Community Development and Events Grants and Easy Grants

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Community Development and Events Grants support local projects and events that address a specific need or provide a benefit to the Augusta Margaret River community. The program aims to foster community resilience, connection, and wellbeing by funding initiatives that make a positive difference.

To be eligible, applications should address at least one of the following objectives:

  • Encourage celebration, creativity and connection through workshops, activations and/or events. 
  • Build the organisational capacity of community groups to enhance their positive impact in the community. 
  • Provide innovative programs that respond to local needs/issues.

The grants program is divided into two categories to suit different types of projects:

Category 1: Community Development and Events Grants

  • Between $3,000 to $10,000 per grant (from a total pool of $150,000 per year)

Category 2: Easy Grants

  • Up to $3,000 per grant (from a total pool of $30,000 per year)

Key dates

  • Round two opens: 1 October 
  • Feedback available until: 5 November 
  • Round two applications close: 12 November 
  • Applicants notified: 10 December
  • 2026 – 27 grants open: April 2026 (subject to change)
Edible Gardens Festival

Community Development and Events Grants (Category 1)

Applications close Wednesday 12 November 2025 at 4pm.

This category supports programs and events that celebrate, connect and build creativity in our community, strengthen the capacity of local groups and deliver innovative solutions to local needs.

  • Grants up to $10,000 (excluding GST).
  • Multi-year funding available.
  • Funded activities must be delivered by 30 June 2026.




Community BBQ

Easy Grants (Category 2)

Applications close Wednesday 12 November 2025 at 4pm. 

Easy Grants support small-scale community projects, programs, events, or activities that benefit the wider community. They’re designed to help groups kickstart new initiatives with a simple, accessible application process

  • Grants of up to $3,000 (excluding GST).
  • Funding available for 1 year.
  • Funded activities must be delivered by 30 June 2026.
  • Applications must be submitted at least 6 weeks before your project or event start date. The 6-week period begins once we receive a complete and eligible application.



Thinking of applying?

With over $115,000 already awarded to local organisations and events in round one, funding for this round is limited and competitive. Applicants are encouraged to submit strong, well-developed proposals that clearly demonstrate community benefit.

Download the guidelines below to learn more about:

  • What we’re looking for – understand the priorities that guide our funding decisions.
  • Who can apply (and what won’t be funded) – check if your group or project is eligible, and see what types of expenses aren’t covered by the program.
  • How funding decisions are made – learn about the assessment criteria and process.
  • What happens if you're successful – find out about funding conditions and the acquittal process.

The application form and budget template are also provided below. Hard copy versions are available on request.

If you have accessibility needs, please get in touch. We’ll do our best to support you.

Need feedback on your application?

We strongly encourage all applicants to discuss their application with us before submitting - this helps ensure your proposal aligns with the funding priorities and eligibility requirements.

If you’d like feedback on a draft application, please submit it by Wednesday, 5 November. Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee feedback on drafts received after this date.

Please contact Melissa Carmichael, Community Development Officer by email to [email protected] or phone 08 9780 5627.


How to submit your application

Please complete the applicable form and submit it to the Shire by Wednesday 12 November:

  • By email: [email protected] 
  • By post: (please note, if posting, it will need to be received by Wednesday 12 November).

Chief Executive Officer

Shire of Augusta Margaret River

PO Box 61

Margaret River WA 6285

Previous grant recipients

Category 1: Community Development and Events Grants (round one)

  • Augusta River Festival Inc $10,000
  • Flowstate Incorporated Youth Mental Health Wellbeing Surf & Ocean Mentoring Program $5,000
  • Maureen Munro (Auspice Margaret River Regional Environment Centre) for the Insidious Creation and Installation $10,000
  • Sky River (Auspice Arts Margaret River) for the Marri Tree Girl Shadow Puppet Series $8,500
  • Weaving Stories of Boodja (Auspice Woven) $10,000
  • Margaret River and Districts Agricultural Society Margaret River Agricultural Show $10,000
  • Surfside Church Community Christmas Carols in the Park $8,000
  • The Concrete Club $6,000 for a 10 week Youth Program.

Category 2: Easy Grants

  • Baptistcare $2,756
  • Augusta P&C Maggie Dent Talk and Community Dinner $2,800
  • MRORCA Enduro Jam 2024 $3,000
  • South West Junior Wind Surf School $1,500
  • Elaine Clocherty (Auspice Creative Corner) $2,700
  • Lions Club of Cowaramup $1,400, Martine Perret (Auspice The Farm) $3,000
  • Cowaramup Bay Boardriders $2,320
  • Margaret River Men's Shed $1000
  • Rosa Brook Community Association $,2500
  • Augusta Art Club $1,500.


All amounts include GST.  

Category 1: Community Development and Events Grants

  • Edible Gardens Festival (auspice Margaret River Environment Centre) $12,194
  • Weaving Stories of Boodja (auspice Woven Cowaramup) $10,995
  • Artzability presents a play $14,747
  • Margaret River Agricultural Show $15,000
  • Nature Conservation Margaret River sustainable garden workshops and environment sundowners $8,800
  • Margaret River Recreational Surfers Ocean Safety Training $8,298
  • Augusta Golf Club Western Australian Sand Greens Championship $12,305
  • Youth Mental Health Wellness Surf Program (auspice Ocean Mind) $10,432
  • Surfside Church Christmas Carols in the Park $7,000
  • Annette Carmichael Projects Distributed 15 community engagement for the Stars Descend performance (auspice Arts Margaret River) $11,385.

