Open Call: Mental Health Week Small Grants Program (Australia)

Deadline: 02-Jul-2026

The Mental Health Week Small Grants Program supports community events and activities across Tasmania during Mental Health Week 2026. The program aims to promote mental wellbeing, reduce stigma, encourage help-seeking, and strengthen local community connections.

Funding is available on a tiered basis, ranging from up to $500 for small targeted events to $1,000–$2,000 for larger public events with more than 100 attendees. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organisations, community groups, schools, and local services.

What is the Mental Health Week Small Grants Program?

The Mental Health Week Small Grants Program provides small grants to support community-led events and activities in Tasmania.

The program funds initiatives that raise awareness about mental health, promote wellbeing, reduce stigma, and encourage people to seek help when needed.

Funded activities must take place during Mental Health Week 2026 in Tasmania.

Main Purpose of the Program

The main purpose of the program is to support local events that promote positive mental health and community wellbeing.

The program aims to:

• Promote mental health awareness
• Reduce stigma around mental ill-health
• Encourage help-seeking
• Strengthen community connections
• Support inclusive local activities
• Encourage creative wellbeing initiatives
• Promote the Mental Health Week 2026 theme
• Support community engagement across Tasmania

Mental Health Week 2026 Theme

The theme for Mental Health Week 2026 is “Appreciate the little things.”

Applicants should design events or activities that reflect this theme in a clear and meaningful way.

Projects may focus on simple actions, everyday wellbeing practices, local connection, gratitude, creativity, inclusion, or community participation.

Geographic Focus

The program supports events and activities held in Tasmania.

Activities must take place during Mental Health Week 2026.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

• Not-for-profit organisations
• Community groups
• Schools
• Local services

Applicants must hold an ABN or be auspiced by an organisation that holds an ABN.

Auspicing Requirement

Applicants that do not hold their own ABN may apply through an auspicing organisation.

The auspicing organisation must hold an ABN and may help manage the grant funds and reporting requirements on behalf of the applicant.

What Types of Activities Are Supported?

The program supports community-led events and activities that promote mental wellbeing and reduce stigma.

Eligible activities may include:

• Community wellbeing events
• School-based mental health activities
• Public awareness activities
• Creative workshops
• Community conversations
• Inclusion-focused events
• Help-seeking awareness activities
• Local connection activities
• Stigma reduction events
• Events that promote the theme “Appreciate the little things”

Funding Amount

Funding is provided on a tiered basis depending on the type and scale of the event.

Funding tiers include:

• Up to $500 for small targeted events
• Up to $750 for school events
• $500–$1,000 for small public events
• $1,000–$2,000 for larger public events with over 100 attendees

Partial funding may be offered depending on assessment and available funds.

Funding Use

Funding supports the delivery of approved Mental Health Week activities.

Applicants should ensure that costs are directly linked to event planning, delivery, promotion, participation, and community engagement.

Budgets should be clear, realistic, and appropriate to the size of the proposed event.

What Projects Are Not Supported?

Events must not primarily focus on fundraising or organisational promotion.

The program is designed to support mental health awareness and community wellbeing, not activities mainly intended to raise funds or promote an organisation’s services.

Key Concepts Explained

Mental Health Awareness

Mental health awareness means helping people understand mental wellbeing, mental health challenges, support options, and the importance of seeking help.

Stigma Reduction

Stigma reduction means challenging negative attitudes, shame, or misunderstanding around mental health and mental ill-health.

Help-Seeking

Help-seeking refers to encouraging people to reach out for support from friends, family, community services, health professionals, or crisis support services when needed.

Community-Led Initiative

A community-led initiative is designed and delivered by local people, groups, schools, or services based on community needs and local context.

Acquittal

An acquittal is a post-event financial report that shows how grant funds were spent and confirms that funds were used for approved activities.

Application Requirements

Applications should clearly explain the event idea, target audience, planning approach, and connection to the Mental Health Week theme.

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Clear event planning
• Audience engagement
• Alignment with “Appreciate the little things”
• Community benefit
• Inclusion and accessibility
• Collaboration where relevant
• Realistic budgeting
• Promotional planning
• Capacity to deliver the event
• Ability to complete reporting and acquittal requirements

Assessment Criteria

Applications are assessed by an MHCT-appointed panel.

