri Ramanavami.
  • Ngunnawal Primary School Parents & Citizens Association Inc -$1,500 - To assist with an inclusive community event that includes activities and games for all ages, music, cultural performances, and stalls by local businesses.
  • Pacific Island Showcase Association Incorporated -$2,000 - To assist with a series of culturally tailored events for Pasifika diaspora, inclusive to local community, to promote public health, higher education and health and wellbeing.
  • Pakistan Australia Friendship Association Inc -$2,000 - To assist with an event showcasing Pakistani culture, music, dance cuisine and literature, and celebrations for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
  • Philippine Australian Association of the ACT and the Monaro Region Incorporated -$4,000 - To assist with a series of forums and workshops on topics of interest, and Philippine Heritage Day celebration and a winter Christmas celebration.
  • SiTara's Story Incorporated -$4,000 - To assist with a program of events to develop cultural awareness in the community.
  • Sri Lanka Dhamma Vihara Association of Canberra Incorporated - $4,000 - To assist with a celebration of Sri Lankan New Year, commemoration of Vesak, and Sri Lankan Summer and Spring Fairs.
  • Taiwanese Association of Canberra Australia - $3,000 - To assist with a cinematic celebration of 4 films, Mandarin classes and a Taiwanese festival to celebrate Lunar New Year, Dragon Festival, Moon Festival.
  • The African Gospel Band - $9,000 - To assist with a program of workshops and mentorships for young African migrants in a variety of performing arts and a concert to celebrate Sierra Leone Independence Day.
  • The Canberra Islamic School - $6,000 - To assist with information sessions about Islam and Eid, a family camp, and a Ramadan Iftar celebration event.
  • The Korean Association of Canberra Incorporated - $4,500 - To assist with hosting a  Korea Day Festival and cultural activities and performances at the festival.
  • Women Inspiration Network of Canberra Incorporated - $3,910 - To assist with a range of skill development workshops and a networking event for women and International Women’s Day celebration.
  • ZamZam Foundation Incorporated - $6,000 - To assist with driving lessons for 5 Afghan women, swimming lessons for 8 Afghan women and maternal health information sessions.

Contact us

CSD Grants team

If you need help or have questions, contact us.

Email
CSDGrants@act.gov.au