Up to $500,000 to create permanent and accessible community spaces where multicultural communities can meet, deliver services, host events, strengthen social connections and foster inclusion.
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What is the Multicultural Connect Grants (MCG)?
The 2026–27 Multicultural Connect Grants (MCG) program is an open, competitive grants initiative that provides matched funding for community-led capital infrastructure projects, such as constructing or upgrading facilities for multicultural groups.
Acknowledging the diverse needs of Queensland’s multicultural communities, the program focuses on fostering inclusivity and empowering communities to thrive.
A total of $3.75 million is available under the 2026-27 MCG program, across two funding categories.
- Category A – Small to Medium Grants
- Category B – Large Grants
Multicultural Connect Grants level of support
Funding Amount
The program offers two funding categories:
Category A – Small to Medium Grants
- Minimum grant: $10,000
- Maximum grant: $100,000
Category B – Large Grants
- Minimum grant: $100,001
- Maximum grant: $500,000
Co-contribution
Applicants must provide matched cash funding.
The value of the applicant’s cash contribution must be equal to or greater than the amount of grant funding requested.
Matched funding may be provided through:
- the applicant organisation
- partner organisations
- other confirmed funding sources
Partnerships and financial co-contributions are encouraged.
Funding provided through the program is one-off only and does not guarantee future funding for later stages of a project. Multi-stage projects may apply again in future rounds but will be assessed independently.
Multicultural Connect Grants important dates
Category A – Small to Medium Grants
- Applications close: 30 August 2026
- Complete assessment and approval process: September 2026
- Funding announcement: November 2026
- Applicants notified: November 2026
- Grant contracts executed and grant activities commence: December 2026
Category B – Large Grants
Stage 1 – Expression of Interest (EOI)
- EOI closes: 30 August 2026
Stage 2 – Full Application
Successful EOI applicants will be invited to submit a full application.
- Applications open: November 2026
- Applications close: December 2026
Please note: These timeframes may change at the department’s discretion.
Register your interest with GrantHelper.
Multicultural Connect Grants objectives
The program supports the development of permanent, inclusive community infrastructure that responds to the cultural, social and service needs of Queensland’s multicultural communities.
Projects should contribute to one or more of the following objectives:
- Strengthen community infrastructure.
- Improve access to high-quality community facilities for multicultural organisations and communities.
- Encourage cross-cultural understanding.
- Increase social connection and community participation.
- Create flexible, multi-purpose spaces that can be shared by multiple organisations and community groups.
- Strengthen community partnerships and broader cross-cultural connections across Queensland.
- Support long-term organisational growth and sustainability.
- Encourage greater participation and inclusion within multicultural communities.
Successful projects are also expected to contribute to the following program outcomes:
- Timely and cost-effective project delivery.
- Increased use of facilities by multicultural organisations and groups.
- Safe, accessible and adaptable infrastructure.
- Improved accessibility and inclusivity.
- Stronger community connection and partnerships across cultures.
Projects and expenditure eligible for Multicultural Connect Grants support
Funding is available for capital infrastructure projects involving the construction or upgrade of community facilities.
Eligible projects include:
- Building new community facilities.
- Community halls.
- Community meeting spaces.
- Community hubs.
- Sporting facilities.
- Additional rooms or usable space.
- Extensions to existing facilities.
- Internal refurbishments.
- Painting directly related to refurbishment works.
- Electrical upgrades.
- Flooring upgrades.
- Lighting upgrades.
- Storage facility upgrades.
- Accessibility improvements.
- Construction of community gardens.
- Sporting structures.
- Construction or upgrading of car parks that directly support the funded facility.
Eligible project costs may include:
- Construction materials.
- External labour hire.
- External consultants.
- Project management directly related to construction.
- Essential equipment required for project delivery (such as furniture, fittings and whitegoods), capped at 10% of the total grant amount.
Projects must also:
- Be located in Queensland.
- Demonstrate that matched funding has been secured.
- Have owner consent to undertake the works.
- Involve a single project site.
- Demonstrate willingness to allow access by other multicultural organisations and the broader community.
- Include appropriate time and cost contingencies.
- Become “shovel-ready” within eight weeks of notification of approval.
- Commence and finish within the required program timeframes.
