The Connecting Communities Grants Program provides funding to projects that seek to reconnect disengaged youth and/or reduce social isolation within Australian communities.

Categories include:

Disengaged Youth
Many young people are disengaged from society because of lack of education, skills training, employment opportunities, as well as homelessness, substance abuse and poverty. Optus says that it will support projects that focus on providing solutions that enable such youth to reconnect with society and help build a better future for themselves.

Social Inclusion
This category seeks to address social, physical, emotional and geographical isolation. Optus says that grant applications in this category “should demonstrate how projects will promote and enhance social inclusion such as building social networks, increasing participation in community or family life or providing access for services such as health and education”.

Some of last year’s successfully grant recipients include, among many others, Barnardos Australia for its Yalmambirra Learning Centre, Youth Focus’ Fresh Minds project, Stewart House Preventorium, The Youth Junction, Rural Housing Network and YWCA of Darwin.

Individuals are invited to submit an application on behalf of an NFP, or the organisation can apply themselves directly. Applications close on Friday 31 July and can be made online