Deadline: 30-Jun-2026
The Connellan Airways Trust General Grants support community-led programs that improve health, education, wellbeing, innovation, leadership, and access to services in Remote and Very Remote Australia. The program helps small to medium not-for-profit organisations and community groups address challenges caused by distance, isolation, and limited access to opportunities.
Grants of up to $10,000 are available for eligible projects with clear, measurable community outcomes. Priority is given to organisations based in remote communities, those with established relationships in these areas, or those primarily working to benefit Remote and Very Remote Australia.
What are Connellan Airways Trust General Grants?
Connellan Airways Trust General Grants provide funding for community-led initiatives in Remote and Very Remote Australia.
The grants support practical projects that improve access to services, strengthen community wellbeing, and create positive outcomes in places affected by geographic isolation.
The program is designed to help people and organisations overcome barriers linked to distance, limited resources, and reduced access to opportunities.
Main Purpose of the Program
The main purpose of the program is to support community-led solutions that improve quality of life in remote regions.
The program aims to:
- Improve health outcomes
- Support education and learning
- Strengthen wellbeing
- Encourage innovation
- Build community connection
- Develop leadership and skills
- Improve access to services
- Support measurable community outcomes
- Strengthen local capacity in remote areas
Geographic Focus
The program supports projects in Remote and Very Remote Australia.
Priority is given to organisations that:
- Are based in remote communities
- Have established relationships in Remote or Very Remote areas
- Primarily work to benefit people living in Remote and Very Remote Australia
Applicants should clearly show how their proposed activities benefit remote communities.
Funding Amount
Grants of up to $10,000 are available.
Funding is intended to support small to medium projects with practical, evidence-based costs that directly contribute to community outcomes.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include small to medium not-for-profit organisations and community groups.
Applicants may include:
- Registered not-for-profit organisations
- Small to medium community organisations
- Organisations with annual turnover under $3 million
- Unincorporated community groups with an eligible auspice organisation
Unincorporated groups must apply with support from an eligible not-for-profit organisation acting as an auspice.
Auspice Requirement for Unincorporated Groups
Unincorporated community groups may be eligible if they are supported by an eligible not-for-profit organisation.
The auspice organisation helps manage grant funds and ensures accountability for the funded project.
This allows smaller grassroots groups to access funding even if they are not formally incorporated.
Priority Applicants
Priority is given to applicants with strong links to Remote and Very Remote Australia.
This may include organisations that:
- Are located in remote communities
- Have trusted local relationships
- Deliver regular services in remote areas
- Understand local needs and conditions
- Work directly with remote residents
- Can demonstrate measurable community benefit
Key Focus Areas
The program supports projects that improve essential outcomes in remote communities.
Key focus areas include:
- Health
- Education
- Wellbeing
- Innovation
- Community connection
- Leadership development
- Skill-building
- Access to services
- Remote service delivery
- Measurable community outcomes
- Community-led solutions
What Types of Projects Are Supported?
The program funds practical projects that address local needs and create measurable benefits.
Supported activities may include:
- Outreach programs
- Mental health workshops
- Accredited training
- Educational materials
- Equipment for skill development
- Community-led innovation pilots
- Leadership programs
- Health and wellbeing initiatives
- Skill-building activities
- Delivery-related project costs
Eligible Project Costs
The fund supports reasonable and evidence-based costs that directly contribute to project outcomes.
Eligible costs may include:
- Wages directly related to project delivery
- Tools
- Materials
- Educational resources
- Training costs
- Equipment for skill development
- Outreach delivery costs
- Modest overheads linked to the project
- Costs needed to deliver community-led innovation pilots
Applicants should clearly explain how each cost supports the project’s intended outcomes.
What is Not Eligible?
Certain activities and costs are not eligible for funding.
Ineligible activities include:
- Retrospective activities
- Core government responsibilities
- Permanent staffing of hospitals or schools
- Operational salaries unrelated to project delivery
- Sports programs
- Arts and creative activities
- Fundraising events
- Projects without clear outcomes
- Projects with unclear budgets
Applicants should ensure their project is not replacing government responsibilities or funding general operations unrelated to a defined project.
Measurable Community Outcomes
Applicants must demonstrate a clear link between their proposed activities and measurable community outcomes.
Examples of measurable outcomes may include:
- Increased access to health or wellbeing support
- Improved skills or qualifications
- Increased participation in training
- Better access to educational resources
- Stronger community leadership
- Improved service reach in remote areas
- Increased confidence, knowledge, or capacity among participants
- Practical solutions tested through innovation pilots
Key Concepts Explained
Remote and Very Remote Australia
Remote and Very Remote Australia refers to communities located far from major cities and regional centres, often facing barriers related to distance, transport, service access, workforce availability, and infrastructure.
Community-Led Program
A community-led program is designed and delivered with local people, organisations, or community groups based on local needs and priorities.
Auspice Organisation
An auspice organisation is an eligible organisation that supports an unincorporated group by managing grant funds and meeting legal or financial accountability requirements.
