The Community Collaborations Fund is available to support localised community-led programs that meet the needs and aspirations of the community, Funding will be allocated to projects that support initiatives which meet these main objectives:

• Improve outcome for City of Stirling community through community development initiatives that increase knowledge, practical skills or confidence.
• Enable organisations and community members to create lasting community, social and networking connections.
• Collaborate with other community groups, business and organisations.
• Address social issues and meet gaps in the community
• Meet of the objectives one of the City’s five Social Plans; Access and Inclusion Plan, Aged Friendly Strategy, Multicultural Framework, Reconciliation Action Plan and Youth Framework.

Please read the guidelines below for more information.

Before applying for funding we recommend speaking to the Community Collaborations Officer to understand whether you or your project are eligible for funding, which fund would most suit your project and how much funding you would likely be eligible for. 

We have put together some key information to help understand the City of Stirling population click here for more information.

The Community Hub Activation Funding is available to support localised programs within the four Community Hubs located in Stirling. Funding will be allocated to projects that meet the following objectives:

• Activation of Community Hub spaces for increased community member awareness and utilisation; 
• Projects which contribute to a thriving, healthy and active community, such as those that address, social connectedness, skills development, health and wellbeing and/or sustainable development; and 
• Projects that respond to the needs of the local community.  

Community Hubs are located in Scarborough, Osborne, Mirrabooka and Inglewood

Please speak with our Hub team to talk about your project and whether it is eligible for funding.

Please read the guidelines below for more information.

The 2022/2023 Get to Know Your Neighbours fund will be accepting applications from the 1 September 2022 to 30 April 2023.

Get to Know Your Neighbours (GTKYN) is part of the Community Collaborations Fund and is available to City of Stirling residents to host events to meet or getting to know neighbours better.

Please read the guidelines for more information.

Priority will be given to streets that have not received funding for a gathering before. Funds may not be awarded to streets or neighbourhood that have received multiple GTKYN grants.  Single streets can only apply for a GTKYN application once per financial year. 

For more information on the GTKYN grant you can view the guidelines below.  

Please take the time to read the funding guidelines. 

• Projects, events or activities should be of direct benefit to the City of Stirling community
• Projects, events or activities must be delivered within the City of Stirling
• Majority of participants for the project must live, work or study in the City of Stirling.

Making an application

Applications for any of the funds, including Community Collaborations, Community Hub Activation or the Get to Know Your Neighbours program can be made online via Smarty Grants. Please read the points below for some tips on how to make your application successful.

Step 1- Understand your project

Read through the relevant guidelines to ensure you are aware of all the eligibility requirements. 

You will need to consider:

• Is your project eligible for funding?
• How does your project fit within the guidelines?
• How much funding do you require?
• What date does your application need to be submitted?
• Will you have enough time to apply for funding and coordinate a successful project?

Step 2 - Plan your project

Take the time to make sure your know your project inside out. 

Gather all of the information you will need to complete your application, including quotes and cost estimates. 

Things to consider:

• What is the purpose of your project? What are you trying to achieve?
• How does this fit within the grant guidelines?
• Why is this project needed?
• Who is the project targeted towards? How will you promote it?
• Is there anyone else you can partner with that can contribute to the project?

Please note, events with 100 people or more are required to complete an event application form. 

Step 3 - Have a chat to the Team

Contact our Strengthening Communities team on (08) 9205 8555 or email familyservices@stirling.wa.gov.au 

The team will further advise whether your activity is suitable/eligible for funding and forward any information which may assist you to complete your application. Applicants who have spoken with us are more likely to be approved for part or full funding compared with those who do not. We are here to help you get the best outcome for your application.

Step 4 - Complete your funding application

Eligible applicants can apply for grants online via Smarty Grants. 

Utilise the information gathered in step 1 to help you complete the application.

Your responses will enable the assessment panel to make their decision. Remember your application is the only information the assessment panel have to understand your project and recommend funding. Make sure you have provided good information to help them do this.

Step 5 - Submit your application

Applications should be submitted within the specified timeframes with all supporting information attached. 

We recommend submitting your application prior to the closing date in case we require any additional documents or information.  

Any applications received outside of the specified timeframes will not be assessed. Applications submitted with incomplete information or without support documents will compromise the success of their application. 

Promoting your project is essential in ensuring you reach your target audience and get good participation. There are many forms of promotion available depending on your budget.

Flyers and posters

These can be displayed in cafes, local schools, shopping centres, City of Stirling libraries, community centres and recreation centres, community notice boards. 

