Shire financial assistance

• Icon event sponsorship
• Community event sponsorship
• Community financial assistance
• Community Development fund grants
• Council Contribution
• Further information

Icon event sponsorship

Each year Council contributes a percentage of ratepayer income towards the sponsorship of Icon Events.

Icon Events are larger scale events deemed to be of state, national and/or international calibre, which demonstrate potential to generate high level of economic activity or stimulate large scale community interest, involvement and/or development.

The first round funding cut off is the first Monday in May and applies to events occuring in the following financial year. Should any funding remain after the first round it will be allocated at adhoc intervals during the financial year until the funding pool is exhausted or the conclusion of the financial year.

To apply for funding, event organisers must complete and return the Icon Event Sponsorship Application Form to Shire's Marketing and Events Officer.

Community event sponsorship

Community event sponsorship aims to assist with the funding of locally run events. 

The first round funding cut off is the first Monday in May and applies to events occuring in the following financial year. Should any funding remain after the first round it will be allocated at adhoc intervals during the financial year until the funding pool is exhausted or the conclusion of the financial year.

To apply for funding, event organisers must complete and return the Community Event Sponsorship Application Form to Shire's Marketing and Events Officer.

Community financial assistance

The Shire of Augusta Margaret River provides financial assistance to community organisations and individuals within our local community to enhance community values and aspirations.

The Financial Assistance Policy addresses the types of financial assistance, amount of assistance and the Shire Officer responsible for determination of requests.  Objectives of the policy are to provide an overarching framework for the Shire of Augusta Margaret River to administer financial assistance and its implementation will ensure:

• Transparency and accountability to the community;
• Fairness and equity to all applicants;
• Eligibility criteria is applied to each type of financial assistance;
• The amount of financial assistance available;
• Guidelines are in place to assist applicants in completion and lodgment of forms;
• Applications are assessed by a delegated officer; and
• Effective reporting mechanisms and administrative procedures advise Council of the type and total value of financial assistance provided for the financial year.

Financial Assistance Categories under the policy are sponsorship, donation, waiver of fees and charges, community grants, Council contribution and interest free loans. Under each of these categories applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria which are provided in the guidelines accompanying the application form and that only one request, for only one type of financial assistance per financial year (July to June), may be lodged.

A copy of the Financial Assistance policy is available for download under Publications.

Community Development Grants

Eighteen local community, volunteer and service based organisations applied for $10,000 worth of funding from the 2018-19 Community Development Grant fund.

The fund is an initiative of the Shire of Augusta Margaret River, as recognised in the Community Strategic Plan: Welcoming and Inclusive Communities, which provides up to $1000 per successful organisation to assist in the delivery of community events, activities and programs.

The priorities for this round of funding are:

• Contribute to the wellbeing and quality of life of the local community;
• Encourage increased membership/volunteerism in local community groups or organisations;
• Upskill volunteers;
• Increase community involvement in arts and culture;
• Activate the Shire’s community halls and facilities; and
• Create accessible opportunities for all community members, including people with disability (and their carers), people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal Australians, seniors, youth, LGBTIQ+ people, and people experiencing financial hardship.

The successful recipients are listed below:

• Augusta Community Radio 2oceansFM - 2oceansFM 10th Birthday Celebration event ($1000);
• Augusta Margaret River State Emergency Service (SES) - SES Open Day ($790);
• Augusta Playgroup - Augusta Playgroup, Continue the Growth program ($800);
• Christine Pillage - Christmas ‘Boxes of Joy’ ($1000);
• Community Home Care Busselton - Volunteer Dementia Awareness Course (in Margaret River) ($1000);
• Margaret River Community Garden – ‘Gather’ community garden project ($1000);
• Margaret River Concert Band - Spring Swing Dance event ($410);
• Margaret River Playgroup - Margaret River Playgroup Family Open Day 2019 ($1000);
• Natural Learning Centre - Wadandi Cultural Awareness Training ($1000);
• WA PCYC ICE breakers Bunbury - PCYC ICE breakers program (in Margaret River) ($1000); and
• Scott River Charity Ball Committee - Scott River Charity Ball event ($1000).

Community Development grant funding rounds are held annually, with the next round opening in July 2019.

For further information please contact Jessica Black, Community Development Officer on (08) 9780 5276 or jblack@amrshire.wa.gov.au.

Council Contribution

Preparations for the 2019-20 Budget have commenced.

Community organisations have an opportunity to apply for financial assistance from the Shire through Council Contributions to improve community wellbeing and the provision of services and maintenance of facilities within the Shire.

The Council Contribution Guidelines and Application Form can be accessed here.

For further information or assistance please contact Hannah Waters, Executive Assistant Corporate and Community Services on 9780 5638 or hwaters@amrshire.wa.gov.au

All applications must be submitted on the official application form and be received by 4pm, Friday 1 March 2019.

Further information

• Sponsorship
• Donation
• Waiver of fees and charges
• Council Contribution guidelines and application form 2019-20
• Council Contribution acquittal form 2018-19
• Interest free loan
• Community Development grant guidelines 2017-18
• Community Development grant application form 2017-18
• Community Development grant application tips