Assessment considers:

• Applicant eligibility
• Alignment with the Mental Health Week theme
• Creativity of the proposed activity
• Collaboration and community involvement
• Audience reach
• Promotional planning
• Budget clarity
• Event feasibility
• Equitable distribution of funds

Reporting Requirements

Successful applicants must complete post-event reporting and acquittal requirements.

This may include reporting on:

• Activities delivered
• Number of participants or attendees
• Community outcomes
• Promotional activities
• Use of grant funds
• Lessons learned
• Evidence of expenditure

How to Apply

Applicants should prepare a clear and practical proposal for a Mental Health Week event or activity.

Suggested Application Steps

1. Confirm that the applicant is eligible.
2. Check whether the applicant holds an ABN or needs an auspicing organisation.
3. Design an event that will take place in Tasmania during Mental Health Week 2026.
4. Align the activity with the theme “Appreciate the little things.”
5. Identify the target audience and expected number of participants.
6. Choose the appropriate funding tier.
7. Prepare a realistic event budget.
8. Explain how the event will promote mental wellbeing and reduce stigma.
9. Describe how the event will be promoted to the community.
10. Include any partners or collaborators.
11. Submit the application according to the program guidelines.

Expected Results

Funded activities should create positive community outcomes during Mental Health Week.

Expected results may include:

• Increased mental health awareness
• Reduced stigma in local communities
• More conversations about wellbeing
• Stronger community connections
• Increased help-seeking awareness
• Greater inclusion of diverse community members
• Creative engagement around the annual theme
• More local participation in Mental Health Week

Why It Matters

Mental Health Week provides an important opportunity for communities to talk openly about mental wellbeing.

Small local events can help people feel connected, supported, and informed.

By funding community-led activities across Tasmania, the program helps reduce stigma and encourages people to recognise the value of everyday actions that support wellbeing.

The 2026 theme, “Appreciate the little things,” encourages communities to focus on simple, meaningful ways to improve mental health and strengthen local connection.

Tips for Strong Applications

A strong application should clearly show how the event will benefit the community.

Applicants should focus on:

• Strong alignment with the theme
• A clear and achievable event plan
• Specific target audience
• Inclusive and accessible activities
• Creative engagement methods
• Realistic attendance expectations
• Practical promotional planning
• Clear and reasonable budget
• Collaboration with local groups or services
• Clear mental health awareness outcomes

Applicants should avoid vague event descriptions and explain exactly how the activity will promote mental wellbeing.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should carefully check the program requirements before applying.

Common mistakes include:

• Proposing an event outside Tasmania
• Planning an event outside Mental Health Week
• Not aligning with the annual theme
• Applying without an ABN or auspicing arrangement
• Submitting a budget that lacks detail
• Focusing mainly on fundraising
• Focusing mainly on organisational promotion
• Not explaining the target audience
• Providing weak promotional plans
• Not showing how the event will reduce stigma or promote help-seeking
• Forgetting post-event reporting and acquittal responsibilities

FAQ

What is the Mental Health Week Small Grants Program?

It is a small grants program that supports community events and activities across Tasmania during Mental Health Week 2026.

What is the theme for 2026?

The theme is “Appreciate the little things.”

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organisations, community groups, schools, and local services.

Is an ABN required?

Yes. Applicants must hold an ABN or be auspiced by an organisation that holds an ABN.

How much funding is available?

Funding ranges from up to $500 for small targeted events to $1,000–$2,000 for larger public events with over 100 attendees.

Can school events be funded?

Yes. School events may receive up to $750.

Are fundraising events eligible?

Events must not primarily focus on fundraising or organisational promotion.

Conclusion

The Mental Health Week Small Grants Program supports Tasmanian communities to deliver local activities that promote mental wellbeing, reduce stigma, and encourage help-seeking during Mental Health Week 2026. With tiered funding available for small targeted events, school events, small public events, and larger public events, the program helps communities create meaningful activities aligned with the theme “Appreciate the little things.”

Strong applications will demonstrate clear planning, community engagement, creativity, budget clarity, and a practical approach to promoting mental health awareness across Tasmania.

For more information, visit MHCT.