Signage and banners

Placing these out in the lead up to your project and on the day/s of the project is a great way to encourage people living local to the area to attend and raise awareness of your event. Within the City of Stirling permission may be granted to not-for-profit organisations to temporarily place signs advertising events on verges subject to terms and conditions. 

Web

There are many websites that will allow you to add your event to their online calendars. 

Social media

Promoting your event/organisation on social media sites such as Facebook  and Instagram is a free and easy way to reach the local community.

Tips for Social Media:

• Use high quality images that are sized correctly
• Don’t use too much text - break it up with emoji’s, etc.
• Use hashtags to increase your exposure
• Tag people/other organisations so they can cross-promote
• Post regularly - in the lead up, during and after your project.

Media coverage

Media releases informing the media about your project can generate free publicity in the form of news articles. A good place to start in the City of Stirling is the local newspapers - Eastern Reporter, Stirling Times, Guardian Express and The Perth Voice. 

Visit them online: Community News and Perth Suburban Newspapers. You can submit your own press release online at these websites.

Some tips and tricks to marketing your project

1. First up, create a Media and Marketing Kit This will include all elements of your event marketing and promotions

2. Make sure it is easily accessible This is so you can share all the great stuff you have created. The kit could be hosted on a shared folder system such as Microsoft OneDrive, Drop Box or Google Drive. This way when you need to upload a new document or make changes you only have to do it once and won’t have to inundate people with multiple emails and large attachments

3. Share it far and wide The more people helping to promote your event the better! Have it ready to go at least 4 weeks out from the commencement of your project to allow maximum exposure and promotion. 

What to include in your kit

• A variety of images of varying sizes suitable for different social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, plus a clean image (no text) for use on the City’s website - images must be max 400kb and in.JPEG format (landscape 889px x 486px)
• Copy - different versions for use in a variety of formats
• Logos - copies of your logo in a variety of formats
• Copies of flyers/posters - these could also be saved as images for use on social media. 
• Suggested hashtags - a list of hashtags you would like people to use for your project. Share and tag others to help increase the exposure of your event.

Consider how you can reduce the environmental impact of the project and ensure sustainable use of resources.  

Some suggestions include:

• Offer recycling and composting at your event
• Work with local vendors that use locally and responsibly sourced ingredients and recycled or eco-friendly packaging and cutlery
• Consider setting up water stations to reduce the number of plastic bottles
• Avoid/reduce the use of single use items (i.e. balloons, straws, packaging, low quality merch)
• Encourage use of alternative transport methods and public transport

The City supports accessible projects that can be enjoyed by the whole community.

If you’re organising an event/activity, you’ll need to consider:

• The event/activity layout. For example, stall location for best access for those with access issues
• Providing parking spaces for people with disabilities
• Installing portable, accessible toilet facilities, marquees or first-aid cabins
• Designating small areas close to a stage for people using wheelchairs
• If there is access with no steps or other barriers from the arrival point at the venue, through the main entrance(s), to all the areas being used by participants
• If possible, provide contact details on promotional material for access enquiries in alternative formats such as (e.g. large print, audio, electronic, translating services, other languages). 

  Translating and Interpreting Services (TIS)	131 450 or visit the TIS website
  National Relay Service	13 36 77

The Australian Network on Disability has some great tips and tricks for making your event accessible. You can also include funding in your budget to make your event more accessible. 

The City is Stirling is located within Mooro Nyoongar Boodja – Mooro people’s land, which is part of the greater Wadjak Nyoongar area. The City of Stirling encourages organisers to make an Acknowledgement of Country where appropriate. It can be a verbal announcement at the commencement of the event, or placed on your event program or website. You may also wish to involve the services of an elder to conduct a Welcome to Country. This initiative supports the City’s Reconciliation Action Plan. 

Suggested wording:

"We stand today on Mooro Nyoongar Boodja, Mooro People’s Land. We would like to acknowledge the Wadjak people of the Nyoongar Nation as the traditional custodians of Mooro country and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging."

An evaluation process should be demonstrated which details how you will assess if the project met its intended aims.

Things to evaluate include:

• Numbers - how many people attended/interacted with your project
• Promotions - Detail the promotions you did and note any media mentions/shares/articles generated prior to or as a result of your project
• Financial success - did the project represent value for money, run on budget etc? 
• Satisfaction and Impact - A survey completed by stakeholders and participants of your project will assist you in gaining an understanding of demographics, how satisfied people were with the project, and if the aims of your project were met. 

Things to consider when writing up a survey

• Keep it short and simple
• Try using online survey software to assist you collate the responses
• Ask a volunteer to assist at the event - asking questions and completing on the spot at the event using a tablet or similar.