Each year, the federal budget brings hope, promise and sometimes disappointment to schools, councils and other public organisations all around Australia as they wait to hear if they will receive the support they need to continue and improve their services to the community.
With only a finite amount of money to disperse, it’s inevitable that some will miss out. In the latest budget, we saw increases go to public schools and local councils, two often underfunded entities.
However, with this funding allocated for specific services and coming with certain caveats, there are still large funding holes in many budgets. This is where grants become fundamentally important.
Grants can be used to fill budget holes where funding has fallen short, enabling communities working with tight budgets to deliver on projects that otherwise would have been sidelined – like playground and fitness space upgrades.
Here we’re sharing some tips on how to access the right grants and maximise funding to push your budgets further and deliver more value-adding projects to your community.
A lack of funding can lead to a lack of fun
The good news is that the 2024 federal budget has delivered more funding for schools and councils than in previous years.
Schools have seen an increase in funding for infrastructure upgrades and maintenance work, with a focus on schools serving lower socio-economic students and communities. However, this investment is still minimal when compared to what private schools are spending annually on infrastructure and facility improvements.
And while councils have received a much-needed boost in funding for major infrastructure projects and housing, this has come at the detriment of community facilities and leisure spaces.
Outdoor spaces—play equipment, games areas, accessible fitness equipment—are often overlooked for funding and, therefore, are less likely to be upgraded or even installed.
This can have significant impacts on both schools and the general public. Studies from NRPA1 show that kids who have access to appropriate and inclusive play areas display better concentration, social skills, and fine motor skills. While research from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) in Western Australia2 show communities that have access to these spaces are healthier, happier, safer, and more prosperous.
This shows just how important and beneficial grants can be in filling funding gaps and delivering outdoor infrastructure in local communities.
How to boost your budgets using government grants
Multiple grants are available throughout each year that provide additional funding to complete projects like playground upgrades and installs. While grants differ from state to state and each has specific eligibility criteria, most councils and schools have multiple chances to access these grants.
While many school administrators and councillors are time-poor, investing time in grant applications can prove hugely beneficial and deliver significant ROI.
The hard part isn’t accessing the grants. It’s ensuring that you can maximise them to complete the right projects.
Thoughtful planning and prioritisation are required to maximise the impact of grants to ensure not only a successful application but sustainable and valuable project outcomes to the community.
A great example of purposeful, community-based planning was the recent upgrade project at McCormack Park. Hobsons Bay City Council asked the local community to provide input on how they use the space and what features they would like to include in the upgrade, leading to hugely successful results. You can read more about it here.
Other recent uses of grants for play and fitness space upgrades that added value to the community include:
- Yarram Primary School used the Local Schools Community Fund to fund a new playground for their upper-primary students. They had been planning the works for five years but hadn’t had the available funds. The new playground was designed to encourage play and movement and deliver physical and mental benefits to students. You can learn more about the project and the school’s fantastic feedback in the Gippsland Times.
- Cumnock Progress Association was awarded the Local Schools Community Fund to boost their budget and design/install a new range of outdoor fitness equipment that can be used by the wider community.
- Lancaster Primary School used Victoria’s Active Schools initiative to fund their adventure playground project that introduced climbing, balance and agility equipment into their play area.
The thread that ties all these projects together is working with a partner who understands your requirements and limitations and can still deliver a playground or fitness space that is in line with community needs.
Safe and accessible play spaces on a budget
If you are considering using government funds or grants to install or upgrade playgrounds and fitness spaces, you need to consider three key aspects in the planning process:
- Assessing community needs and wants
What do those who will be utilising these spaces want and need from them? It’s important to consider things like age, ability, inclusivity, and what is currently not available in the space you want to upgrade.
- Understanding limitations
Budget is clearly the biggest limitation when it comes to designing new projects, but other parameters like space, the surrounding environment and timelines will also impact the project requirements.
- Longevity and quality
Where possible, you want to reduce the maintenance, upgrade and replacement costs of the equipment that you install. Ensuring that each component is suitable for the environment and the use case is paramount to reducing long-term costs.
How to get you started (and finished)
Safe and accessible play spaces are not hard to create, even with limited funding (and time). By making use of grant opportunities and partnering with the right designer and supplier, playground projects no longer need to be sidelined.
Imagination Play works with dozens of schools and councils every year to apply for grants and install customised play and leisure equipment. More than just supplying equipment, we help you manage projects end-to-end by:
- Announcing grants via email to ensure you don’t miss opportunities
- Helping with quotations for applications to increase your chances of being accepted and reduce the time it takes to apply
- Providing customised and compliant design options for playground and fitness equipment to fit within requirements and limitations
- Installing and maintaining equipment to ensure it’s safe and sustainable
A number of grants have already been announced this year, with more to follow in the coming months. If you’d like more information about applying for or utilising grants to install or upgrade your playgrounds, get in touch with the Imagination Play team. Or check out some of our latest projects for inspiration or review our playground and fitness equipment catalogues.
1Access to Youth Sports, NRPA
2Sport and recreation helps unite and strengthen communities, DLGSC, Western Australia