Category 2: Easy Grants

  • Margaret River Concert Band's Spring Concert (open rehearsals / workshops) $2,000
  • Augusta Community Resource Centre's Save Our Country Kids (SOCKs) BBQ $2,000
  • Radio Margaret River The Local Summer Sounds of Radio Margaret River $2,000
  • Witchcliffe Vintage Fair (auspice River Angels) $2,000, Scott River Charity Ball (auspice Leeuwin Lions)
  • Cowaramup CWA event equipment $875
  • Augusta Art Club Annual Art Exhibition $1,000
  • Margaret River Boardriders Margaret River Classic $1,727
  • Carols at Colourpatch $2,000
  • Augusta Community Development Association Augusta Volunteer BBQ $1,000
  • Arts Margaret River Cowaramup Sundowners $2,000, Cowaramup Business Association Cowaramup Easter Fair $1,500.

All amounts include GST. 

Category 1: Community Development and Events Grants

  • Witchcliffe Farmers Market $3,642
  • Margaret River and Districts Agricultural Society Inc Margaret River Ag Show $10,000 3 year agreement
  • Surfside Church Carols in the Park $8,000
  • Margot Edwards (auspiced by Arts Margaret River) for the Tipping Point Project $9,000
  • Maureen Munro (auspiced by Arts Margaret River) for the Stories Quilts Tell project $5,500
  • Edible Gardens Festival (auspiced by the Margaret River Regional Environment Centre) $10,000 3 year agreement
  • Windsurfing WA Margaret River Windsurfing Classic 2025 $7,350
  • Weaving Stories of Boodja (auspiced by the Nala Boodja Eco Clan Aboriginal Corporation) for the Wooditjup Bilya Story $10,000
  • Nature Conservation Margaret River Region Enviro Sundowner Series $6,285 
  • Margaret River Wine Association Vintage 2025 Welcome to Country event $5,500
  • Cowaramup Bay Boardriders Foamy Fun Day $3,300
  • Undalup Association 2025 Bunuru event $10,000 3 year agreement 
  • Swimming Mermaids Margaret River Ocean Swim $4,962 
  • Flowstate Margaret River 5 Week Youth Mental Wellbeing Surf and Ocean Program $4,190

Category 2: Easy Grants

  • Augusta Art Club Annual Art Exhibition $2,500
  • Functional Solution OT Services and Julie Ruzich Physiotherapy Otago Falls Prevention Program $3,000
  • Margaret River Community Garden Open Day $2,255
  • Tony Lane (auspiced by Arts Margaret River) Sum of the Parts performance $3,000
  • MRORCA Enduro Jam 2025 $3,000
  • River Angels Inc First Aid Training $1,300
  • 2 Oceans FM Merchandise $500
  • Arts Margaret River Sundowners $3,000
  • Augusta Tennis and Croquet Club Membership project $3,000

Category 1: Community Development and Events Grants

  • Margaret River & Districts Agricultural Society - Agricultural Show: $10,000 + CPI (Year 2 of 3 year agreement)
  • Edible Gardens Festival (auspice – Margaret River Regional Environment Centre): $10,000 + CPI (Year 2 of 3 year agreement)
  • Undalup Association - Bunuru Festival: $10,000 + CPI (Year 2 of 3 year agreement)
  • Nature Conservation Margaret River Region – Enviro Sundowner Series: $9,980 + CPI (Year 2 of 3 year agreement)
  • Margaret River Wine Association – Vintage Welcome to Country: $7,700 (Year 1 of 3 year agreement)
  • Just Home – Connections Week: $10,000
  • Flowstate – Youth Mental Wellbeing Surf & Ocean Program:  $4,840
  • Augusta Community Resource Centre – Augusta Whalesong Festival: $10,000
  • Rugby WA (auspice – Margaret River Gropers Rugby Club): South West Summer 7s: $5,173
  • Artzability Incorporated – Voice of Resilience: $10,000
  • Functional Solutions OT Services – Otago Falls Prevention Program: $10,000
  • Gracetown Kite Festival: $7,000
  • No Signal: $4,105

Category 2: Easy Grants

  • United Nations Youth WA – UN Youth Evatt Trophy Competition: $750
  • Witchcliffe Vintage Fair (auspice River Angels): $2,550
  • Margaret River Concert Band – Night of Music: $3,000
All amounts are exclusive of GST.

Looking for other grants?

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Contact Details

Margaret River

41 Wallcliffe Road,
Margaret River WA 6285
PO Box 61
Margaret River WA 6285
Monday - Friday
9am - 4pm

Augusta

66 Allnut Terrace,
Augusta WA 6290
PO Box 61
Margaret River WA 6285
Tues, Wed, Thurs
9am-12pm, 1pm-4pm
The Shire of Augusta Margaret River acknowledges we are on Wadandi and Pibelmen Boodja, whose ancestors and their descendants are the traditional owners of this country.
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