City of Melbourne

• Find all the free events in Melbourne this month, including Moomba, Holi Festival, Turkish Pazar Festival and more: What's free in Melbourne this month - What's On Melbourne
• This International Women’s Day, the City of Melbourne, in partnership with Migrant Women in Business, is hosting a Women, Culture and Business Fair. The free event showcases micro and nano businesses owned by migrant and refugee women, each with their own unique story to tell. Speak with and purchase goods and services directly from more than 40 local businesses. Book online.
• Manhood: Moving beyond stereotypes workshop - Join us for a workshop with the Jesuit Social Services initiative The Men’s Project, who will present The Man Box research and facilitate a discussion on ways to break free from harmful masculine stereotypes. Thursday 23 March from 6:30 - 8pm. Everyone is welcome!
• Join us for a panel discussion with some of the authors of 'Undefeated', a collection of 118 stories from 90 migrant women, who against all odds overcame the challenges and barriers of living in a foreign land, speaking a different language, and being singled out for the wrong reason. Thursday 23 March, 5.30pm – 7pm, East Melbourne Library. Register online
• Find your story: Ancestry - Curious about your family's past but don't know where to start? Book into a 90 minute family history training session and learn how to get started. Book now.
• Join your local grow community today! Grow It Local is connecting local and aspiring growers in City of Melbourne. See who and what’s growing locally, connect and share with local growers and food lovers, host or attend a workshop, share produce or find or list unused space for growing and help inspire the next generation of growers. Learn about and join the Grow It Local community today.

Other

• Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health is hosting Locals Lead! a panel discussion celebrating migrant and refugee women's civic participation and role within community spaces and local councils. Tuesday 28 March, 12pm – 2pm at the State Library Victoria. Register here
• Blind Sports & Recreation Summer Fitness Online Program - Blind Sports & Recreation Victoria have developed this collection of pre-recorded sessions to help keep you active, motivated, and relaxed at home for free.
• Blind tennis program - During school terms, a six-week blind tennis program, jointly developed by Blind Sports & Recreation Victoria, Tennis Victoria and Tennis Seniors Victoria is held on Friday nights at the National Tennis Centre on indoor courts. If you are interested in participating in this program or would like to volunteer your time to assist, please contact Susan Marshall by phone 03 9822 8876 or email info@blindsports.org.au
• Unlocking Sustainable Strata - Find out how to make your apartment or townhouse more sustainable, energy efficient and comfortable. Bookings required - places are limited.
• Nature Stewards - A 10-week program that will introduce you to your local and wider Victorian ecosystems and natural places. Find out more.

City of Melbourne

• Read the latest media releases, newsletters and public notices from the City of Melbourne

Other

• Metro Tunnel construction updates – Find out the latest updates on the Metro Tunnel construction works. You can register your email address to receive work notices electronically, according to your location of interest: Current Metro Tunnel works - Victoria’s Big Build
• West Gate Tunnel - Keep up to date with the West Gate Tunnel construction, works notification and road closures and detours: West Gate Tunnel Project - Victoria’s Big Build
• City Road and Power Street intersection safety improvements – VicRoads is upgrading the City Road and Power Street intersection with works starting in late 2022 and the upgrade is expected to be completed in early 2023.
• Yarra Trams is working with the Department of Transport and City of Melbourne to install tram separation kerbs and modify the bike lane separator islands along Swanston Street, between Victoria and Grattan streets, Carlton.

City of Melbourne

• The General Financial Hardship Policy assists eligible residents and businesses experiencing financial difficulty due to COVID-19. Applicants can request help in paying their City of Melbourne permits, licences and fees.

Other

• Docklands Dollars – Receive up to $210 cashback when you spend in Docklands.
• Victorian Energy Compare $250 Power Saving Bonus – A once-off $250 payment for Victorian households to help ease cost-of-living pressures and encourage them to compare energy offers and save money on bills. Applications are open until 30 June 2023.
• ATO Tax Help Program – Free assistance in lodging tax returns for people earning $60,000 or less. You can make an appointment with an accredited volunteer through the ATO website.

City of Melbourne

• Applications for our Inclusive Communities Grants open twice a year. This includes operational support grants of up to $2000 and for larger projects and initiatives up to $20,000. Applications for projects taking place from July 2023 to June 2024 are open from Monday 20 February and close Monday 20 March.
• Community Events Grants of up to $10,000 per event are available to not-for-profit organisations to work in partnership with the City of Melbourne. Applications open annually. Applications for events held between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024 will open Monday 20 February and close Monday 20 March.
• Connected Neighbourhoods small grants – This grant program is open to community organisations and individuals that have small project ideas that support community connection, social inclusion, access and participation.
• New Ideas Lab applications - Got a great new idea to develop in collaboration with children and families? We're seeking proposals for new work to be created as part of our ongoing creative program for children (babies to 13 year olds). New Ideas Lab supports proposals of new work up to $20,000 (artists’ fee together with consumable materials and equipment) plus venue, marketing and some specialist staffing in-kind. To learn more, view our guidelines and book into the information session on Tuesday 28 February at 1.30pm. Apply now.
• Social Enterprise Grants - The City of Melbourne’s social enterprise grants program supports social enterprise businesses to thrive in Melbourne. Applications for the Social Enterprise Grants Program open at 9am Friday 10 February and close at 2pm Friday 10 March 2023. Apply online via SmartyGrants.

