healthy communities program

Building healthy, active, and connected communities across the Torres Strait and NPA

Who can apply?

Torres Strait Islander or Aboriginal organisations, community groups, sporting clubs, or local councils located in the Torres Strait or NPA.

Key dates

Applications are currently CLOSED.

Funding amount

  • Sporting grants: $200,000 (total) per year

  • Lifestyle grants: $200,000 (total) per year

A new approach for healthy communities grants

Healthy Communities grants are changing — and that’s great news for our region.

From 2025, the program will be managed by Gud a Baradharaw Kod (GBK), with funding from the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA). This new approach means:

  • More access for local groups and clubs

  • Support for applications and reporting

  • Targeted funding for every community

  • Support for new and innovative ideas

Healthy Communities is about local people leading local solutions - creating activities that strengthen health, culture, and connection across the islands and NPA.

About the program

The Healthy Communities Program supports community-led projects that promote healthy living, wellbeing, sport, and cultural strength.

The program helps people come together — to be active, eat well, stay connected, and celebrate what keeps our communities strong.

Our goals

  • Support healthy, active lifestyles

  • Strengthen community leadership and participation

  • Encourage culturally grounded wellbeing initiatives

  • Foster collaboration and partnerships across the region

Types of grants available

sporting grants

Supporting individuals and teams with reasonable travel and essential costs to attend sporting events and carnivals held in TSRA communities.

lifestyle grants

Supporting activities and initiatives that promote healthy lifestyles, including physical activity, wellbeing, healthy eating, connection and participation (sport and non-sport).

Support for community groups

GBK’s Healthy Communities program offers more than funding. It also provides hands-on support to help local groups plan, apply, and deliver their projects.

We can support groups who need help in many ways, including:

  • Planning ideas and preparing applications

  • Providing easy templates for budgeting and reporting

  • One-on-one mentoring and community visits

  • Finding other funding and sharing your successes