Port Authority is proud to announce the recipients of our 2025 Community Grants Program. These nine outstanding projects reflect our commitment to supporting vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable communities across our port regions. Each initiative was selected for its strong community impact, connection to the maritime environment, sustainability attributes and alignment with our core values.
Image: Making Waves Foundation: Participants of the boat building project.
| Organisation | Project |
|---|---|
| Creative workshops using reclaimed materials to educate school students and the wider community about marine litter and the impact on local ecosystems. |
| Workshops for at-risk youth who are coached and mentored as they undertake trade-based boat-building projects to gain workplace experience and maritime skills. |
| Organisation | Project |
|---|---|
| Purchase of a simulated radio console to train and assess new volunteers in radio operations, improving emergency response capabilities that local and visiting recreational boaters rely upon. |
| Organisation | Project |
|---|---|
| Free youth swimming clinics across the Newcastle region, promoting swimming as a vital life skill while fostering coaching development and community engagement. Fostering inclusion across different backgrounds and abilities. |
|
| Sailing program on Newcastle harbour empowering disadvantaged and disabled youth through maritime skills, teamwork, and confidence-building. |
|
| New Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) equipment for their rescue vessel to enhance the detection of individuals in the water, especially during night-time operations. |
| Organisation | Project |
|---|---|
| Surfing and wellness program promoting community wellbeing and environmental advocacy. Engaging a diverse Port Kembla community including youth, retirees, and environmental groups. |
| Installation of Automated External Defibrillators in high-traffic areas of the Port Kembla community to provide life-saving equipment for port users, beachgoers and visitors. Find out more about Port Kembla Chamber of Commerce and Industry |
| Organisation | Project |
|---|---|
| Supporting Eden’s premier annual festival, celebrating marine life and community spirit with up to 10,000 attendees taking place 3-5 October 2025. |
| Organisation | Project |
|---|---|
| Free youth swimming clinics across the Yamba region, promoting swimming as a vital life skill while fostering coaching development and community engagement. Fostering inclusion across different backgrounds and abilities. |
Who can apply?
Grants are available for, community-focused projects, including:
- Charities and not-for-profit organisations
- Community groups
- Schools, universities, and other educational institutions
- Youth programs and activities
- Community development projects
- Sports and arts organisations
- First Nations community groups
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for a community grant, the project or program must be located within 10km of one of our ports. These are Sydney Harbour, Port Botany, Newcastle, Port Kembla, Yamba, and Eden. View maps of our six port locations.
Applications for the 2025 Community Grants Program Have Now Closed
Key dates
| 7 April 2025 | Applications Open |
|---|---|
| 20 May 2025 | Applications Close |
| 20 May- June 2025 | Community Grant Assessment Period Port Authority approval of successful grant recipients |
| July 2025 | Notification to all applicants and distribution of funding to successful grant recipients |
| 30 June 2026 | Projects completed |
Which port communities are eligible for the grant?
Communities based within 10km of our ports are eligible to apply.
These are Sydney Harbour, Port Botany, Newcastle, Port Kembla, Yamba, and Eden.
Frequently asked questions
-
Applications will open in early 2026.
-
Community-based organisations such as charities, not-for-profits, community groups, schools, educational facilities, youth programs, sporting and arts organisations and First Nations groups are encouraged to apply.
-
Port Authority will not award grants that benefit only individuals, political candidates, or do not support the broader community.
Multi-year applications are not supported.
-
Community grants between $2,000 to $15,000 (excluding GST) for one-year programs.
-
All applications will be assessed against evaluation criteria by a panel of Port Authority team members including those who live and work in each of our port communities, senior leaders, and sustainability experts.
-
If your grant application is successful, Port Authority will contact you and inform you of the next steps. This will involve
- Signing a Community Grant Agreement Letter outlining your responsibilities.
- Submitting a tax invoice for the grant payment.
- Using the funds for activities.
- Reporting results through an online survey.
-
If your grant application is unsuccessful, you will be notified by Port Authority. Unfortunately, due to limits on our community grants program not all applications that satisfy the eligibility criteria will be successful.
-
Projects can commence following signing and returning the Community Grant Agreement Letter to Port Authority along with a valid Tax Invoice.
Community Grants evaluation form
Stay Updated
If you would like to be kept informed on announcements relating to the Community Grants, please sign up to our Port Matters Newsletter below to get updates sent straight to your inbox.
Subscribe to Port Matters
