Community organisations across rural Australia can now apply for grants of $10,000 to improve local halls and community hubs.
Ten successful applicants will share $100,000 through Rabobank’s Rural Community Hub Program, with the funding able to be used for improvements to either the inside or outside of eligible facilities.
Applications are open until Sunday, August 30, with successful communities expected to be announced in early October.
Eligible halls or hubs must be located in rural Australia and provide an accessible space where residents can gather, participate in activities and support one another through community events, programs or shared services.
Applicants will be asked to outline how their facility is currently used, what work they would undertake with the grant and how the improvements would help increase community use of the building.
Possible projects could include upgrades to kitchens, bathrooms, accessibility, heating and cooling, roofing, flooring, lighting, painting or other improvements that help make a facility safer, more comfortable and more useful.
Rabobank Australia CEO Caroline Oosterbaan said local halls often served as important meeting places for farming and rural communities, particularly in isolated areas.
Beyond hosting celebrations, meetings and community activities, many halls also provide shelter or support during emergencies and natural disasters, while offering space for training, workshops and education programs.
“While these hubs and halls may be modest in size, their impact is significant – helping communities create memories, build resilience and strengthen local spirit,” Ms Oosterbaan said.
The program follows strong demand for the inaugural funding round in 2025, which attracted almost 300 applications from across Australia.
Among last year’s recipients was the Rowena Community Hall in north-west New South Wales, which received funding to install reverse-cycle air conditioning throughout the building.
The hall is used for ANZAC Day services, school concerts, community Christmas celebrations, weddings and other local functions.
Rowena Community Association member Vanessa Radford said the funding had made the hall far more comfortable during summer and helped support a broader community effort to restore the building after it had been condemned and closed for four years.
“It’s so important, everyone needs somewhere to go and it can hold so many events,” she said.
Applications for the 2026 Rural Community Hub Program can be completed through the Rabobank website before the August 30 closing date.