Other

• The Victorian government is offering LGBTIQ+ Organisational Development Grants. There are two streams of funding, offering grants of up to $25,000 or $50,000, to support LGBTIQ+ organisations and groups seeking to build their capacity and strengthen their long-term viability.
• Metro’s Back on Track Community Grants support not-for-profit organisations that help improve people’s mental health. Not-for-profit organisations can apply for a grant in three funding categories of $5,000, $10,000 or $20,000. Metro will support projects and organisations of all sizes right across Melbourne. Applications can be made via the Metro Community Grants Website from 7 March until 11 April 2023. Successful applicants will be announced in June. If you have any queries please contact community@metrotrains.com.au
• The Dyson Group of Companies Community Support Program has been established to provide support to a range of community-based organisations providing services to the community of Victoria. The Program will have two funding rounds with grants limited to a maximum of $1000 per application. Applications close on 31 March 2023. Find out more.
• The Victorian Government's Office for Women is sponsoring 50 places for women who want to undertake an online Diploma of Governance in 2023. These places are part of the Women's Board Leadership Program supported by the Office for Women Victoria. This scholarship program provides governance training and networking to help women advance their board careers. Application close Wednesday March 15.
• SilverChef Community Grants Program - Open to eligible Australian community groups that use hospitality or food services to help disadvantaged or under-served members of their local community. Each quarter we award four grants of $5,000 each. Each $5,000 grant is a 75:25 mix of equipment and cash.
• Victorian Government interpreter scholarships – The Victorian Government is offering scholarships to support students undertaking interpreting courses at RMIT University in 2023.
• Australian Government grants – Visit the Community Grants Hub to access information on community focused grant programs currently open for applications.

City of Melbourne

• Browse the latest volunteer opportunities with City of Melbourne. We engage with more than 1000 volunteers each year in a wide range of roles and programs. Some of the areas in which volunteers work include tourism, events, libraries, Gardens for Wildlife, and in our programs for older community.

Other

• Volunteer with your resident groups
• Docklands Repair Café is all about neighbours helping neighbours. Whether it's electrical and mechanical repairs, wood, toys, electronics, bikes, sewing and textiles, or just helping out on the day, we’re always looking for community members to come down and join in. Contact the Centre on 9328 1126 or email us at jasonb@centre.org.au

City of Melbourne

City of Melbourne provides free training for local people to build their capacity in identifying, applying for, and managing grant funding. The program covers grant writing, project planning, budgeting, acquittals, and project/program evaluation. Session are running from March - June and are open now. Find out more and book your place: Community organisation training - City of Melbourne

Other

Keeping it in the Family - support to upskill family businesses. Sessions are delivered in a range of community languages by the iGenFoundation. Join upcoming sessions in Arabic and Mandarin.

Salons, stand against family violence with HaiR-3Rs - Free online training open to anyone living/working/studying in City of Melbourne who does hair, beauty, or personal services (hairdressers, barbers, beauty therapists, nail technicians, makeup artists, masseurs, spray tan technicians, cosmetic tattooists, waxers, dermatologists). Monday March 20 10am-12.30pm. Book now

City of Melbourne

• Browse some of the job opportunities with City of Melbourne.

City of Melbourne

• Pick up a copy of our Out and About Guide 2023 for older people, their carers, families and friends at your local library, neighbourhood centre or community hub. The Out and About Guide features free or low-cost local events and activities that promote healthy ageing, such as tai chi, exercise classes and a weekly program in our sensory garden.
• Stay safe this summer with our range of heat health resources, alerts, and practical support to help you prepare for extreme heat events. Check out our Summer Sense fact sheet, printable Cool Places maps, and digital maps for Cool Places, Cool Routes and drinking fountains.
• We have developed a Community Food Guide, a resource for community agencies or anyone in the community who needs information on how to access affordable, fresh and healthy food.
• Our Food and Garden Organics kerbside collection service is now available to residents living in apartment buildings two to five storeys. Order your kitchen caddy and liners today and help us put your organics to good use.
• Residents living in single unit dwellings can order their free kitchen caddy and liners to be delivered by our team.

Other

• Resources for Neighbour Day 2023 - Neighbour Day is coming up on the last Sunday in March. There are a number of resources and tools to help you plan and promote your Neighbour Day events.
• Protect yourself and others from mosquitoes this summer. Visit Beat the Bite to learn how.
• Anika Legal's Rental Information Hub – Access a range of resources about rental rights from documents renters receive when moving in, to how to recover your bond after leaving.
• DV Safe Phones - Do you have a phone in working order which you no longer have a need for? Consider donating it to DV Safe Phones who will give the refurbished phone to victims of domestic violence (DV) through registered charities, safe houses and authorities serving this vulnerable community. Your re-purposed 'Safe Phone' is provided as part of an individual's 'safe' or 'escape' plan'
• Multicultural Health Connect – Get health information and advice in your language. Visit Healthdirect for more information about this service.