Supporting local ideas that make a difference

Forty-nine community organisations across South Australia will share in more than $760,000 to help people connect, participate and thrive.

The 2025–26 Social Impact Round Two is providing $762,800 in grants for practical, community-led projects.

The projects respond to what communities say they need. They include programs that build skills and confidence, create welcoming places, improve access to equipment and services, and help people connect with others.

Grants of up to $30,000 are supporting projects across metropolitan Adelaide, regional and remote South Australia. More than half of the successful organisations are based in regional and remote areas.

Helping people in different ways

The funded projects show the many ways community organisations help South Australians.

They include:

• a community sewing and textile program for Aboriginal people living on the APY Lands
• digital literacy support for refugee and migrant communities
• accessible tools to help young people with vision loss live more independently
• a Rural Women’s Circles program supporting connection, resilience and wellbeing
• community kitchens, food programs and welcoming community spaces
• equipment for Men’s Sheds and community centres
• trauma-informed spaces for women accessing financial counselling and empowerment programs.

For example, ADRA Australia will receive $25,733 for a community-led sewing program on the APY Lands, while Zahra Foundation Australia will receive $27,013 to create trauma-informed spaces for women accessing specialist financial counselling and empowerment programs.

Across the full round, funded projects range from community gardens and youth spaces to digital inclusion, food support, cultural connection and improvements to local facilities.

Building stronger communities

The Social Impact grants support projects that:

• grow community capacity
• strengthen connections, trust and cooperation between people
• improve equity and wellbeing.

The funding prioritises areas experiencing disadvantage, projects that benefit DHS priority groups, and regional and remote communities.

Five Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations will share $124,367 through the round, supporting the important role of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations in their communities.

View the full list of successful recipients on the DHS website at dhs.sa.gov.au/how-we-help/grants/grant-recipients.