Telstra’s Connected Communities Grant Program

Telstra’s Connected Communities Grant Program will boost support for communities across remote, rural and regional Australia to enhance liveability with digital solutions that harness the power of connection.

The program will support community-led efforts that embrace new technology and improve digital literacy or digital capability.

Grants up to $10,000 are available for not-for-profit community organisations that are providing access to information, technology, education and facilities to support their communities to embrace new technologies and ways of working to build social capital and digital capability.

The program seeks to foster:

  • Liveable communities that have digital capability, and help to equip individuals with the skills to live, learn and work in a digital society;
  • Sustainable communities that are diverse and inclusive, planning for the health, wellbeing, and prosperity of their people and the planet; and
  • Resilient communities that are well prepared and socially connected when disaster strikes with the ability to renew and recover together.

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Round 3 is now closed

Funding announced late June 2025

How to apply

Please read the information on each of the three tabs below to make sure this is the right grant for your project.

If you want to explore other grant options, please go to Find Funding Now.

I have a question, who can I talk to?

For any program related queries for Telstra’s Connected Communities program contact:

  • Danielle Griffin, Program Manager

Ph: 1800 170 020 or Email: info@frrr.org.au

Confirm you are eligible to apply for this grant

To make sure this is the right grant for your community, please read the grant information detailed in the Program Guidelines below carefully. Click on each headline to reveal the detail.

Telstra’s Connected Communities grant program will boost support for communities across remote, rural and regional Australia to enhance liveability with digital solutions that harness the power of connection.

The program seeks to foster:

  • Liveable communities that have digital capability, and help to equip individuals with the skills to live, learn, and work in a digital society;
  • Sustainable communities that are diverse and inclusive, planning for the health, wellbeing, and prosperity of their people and the planet; and
  • Resilient communities that are well prepared and socially connected when disaster strikes, with the ability to renew and recover together.

Yes, this is a national program with funding available in remote, rural and regional regions in all States and Territories.

$200,000 funding is available for grants up to the value of $10,000.

While all requests will be considered, priorities for funding are outlined below:

  • Projects initiated and delivered by local community groups and not-for-profits;
  • Organisations that do not have DGR-1 status.

This program supports community organisations wishing to improve the digital capability of their community for better liveability, for example:

  • Take your meetings, documents and communication online;
  • Attract new and younger members, and support your older members with training and access to technology to support their participation;
  • Streamline your volunteer management by digitising records, automating volunteer management functions, creating online rostering, etc.;
  • Enable digital literacy and cyber security with training;
  • Improve digital connectivity.

A broad range of charitable projects are considered under this program.

For Telstra’s Connecting Communities program, projects should be community-led to support enhancing social connection, equitable access to technology, increased cyber security, sustainable environmental practices, or support disaster preparedness. This can be with new or existing projects, where funds will help to scale their impact, and may include initiatives that can build digital capability by providing access to equipment, information and education, and/or enable constructive social networks.

The program will support a wide range of charitable projects that are aligned with the program purpose and embrace technology to provide digital solutions, including:

  • Equipment or training to build digital and connectivity literacy for broad community benefit;
  • Enabling digital equity by providing access to digital equipment for students in need;
  • Building community organisations’ operational capacity with new technology and digital solutions;
  • Programs that increase communities’ digital literacy for better social and economic outcomes;
  • Programs supporting remote, rural and regional communities’ adaptation to extreme weather events and changing climate conditions using digital tools to increase access and reach;
  • Programs to help communities recycle their e-waste;
  • Delivery of cyber safety / online awareness workshops to vulnerable cohorts (e.g. seniors, students, First Nations people, and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities);
  • Cyber security support for community groups to implement or upgrade electronic information security;
  • Upgrading emergency meeting places to support connectivity in and out of times of disaster;
  • Providing essential digital equipment for emergency preparedness.

There are several areas that we can’t fund through this program. If in doubt, please contact us.

  • Projects that support core areas of responsibility of Federal, State or Local Governments;
  • Ongoing core organisational operational costs (e.g. rent, utilities, regular wages, loan repayments);
  • The encouragement or advancement of sport, recreation and social activities are not considered charitable activities under Australian law. Applications from sporting organisations need to clearly demonstrate charitable outcomes and benefits to the wider community that are above and beyond the sporting activities of the club;
  • Overseas travel and overseas projects;
  • Prizes, gifts, trophies, or awards;
  • Political lobbying;
  • Projects that primarily benefit private business, a sole trader, or private interests;
  • Projects solely focused on animal welfare.

