Highways and Byways Small Grants Program

Funds community-led organisations for projects that address disadvantage and exclusion within towns and communities, especially in rural and regional Australia.

Increasingly regular occurrences of extreme weather conditions such as drought, floods, and bush fires reflect the impacts of climate change, and continue to impact the vast and varied Australian landscape. As rural, remote and regional communities struggle to come to terms with these events, along with cost of living, housing and employment issues, they are under stress and strain.

Against this backdrop of enormous socio-economic and environmental challenges, the Mary MacKillop Today Highways and Byways small grants program is dedicated to partnering with communities seeking to focus on community enriching initiatives through encouraging people to participate in sustainable projects, build connection to Country, access indigenous knowledge and connect across inter-generational divides through building bridges.

The theme of the 2026 Small Grants Program – ‘Breathing New Life into Your Community and Country’ – recognises that we are experiencing increasingly regular occurrences of extreme weather conditions such as drought, floods, and bush fires reflect the impacts of climate change, and continue to impact the vast and varied Australian landscape. As rural, remote and regional communities struggle to come to terms with these events, along with cost of living, housing and employment issues, they are under stress and strain.

In 2026, they encourage practical projects which promote sustainability and bring new life and regeneration into communities.

Grants of up to $5,000 are available for projects that:
- Support the inter-generational exchange of knowledge and skills for the sustainable, regenerative management of land
- Contribute to building strong and resilient communities through promoting connectivity within the local community
- Encourage partnerships amongst local indigenous and non-indigenous communities through the sharing of culture, knowledge, skills and stories
- Provide opportunities for program participants to develop leadership or other personal and community-building skills.

Projects that align with our program theme and objectives will be considered as grant recipients. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Environmental and ecological restoration and regenerative initiatives
- Programs for vulnerable communities
- Wellbeing programs
- Community events
- Training programs
- Workshops.

Funds community-led organisations for projects that address disadvantage and exclusion within towns and communities, especially in rural and regional Australia.

Expense items eligible for funding include, but are not limited to:
- Purchase of tools and equipment
- Garden materials, including plants and seeds
- Resource materials
- Contractors and consultant costs, including speaker fees
- Travel and accommodation costs
- Marketing and communication activities
- Meeting costs including venue hire and catering costs.