General News
28 March, 2024
Last chance for groups to cash in on funding
COMMUNITY groups and students in the region can now apply for the latest round of ACCIONA Energía’s Mortlake South Wind Farm Community Grants and Scholarship Program.
The program supports local organisations and students as part of ACCIONA Energía’s commitment to empower communities around its renewable energy projects.
Since 2019, the Mortlake South Wind Farm has donated more than $190,000 to local community groups.
The 2024 Mortlake South Wind Farm Community Grants and Scholarship Program invites applications from community groups to support specific projects and for students seeking grants to pursue higher education.
The Mortlake South Community Benefits Fund was established in 2019 to provide support to the community annually over the life of the wind farm.
“ACCIONA Energía is committed to making a difference in the communities in which we operate and we are proud to have supported so many fantastic projects in the Mortlake region in the past five years,” ACCIONA Energía’s general manager brand and marketing Caroline Bommes said.
“Our communities are at the heart of our renewable energy operations and, since 2002, we have contributed more than $3.7 million to communities right across Australia through grant initiatives like this one.”
In 2023, Cooinda Terang Inc. received $10,000 through the grants fund towards building a five-bedroom, purpose-built accommodation facility to support residents with high physical needs.
The funding will increase the capacity of support for high-needs residents and workers on site and will support the building of a battery storage unit for back-up energy supply.
“This will make such a difference to the quality of life for our residents,’’ Cooinda chief executive officer Janice Harris said.
Kirrae Health Service Inc. received $5000 to support its local Indigenous youth group Koko Blokes, which can now attend weekly dancing and peer mentoring sessions, allowing members of the group the opportunity to connect more with their cultural identity.
“The grant has given us more funding to run activities in the local community,” Kirrae Health Service’s Aaron Hagan said.
“We would like to thank ACCIONA for the positive impact the funds have had for our group.”
Not-for-profit organisations wishing to apply for funding grants must align with the ACCIONA Social Action Plan, and must meet specific criteria to be eligible.
This includes the funding being used to enhance education, healthcare or cultural development, to promote sustainability, the environment and conservation, to promote or provide the provision of basic water and energy services or to actively contribute to improving the socio-economic system in communities where ACCIONA Energia operates.
Students can also apply for a $5000 scholarship to support their plans to undertake studies at university or TAFE in 2024.
Applications for grants funding and scholarships will close on April 2.
Application forms as well as terms and conditions are available at community.acciona.com.au/smallgrants.