Log in
Annual grants for community projects
We support and inspire local community groups across Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra through our Community Grants Program.
About our annual community grants
With a shared goal to build thriving and sustainable communities, our Community Grants Program supports project teams with innovative ideas to put projects into action. We invite applications from grassroots community groups, volunteer organisations, education institutions, local government with community partners, sporting groups and other community-minded organisations that share our vision of creating a better life for today and generations to come.
2025 program theme and focus areas
Water is an essential part of daily life. It's at the heart of the places where we love to live and play. We couldn't imagine a world without it. How we value water connects us with our environment and each other.
Our 2025 community grants were to support projects focused on driving a sustainable water future. They were chosen for their impact on one or more of these focus areas:
Water education
Projects that educate our community about our connection to water, its cultural value, water in our environment and water efficiency to ensure a resilient water future. They have a clear call to action that will inspire, and drive behaviour change surrounding water in the community.
Healthy waterways
Projects that support the health of our waterways, including rivers, beaches and green spaces that interact with waterways. They benefit the health of our local aquatic environments.
Water conservation
Projects that reduce, reuse and recycle water to lower water consumption and drive a resilient water future. They result in significant water savings through the development and implementation of water-saving technologies, devices, appliances and systems.
Get ready for the 2026 round
Community grant applications for 2025 have closed. Congratulations to the successful grant recipients, and thank you to all who applied. Our 2026 round will soon be here.
Dates to watch out for
- Applications open May 2026
- Applications close June 2026
- Announcement of community grant recipients August 2026
- Project completion date May 2027
If you have questions, email us at communitygrants@sydneywater.com.au.
Key documents and information
Information about the 2026 Community Grant Program will be released in early May 2026.
Our 2025 community grant recipients
| Grant recipient and project | Suburb |
|---|---|
Afghan Resource Centre Incorporated |
Auburn |
Arndell School |
North Ryde |
Australian Aid Youth Association Incorporated |
Guildford |
Beecroft Primary School Parents & Citizens Association |
Beecroft |
Georges River Combined Councils’ Committee Incorporated |
Fairfield |
Hunters Hill High School Parents & Citizens Association |
Hunters Hill |
Primbee Public School |
Primbee |
Past community grant projects
Communities in Fellowship Together
Communities in Fellowship Together is a community group that focuses on empowering women and children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to overcome challenges and barriers so they can thrive. Using grant funds, the group ran several events and multilingual workshops focused on water education and conservation, for children and families. These events included water-themed art competitions and a holiday program for children to learn about water in the Blacktown Local Government Area.
To improve water literacy and increase social connection for families, the group also posted educational content on social media. These activities led to many great conversations in the community, fostering a sense of environmental responsibility and stewardship among children and families.
Communities in Fellowship Together event
Advance Diversity Services – multicultural water field education
Advance Diversity Services, a 2024 community grant recipient, delivered 6 healthy waterways education sessions for culturally and linguistically diverse communities, including Chinese, Ukrainian, Arabic, Nepalese and Thai, at Carss Park, Georges River.
Leaflets were produced in 6 languages to create awareness of the healthy waterways sessions to explore, learn and protect our waterways while connecting with community.
Delivered by environmental officers, each session addressed the water cycle, wastewater education, river health, stormwater management and waterways protection work. Participants gained a deeper understanding of stormwater systems, and the measures implemented to reduce pollution. Useful tips were also shared on how to maintain healthy waterways and protect natural water resources. Each workshop concluded with a cleanup activity by the river.
Chinese community healthy waterways workshop
SF3 Smartphone Filmmaking Masterclass Series
The SmartFone Flick Fest (SF3) team used community grant funding to deliver the Sydney Water and SF3 Smartphone Filmmaking Masterclass Series. Participants developed skills in smartphone filmmaking and cinematography skills while learning how to pitch an idea, and shoot and edit creative content that explored the subject of water.
Applying the driving a sustainable water future theme, participants wrote, edited and shot their own short water-themed film. Two Illawarra-based workshops (one for youth and one for adults) were delivered in partnership with Screen Illawarra, and a 4-part series was also delivered for Stage 2 and 3 students at Scarborough Public School.
The final cuts were informative. They reflected strong creative interpretations of water, with all films screened at a free public event. The program equipped participants with new digital storytelling skills through engagement with water education while fostering creativity and environmental awareness.
SF3 free public event
Carnarvon Golf Club – floating wetlands
Carnarvon Golf Club installed additional floating wetlands into their dam. This enhanced the filtration system, healthy waterways and the quality of the water that flows from the golf course into Haslams Creek and then into the Parramatta River. These wetlands have created safe healthy habitats, resulting in an increase of bird species in the area from 25 to 40.
Volunteers installing floating wetlands