GBK Healthy Communities Grants 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 for the current round are OPEN.
This grant round will close on Monday 7 September 2026.
Funding amount
Sporting & Active Communities grants: $100,000 per grant round
Healthy Projects and Initiatives grants: $100,000 per grant round
About the healthy communities Grants program
The Healthy Communities Grants Program is funded by the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA), and delivered by Gur a Baradaharaw Kod Torres Strait Sea and Land Council Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal Corporation (GBK).
This long-term investment will provide stability and funding certainty to communities across the region under a new funding model to support service delivery to 30 November 2028.
.The Program supports communities across the Torres Strait and the Northern Peninsula Area communities of Bamaga and Seisia, collectively referred to as the TSRA Communities, to lead activities that strengthen health, wellbeing, participation, social connection and culturally strong community life.
Our Objectives
Support healthy lifestyles, physical activity and community wellbeing initiatives, projects, and activities in TSRA Communities
Increase local participation in healthy, active, and culturally grounded activities
Strengthen community leadership and local capacity to plan, manage, and deliver community healthy lifestyle initiatives
Support fair and practical access to funding across communities
Encourage collaboration between local groups, councils, community organisations, PBCs, sporting clubs, schools, and regional service providers
Support place-based initiatives that respond to local priorities
Use outcome data provided through grant reporting to ensure the program is fit for purpose and meets the needs of communities
Funding streams
Stream 1: sporting & Active communities grants
Supporting sporting, active recreation and physical activity projects that help people participate, connect and stay active.
Stream 2: Healthy Projects and Initiatives Grants
Supporting community-led health, wellbeing, participation and connection projects.
Funding is only available for the following streams through direct allocation and/or a locally planned approach, with documented consultation and transparent approvals.
Stream 3: Local community solutions
Support place-based priorities which ensure every community has access to support.
Strengthen the skills and confidence of local groups, volunteers, committees and organisations.
Stream 4: Capacity building support
Update to Healthy Communities grants
From 1 January 2027, Healthy Communities Grants will fund eligible in‑region activities only. Funding will no longer be available for activities outside the region, ensuring support remains centred on local priorities.
This change ensures that funding directly benefits local communities and supports place-based community driven health and wellbeing initiatives.
To help communities prepare for the change, for the rest of 2026, communities can apply directly to TSRA for funding support for eligible activities delivered outside the region. Funded activities must take place between 1 June and 31 December 2026.
GBK, as Healthy Communities Grants Facilitator, will continue to provide funding support for eligible activities delivered in the region only.
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