Projects cannot claim costs incurred before a funding agreement has been executed.
Funding cannot be used for:
- Feasibility studies.
- Business cases.
- Mapping projects.
- Research activities.
- Planning studies.
- Concept designs.
- Routine maintenance.
- Asset management activities.
- Cleaning.
- General repairs.
- Routine painting and upkeep.
- Sewerage infrastructure.
- Water infrastructure.
- Waste management infrastructure.
- Roads.
- Stormwater infrastructure.
- Drainage.
- Footpaths.
- Cycleways.
- Walking tracks.
- Public toilet facilities.
- Parks and gardens not directly linked to an eligible project.
- Landscaping or beautification works that are not essential to the project.
- Stand-alone car parks.
- Purchasing land.
- Leasing land.
- Purchasing existing buildings or facilities.
- Staff wages.
- Rent.
- Insurance.
- Office consumables (unless directly attributable to the funded project).
- Preparation of architectural plans.
- Professional fees unrelated to project delivery.
- Repairing facilities damaged by natural disasters where insurance should apply.
- Retrospective funding for projects already commenced or completed.
- State infrastructure projects.
- Activities already funded under another Queensland or Commonwealth Government program where this would duplicate funding.
- Vehicles or vehicle-related purchases.
- Buildings used solely or primarily as places of worship.
Projects that have already received Queensland or Commonwealth Government funding may still be eligible where the MCGP funds a separate and distinct component and there is no duplication of funding.
Other Multicultural Connect Grants important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Multicultural Connect Grants support
The following organisations are eligible to apply.
Applicants must be either:
- A not-for-profit or charitable organisation legally registered in Australia; or
- A charitable institution established through legislation; or
- A Local Government body constituted under the Local Government Act 2009.
Eligible organisations must also:
- Have a registered and active Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Actively operate within Queensland.
- Have no overdue reports, service delivery issues or performance issues relating to previous Multicultural Affairs Queensland funding.
Local governments must also:
- Engage with one or more multicultural organisations when delivering the project.
The following cannot apply:
- State School P&C Associations.
- Individuals.
- Sole traders.
- Commercial entities.
- Queensland State Schools.
- Queensland universities.
- Queensland Government departments, agencies or statutory authorities.
- Australian Government departments, agencies or statutory authorities.
- Diplomatic missions, consular posts or representative offices acting on behalf of foreign governments.
- Political parties.
- Trade unions.
- Organisations that are not based in Queensland and do not actively deliver services within Queensland.
Multicultural Connect Grants assessment criteria
Category A Assessment Criteria (Single Stage)
Applications requesting $10,000–$100,000 are assessed against three weighted criteria.
1. Alignment with Program Objectives and Outcomes (30%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- The project aligns with the objectives of the Multicultural Connect Grants Program.
- The project will improve access to permanent, inclusive and accessible community facilities.
- The project contributes to at least two program outcomes.
- Clear measures will be used to evaluate project outcomes and community impact.
2. Community Need, Benefit and Accessibility (40%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- A clearly identified community need.
- The gap the project will address.
- Evidence of community demand.
- Stakeholder support.
- How multicultural organisations and the broader community will use the facility.
- How the project improves inclusion, participation and cross-cultural connection.
- Shared-use arrangements where applicable.
- Letters of support demonstrating community need and benefit.
3. Project Readiness and Deliverability (30%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- The project is construction-ready or can become construction-ready within the required timeframe.
- Necessary approvals, leases and landowner permissions are in place or achievable.
- The project can be delivered within budget and program timeframes.
- A realistic project plan including milestones, timelines, budget and quotes.
- Capacity to provide the required matched cash contribution.
Category B Assessment Criteria (Two-Stage Process)
Stage 1 – Expression of Interest
1. Alignment with Program Objectives and Outcomes (50%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Strong alignment with the program objectives.
- Improved access to permanent, inclusive and accessible facilities.
- Contribution to at least two program outcomes.
- Clear methods for measuring community outcomes and project impact.
2. Project Readiness and Deliverability (50%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Construction readiness.
- Necessary approvals and permissions.
- A realistic and achievable delivery timetable.
- Clear milestones.
- Well-developed project planning.
- Realistic timelines and budget.
