Strengthening Communities Multicultural Grants program

The  Strengthening Communities Multicultural Grants (SCMG) program is an annual, open competitive grants program that provides funding towards multicultural projects that engage culturally and linguistically diverse communities, groups and individuals, and the broader community, to partner and contribute to building an inclusive, harmonious and united Queensland.

For the purposes of this program, the term ‘culturally and linguistically diverse’ refers to people from migrant and refugee backgrounds, people seeking asylum, and Australian South Sea Islander peoples.

Outcomes-based model

The  SCMG program uses an outcomes-based model, that focuses on achieving specific, measurable outcomes and long-term impacts.

Applicants should clearly identify the outcomes their activity will achieve and how these outcomes will be measured. Outcomes are the changes, benefits or impacts that occur as a result of the funded activity such as, improved intercultural connections, enhanced economic participation, new skills or more confidence for project participants.

For applicants, focusing on measurable outcomes and supporting these with evidence-based evaluation can help to demonstrate and communicate how you are achieving your intended results.

The application form includes guidance to help applicants identify appropriate outcomes and evaluation methods. This information assists the department to understand the impact of funded activities and inform future funding decisions.

Program purpose and objectives

The purpose of the SCMG program is to provide funding for projects that contribute to building an inclusive, harmonious and united Queensland by:

• supporting the economic and social aspirations of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
• enhancing and empowering community capacity to address emerging issues and improve access to services
• increasing the cultural capability of services to support people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
• enhancing the capacity of general community groups in connecting people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds into a wide range of community activities.

Funding categories

There are two categories for project funding under each funding round:

• Category 1 – Empowering Multicultural Community (EMC) Projects
  • For innovative and strategic projects that address barriers and create opportunities for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds leading to more inclusive, resilient, and cohesive communities.
  • One-off funding of up to $100,000 is available.

• Category 2 – Youth and Community Connection (Y&CC) Projects
  • For innovative projects that assist to break down the barriers facing young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds that can result in feelings of disengagement or disconnection with community. These projects will enable young people to feel heard, valued, supported and empowered, resulting in their increased access to, and inclusion within the community.
  • One-off funding of up to $100,000 is available.

Examples of the types of projects the program supports are:

• Community based activities (such as workshops, training, skills development, knowledge and awareness raising, fostering social connections) to address an identified issue, which are conducted over a period of time with key deliverables/milestones and specified anticipated outcomes.
• Targeted activities that provide benefits for groups of individuals, such as increased community participation, economic independence, inclusion or access to opportunities within the local community.

2026–27 Multicultural projects

The 2026–27 SCMG program will open on 31 August 2026 and close on 4 October 2026 for applications for projects to commence on 1 July 2027.

Find out more about the 2025–26 grant recipients (PDF, 252 KB).

Multicultural events

Funding for multicultural events is available under the Celebrating Multicultural Queensland (CMQ) program. Please visit the CMQ webpage for more information.

Applicant eligibility

Applicants will be eligible to apply if they are a not-for-profit and/or charitable organisation and one of the following entity types:

• incorporated association
• company limited by guarantee
• company limited by shares registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
• cooperative
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation
• Local Government Authority (Council)
• state school P&C Association
• organisation established through an Act of Parliament
• Queensland University
• unincorporated association with an auspicing arrangement
• social enterprise listed in the Social Enterprise Finder or the Queensland Social Enterprise Council directory.

And must:

• have an active Australian Business Number (ABN) in the same name used in the application
• have an Australian bank account name in the name of the legal entity
• be located in and/or actively provide services within the state of Queensland
  • applicants with an ABN registered outside of Queensland will be required to provide details and evidence of actively providing services in Queensland
• have no overdue reports, outstanding financial matters, or unresolved performance issues with Multicultural Affairs Queensland (MAQ).

If you are not incorporated or do not have an active ABN:

You may apply through an eligible auspice organisation. If successful, the auspicing organisation will enter into a funding agreement, receive and manage the grant funds and accept the financial and legal responsibility for the funded activities.

Organisations that are not eligible for funding under the program cannot apply through an auspicing arrangement.

How to apply

1. Ensure you:

• read the Strengthening Communities Multicultural Grants Project Funding Guidelines (PDF)
• read the contract terms and conditions (PDF)
• preview the relevant application form in SmartyGrants on the opening date
• preview the relevant sample reporting template
  • Project progress report  (PDF, 197 KB)
  • Project acquittal report (PDF, 267 KB)
• An Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) form is required as part of the application to ensure funding is provided to successful applicants as quickly as possible after the funding announcement. The EFT form can be accessed through the application form.

2. Apply online through SmartyGrants.

To ensure everyone has the opportunity to apply, we accept applications in your preferred language. If you plan to submit your application in a language other than English, please email us at funding@maq.qld.gov.au for further information.

SmartyGrants will automatically close at 11.59pm on the closing date and will not allow applications past this time. Please ensure you allow adequate time to submit your application. Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted after this time to ensure fairness to all applicants.

Need assistance?

If after reading the guidelines you still have questions or require further information about the program, you can contact us by email at funding@maq.qld.gov.au.

For more information about applying online, read the SmartyGrants – Help Guide for Applicants.

If you need assistance with your SmartyGrants account, you can contact SmartyGrants Technical Support on (03) 9320 6888 or service@smartygrants.com.au. Support desk hours are 9am to 5pm AEST, Monday to Friday.

For further assistance, you can visit the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ) website for information on upcoming education workshops and to access their Online Learning Hub for easily accessible courses and resources.

Successful applicants

All applicants successful in receiving funding will be required to:

• enter into a funding agreement which comprises of the approval letter, funding guidelines, the submitted application, and the Terms and Conditions, as amended from time to time. “Particulars” in the Terms and Conditions means the submitted application
• comply with any relevant laws and regulations, such as the requirements for working with children, in the delivery of the project, and any other relevant insurance as may be required
• hold public liability insurance to the value of not less than $10 million that covers the project
• acknowledge the Queensland Government funding with the use of the Queensland Government crest on all promotional material associated with the funded project
• submit any online forms, such as Progress Reports (if required) and Acquittal Reports by the due dates
• submit an online Variation Request Form to request approval for any changes to the project (e.g. change in project title, dates, locations, proposed attendance, funded activities or scope)
• immediately inform MAQ of the cancellation of the funded project via email to funding@maq.qld.gov.au.