Organisations that were successful in the 2024 Telstra Connected Communities Grant Round 2 are not eligible for funding through the program in 2025.

This grant program seeks to support not-for-profit organisations in remote, rural and regional Australia who have greater challenges in accessing services and / or funding to enable initiatives that can leverage technology and build digital capability to enhance liveability, improve sustainability and strengthen community resilience.

To apply, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Applicant organisations must be a not-for-profit organisation with either an Incorporation Certificate and/or an ABN. If you are unsure if your organisation is a registered not-for-profit (e.g. if you are a Co-operative, Other Unincorporated Entity, Public Company or Trust), please contact FRRR;
  • Project must be for charitable purposes and offer clear public benefit;
  • Not-for-profit organisations with or without DGR-1 endorsement are eligible;
  • Organisations can submit one application per grant round;
  • Projects must benefit communities in remote, rural or regional Australia.

Please note, you will be considered ineligible if:

  • Application is submitted by individuals, sole traders, private, or commercial businesses (as per the submitted ABN);
  • Application is submitted by an organisation that is a non-legal entity and the nominated legal governing / partnering organisation has not provided written confirmation of their willingness to assume responsibility for management of the funds and acquittal of the project;
  • Application is submitted without required financial documentation (see additional information on the second tab);
  • Applicant organisation has an overdue final report from any FRRR program awarded in the previous seven years (delivery organisations should check with legal organisation to see if there are any outstanding final reports);
  • Application is for a project or activity that has already occurred  /is occurring prior to the announcement of funding;
  • Application is incomplete. NOTE: Due to the volume of applications received, applications are assessed based on the documentation received at the time of application. FRRR is unlikely to follow up missing documentation after applications have been submitted.
Gather information to support your grant application

Please read the information below to support the planning and preparation of your project. It also sets out what you MUST include for your project to be considered. There are plenty of helpful resources to support you along the way.

Please contact FRRR if you have any questions about the following information.

Your grant application MUST include:

Every application needs to include an organisation that holds either an ABN or Incorporation Certificate. If your organisation doesn’t have that, FRRR may still fund the project but you need another organisation’s support, which we refer to as the ‘legal organisation’ (with your organisation being the delivery organisation). This situation often occurs when the organisation delivering the activity or project is a branch of an overarching organisation – such as a local CWA or YMCA branch. In this case, the CWA or YMCA would be the legal organisation.

Even though your organisation may complete the application (and will be doing the work), it’s the ‘legal organisation’s’ legal and financial information that needs to be provided. They also need to provide a letter of support, confirming they are willing to play this role, with a template available here for your convenience.

FRRR conducts a broad range of due diligence queries when reviewing applications, such as: reviewing current and past incorporation, DGR and ACNC status. If your organisation has happened to have their incorporation status, DGR status or ACNC status changed or ACNC registration revoked or voluntarily withdrawn, please let us know the reasons for this.

Applications from ACNC and/or unincorporated associations are required to submit their organisation’s Constitution.

Why is this important?

This program is only able to distribute funds to not-for-profit organisations with an ABN or Incorporation Certificate, and FRRR needs to know that the organisation with that ABN / Incorporation number understands and agrees to carry out their responsibilities in relation to your project, if successful.

Applications received without the requested financial information are ineligible. Providing incorrect financial information is currently the most common reason why applications are not able to be considered. On the application you must include the following information:

  • Annual income (total income in your financial year);
  • Annual expenditure (total expenses in your financial year);
  • Current assets (from your audited financials, or bank balance minus any debts). Note: Please provide a brief explanation of any large financial surplus or current assets and reasons why FRRR funds are still required.

In addition you must attach the following:

  • For organisations that have audited financial reports: Attach the most recent annual audited statements;
  • For organisations that do not have an annual financial audit: Attach the most recent 12 months Income and Expenditure Statement. If you have a Balance Sheet, please also submit this;
  • For organisations less than one year old: Provide Bank Statements for the period you have been operating.

Please note: If financial documents are more than 18 months old, please provide an explanation as to why the organisation does not have more recent documents. Bank Statements are only acceptable as financial documentation if your organisation has been operating for less than one year.