Stage 2 – Full Application
1. Community Need, Benefit and Accessibility (40%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Strong evidence of community need.
- Stakeholder support.
- Community demand.
- Broad community access.
- Inclusion and cross-cultural outcomes.
- Shared-use arrangements where relevant.
- Supporting letters demonstrating need and benefit.
2. Organisational Capacity and Capability (30%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Appropriate governance arrangements.
- Capacity to successfully deliver the project.
- Access to experienced personnel and contractors.
- Previous experience delivering infrastructure or community facility projects (where applicable).
- Understanding of regulatory, compliance and workplace health and safety obligations.
3. Financial Capability and Value for Money (30%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Capacity to provide matched cash funding.
- Sound financial management.
- Appropriate financial controls.
- A realistic and cost-effective budget.
- That grant funding will directly support eligible construction costs and deliver long-term community benefit.
Category B applicants will also be subject to enhanced financial due diligence, including assessment of:
- Financial documentation.
- Financial forecasts.
- Contingency planning.
- Organisational financial sustainability.
In addition to the published criteria, all Category A and Category B applications are also assessed having regard to:
- Comparative merit against competing applications.
- Geographic distribution of funding.
- Demographic distribution of funding.
- Available program funding.
- Due diligence assessments.
- Risk assessments.
- Compliance checks.
Applicants may also be asked to provide additional information or clarification during the assessment process.
How do I get the Multicultural Connect Grants support?
To maximise your chances of receiving funding, applicants should demonstrate that they:
- Clearly align the project with the objectives and intended outcomes of the Multicultural Connect Grants Program.
- Address a demonstrated need for improved multicultural community infrastructure.
- Provide strong evidence of community demand, including consultation with multicultural organisations and the broader community.
- Explain how the project will improve accessibility, inclusion and community participation.
- Demonstrate that the facility will be shared or available for use by multiple multicultural organisations and community groups where appropriate.
- Show that the project will deliver lasting community benefits beyond the funding period.
- Have secured matching cash funding equal to or greater than the grant amount requested.
- Present a realistic, detailed and financially sound project budget.
- Demonstrate that the project represents value for money.
- Show that the project is construction-ready, or can become construction-ready within the required timeframe.
- Provide evidence that all required approvals, permits and landowner consents have been obtained or can be obtained.
- Demonstrate the organisational capability, governance and financial capacity to successfully deliver the project.
- Include a practical project plan with achievable milestones and delivery timeframes.
- Identify project risks and explain how they will be managed.
- Clearly explain how project outcomes will be measured and evaluated.
- Provide supporting documentation, including quotes, letters of support and evidence of funding commitments where required.
For Category B applicants, only those with the strongest Expression of Interest (EOI) submissions will be invited to proceed to the full application stage.
Applicants invited to Stage 2 will be required to provide substantially more detailed project, financial and governance information.
Information to prepare for the Multicultural Connect Grants support
Before commencing an application, applicants should prepare:
Organisation Information
- Organisation legal name.
- ABN.
- Legal registration documentation.
- Contact details.
- Evidence of public liability insurance (minimum $10 million).
- Financial information where required.
Project Information
- Project title.
- Detailed project description.
- Project objectives.
- Project location.
- Proposed commencement and completion dates.
- Project management arrangements.
- Evidence of community consultation.
- Evidence of community need.
- Expected community outcomes.
- Project evaluation measures.
Financial Information
- Total project cost.
- Grant amount requested.
- Matching cash contribution.
- Detailed project budget.
- Quotes for eligible works.
- Evidence of matching funding.
Supporting Documentation
Depending on the project, applicants may also need:
- Certificates of incorporation or legal registration.
- Landowner consent.
- Lease agreements (if applicable).
- Development approvals or planning approvals (where required).
- Building approvals (where required).
- Site plans.
- Concept plans or construction drawings.
- Engineering reports (if applicable).
- Letters of support.
- Evidence of community consultation.
- Evidence of organisational partnerships.
- Financial statements (particularly for Category B applications).
Applicants should carefully read the Funding Guidelines before applying to ensure all mandatory documentation is provided, as incomplete applications may not be considered.
Applying for the Multicultural Connect Grants support
Applications must be submitted online through the SmartyGrants portal.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Multicultural Connect Grants resources
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