Measurable Community Outcome
A measurable community outcome is a clear result that can be tracked, such as improved access, increased participation, stronger skills, better wellbeing, or expanded service reach.
Evidence-Based Costs
Evidence-based costs are reasonable expenses supported by quotes, project plans, experience, or clear justification showing that the costs are needed to deliver the project.
How the Program Works
Applicants propose a community-led project that benefits Remote or Very Remote Australia.
The project should address one or more program focus areas, such as health, education, wellbeing, innovation, leadership, skills, or access to services.
Applications should clearly explain the need, target community, planned activities, budget, delivery approach, and measurable outcomes.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare a clear and practical proposal that shows how the project will benefit remote communities.
Suggested Application Steps
- Confirm that the applicant is a registered not-for-profit organisation or has an eligible auspice.
- Check that the organisation’s annual turnover is under $3 million.
- Confirm that the project benefits Remote or Very Remote Australia.
- Identify the community need or service gap.
- Select the relevant focus area, such as health, education, wellbeing, innovation, or leadership.
- Develop a clear project plan with activities, timeline, and target participants.
- Prepare a budget of up to $10,000.
- Explain how costs directly support project outcomes.
- Define measurable community outcomes.
- Check that the project does not include ineligible activities.
- Submit the application according to the fund’s requirements.
Assessment Considerations
Applications should demonstrate clear community benefit, local relevance, and realistic delivery.
Assessment may consider:
- Benefit to Remote or Very Remote Australia
- Strength of community need
- Clear link between activities and outcomes
- Applicant’s relationship with the target community
- Feasibility of the project plan
- Reasonableness of the budget
- Evidence-based costs
- Capacity to deliver the project
- Measurable community outcomes
- Alignment with health, education, wellbeing, innovation, or access priorities
Expected Results
Funded projects should create practical and measurable benefits for remote communities.
Expected results may include:
- Better access to services
- Improved health and wellbeing
- Stronger local leadership
- Increased skills and training opportunities
- Improved education outcomes
- Greater community connection
- Practical innovation in remote service delivery
- Stronger capacity among community organisations
- Improved outcomes for people affected by isolation and distance
Why It Matters
People living in Remote and Very Remote Australia often face significant barriers to health, education, training, wellbeing, and essential services.
Distance, isolation, limited infrastructure, and fewer local opportunities can make it harder for communities to access the support they need.
The Connellan Airways Trust General Grants help local organisations and community groups deliver practical solutions that respond directly to remote community priorities.
Tips for Strong Applications
A strong application should clearly show the local need, the proposed solution, and the expected community benefit.
Applicants should focus on:
- Clear connection to Remote or Very Remote Australia
- Strong local relationships
- Practical project design
- Measurable outcomes
- Realistic budget
- Evidence-based costs
- Clear delivery timeline
- Direct benefit to the community
- Strong alignment with health, education, wellbeing, innovation, or access needs
- Clear explanation of how the project will overcome barriers caused by distance or isolation
Applicants should avoid broad proposals that do not clearly show how the project will improve outcomes for remote communities.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should carefully check eligibility and funding restrictions before applying.
Common mistakes include:
- Applying with annual turnover above $3 million
- Applying without an eligible auspice for an unincorporated group
- Proposing activities outside Remote or Very Remote Australia
- Not showing measurable outcomes
- Providing an unclear budget
- Requesting funding for retrospective activities
- Requesting funding for core government responsibilities
- Including operational salaries unrelated to project delivery
- Applying for sports, arts, fundraising, or creative activities
- Not explaining the community need clearly
FAQ
What are Connellan Airways Trust General Grants?
They are grants supporting community-led projects that improve health, education, wellbeing, innovation, leadership, skills, and access to services in Remote and Very Remote Australia.
How much funding is available?
Grants of up to $10,000 are available.
Who can apply?
Small to medium registered not-for-profit organisations with annual turnover under $3 million can apply. Unincorporated community groups may apply with an eligible not-for-profit auspice.
What areas does the program support?
The program supports Remote and Very Remote Australia, with priority for organisations based in or strongly connected to remote communities.
What activities can be funded?
Eligible activities may include outreach programs, mental health workshops, accredited training, educational materials, skill development equipment, leadership programs, and community-led innovation pilots.
What activities are not eligible?
The program does not fund retrospective activities, core government responsibilities, unrelated operational salaries, sports programs, arts and creative activities, fundraising events, or projects without clear outcomes.
What should applications demonstrate?
Applications should show a clear community need, direct benefit to Remote or Very Remote Australia, measurable outcomes, a realistic budget, and strong alignment with the program’s focus areas.
Conclusion
Connellan Airways Trust General Grants support practical, community-led projects that improve health, education, wellbeing, innovation, leadership, and service access in Remote and Very Remote Australia. With grants of up to $10,000, the program helps small and medium not-for-profit organisations and grassroots groups address challenges linked to distance, isolation, and limited access to opportunities.
Strong applications will demonstrate clear remote community benefit, measurable outcomes, realistic costs, local relationships, and a practical plan to improve quality of life in remote Australian communities.
For more information, visit Connellan Airways Trust.