Please contact us if you cannot provide required financials or you are unsure about what to provide.

Why is this important?

FRRR uses this information to understand your organisation’s financial viability and ability to manage grant funds.

You must include a project budget that clearly shows the items that FRRR grant funds would be used for and that also shows all income and expenses related to your project.

Budgets should be realistic and must add up – i.e. total expenditure must match total income.

Applicant contributions in cash or in-kind are highly regarded. Quotes or detailed rationale for items over $1,000 are required, where possible. Note: FRRR suggests costing unskilled volunteer labour at $45.00 per hour.

For more info on costing volunteer labour, visit: https://explore.fundingcentre.com.au/help-sheets/valuing-volunteer-labour.

Why is this important?

A clear budget helps FRRR to understand the size of your project, exactly how FRRR funds will be spent and helps demonstrate community support for your project through in-kind contributions either from your organisation or partners / community members.

Helpful resources:

FRRR strongly recommends that you provide supporting materials such as letters of support, evidence of permission from property owner, community plans, survey results, photographs, media clips and research reports that can show broad community support and partnerships involved in the project. For more information on supporting documentation, watch this recording.

Large documents should be referenced and explained in the application.

Why is this important?

FRRR seeks to fund projects that are well-supported by the broader local community, are locally-led and delivered, show good partnerships and benefit multiple parts of the community. As FRRR is not always familiar with our community, our staff consider support material as evidence toward understanding the level of community need, benefit and support.

Helpful resources:

Each application is assessed on its ability to address local priorities and benefit the broader community. A clear description of exactly what the grant funds will be used for, when and where the project will happen, who will benefit and who will be involved in delivering the project, why the project and grant funds are needed, how funds will be spent and how the activities and success of the project will be recorded, evaluated and shared.

Where possible, we encourage you to make it really clear that your organisation is ready and able to deliver the project and, if required, provide ongoing support for the initiative.

Why is this important?

FRRR needs to clearly understand your project to assess its merits. Applicants should focus on addressing the what, when, where, who, why and how of the project, as this is the best way to clearly communicate the details of the project.

A ready community is best placed to achieve the aims of your project, so during assessment, our staff look for information that tells us that good leadership, skills and awareness exist in your community to support the project now and in the future.

Helpful resources:

We have grouped the kinds of projects communities commonly ask us to help fund into seven areas, which we call the Activity Tree:

1. Building community resilience
2. Developing organisational resilience and capacity
3. Enhancing environmental sustainability
4. Fostering cultural vibrancy
5. Lifelong learning and education
6. Economic strength
7. Improving community health and social wellbeing

We ask you to nominate one of those seven areas when you apply. So, before you lodge your application, download the Activity Tree to help you identify your focus area.

Why is this important?

FRRR makes grants to communities, but we also need to be able to demonstrate to our funding partners where communities need support.

Need some more help?

We have a large selection of resources on our Grantseeker Resources page to help you along the way.

Submit your grant application via the Grants Gateway

Round 3 is now closed.

Please contact FRRR if you have questions about any aspect of the Grants Gateway online application form.

Return to an existing application hereLogin

Helpful resources:

It is time to submit your application. If it is helpful, you can download a sample copy of the application form. Please read the instructions on how to use the Grants Gateway How-to Guide and have your questions answered with our Grants Gateway FAQs.

Before you submit your application via the online Grants Gateway, please ensure you have:

  • Confirmed you are eligible to apply for this grant
  • Provided clear information about your project
  • Checked that you are an eligible legal entity
  • Provided the financial information required
  • Created a budget for the project
  • Gathered supporting materials
  • Spoken to an FRRR contact person where you were unsure of any requirement
  • Gathered community support for the project
  • Checked the information you are providing to ensure it is clear and relevant to the project

If you have significant issues accessing a stable internet connection, please contact our team to discuss an alternative way of applying:
Ph: 1800 170 020 or Email: info@frrr.org.au

“FRRR’s grant application was clearly set out, staff were friendly and helpful when I had a few questions, and the whole process was easily achievable. We are grateful for the opportunity to receive funding to improve Adavale Lane Community Centre so it can be accessed and used for the benefit of our whole community.”

Danielle Diener, Secretary – Adavale Lane Community Centre Incorporated, SRC R9

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