The Bupa Foundation increases its investment in healthier, happier communities

A record number of community organisations are to receive funding as part of the Bupa Foundation’s 2025 Community Grants program. Sixty-five community organisations from across Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) will share in over $600,000 in funding that will support local programs with a focus on mental health and sustainability.

This year’s grants are part of the Bupa Foundation’s ongoing commitment to local communities which has seen more than $2.5 million in funding provided to grass-roots organisations across Australia and New Zealand since 2019.

Roger Sharp, Bupa Asia Pacific’s Chief Sustainability & Corporate Affairs Officer, said the Community Grants Program’s sole purpose is to support community groups to deliver practical initiatives that benefit the health of local communities.

“When you combine funding and resources with the passion and knowledge of local community groups, the impact can be incredible. That’s why supporting local communities through these grants and volunteering opportunities continues to be so important to Bupa.

“I look forward to following the progress of these projects over the coming years, as they contribute to creating healthier communities”.

Along with the Community Grants Program, the Bupa Foundation supports a range of major initiatives across ANZ through major partnerships with organisations such as Kids Helpline, Black Dog Institute, Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation, Brien Holden Foundation, The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), and New Zealand Landcare Trust.

The full list of 2025 Bupa Foundation Community Grant recipients are as follows:

Australia

Adelaide Crows Foundation: Its Open Parachute program will deliver measurable mental health and wellbeing outcomes for students in drought-affected communities of the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula through weekly, curriculum-aligned video lessons led by real young people.
Assorted Grains: Will run a free LGBTQIA+ arts festival in Logan to help create mentally healthy, creative, and connected young people.
Banksia Gardens Associated: Its Family Gardens Project is designed to empower public housing residents to address a number of issues through supporting them to grow their own food.
Batyr Australia: Will deliver preventative mental health education and early intervention programs in schools, with an emphasis on peer-to-peer lived experience storytelling.
Berry Street Victoria: Will run an evidence-based early intervention program for parents of children under 5 who have experienced family violence, trauma and/or neglect.
Bori Muy: Through group-based programs like the Deadly Men’s Group, they help foster deep social bonds rooted in culture, trust, and shared experience amongst First Nations men.
Bowls Victoria: Its Mind Matters on the Green program will help Australians take better care of their mental health by embedding practical, community-based mental health support directly into local bowls clubs.
Common Ground Project: Its ‘Future Grow’ program empowers young people through hands-on education in regenerative farming, sustainable food systems, and climate resilience.
Delta Therapy Dogs: Its Delta Therapy Dogs program, uses the evidence-based human-animal bond to improve mental health and wellbeing.
Dogs For the Environment Australia: Its Climate Resilience workshops aim to improve community health outcomes, provide psychological support, and build stronger, more connected communities in the face of climate impacts.
Djirra: Djirra’s ACTIVEism Festival aims to strengthen emotional wellbeing and social connection among Aboriginal women and their children by creating a culturally safe space for healing, empowerment, and sharing of stories.
Each: Its WILD program uses Bush Adventure Therapy activities to connect young people to nature and their peers.
ECOllaboration: Will run a community event showcasing unique strategies to build mental health & connectivity through nature.
Flying Fox: Will provide life-changing weekend getaways for young people with a disability.
For Wild Places: Its TRACTION program empowers outdoor communities to clean trails, connect with nature, and protect wild places.
Giant Steps Australia: Will run an outdoor education program designed for autistic children and adults to help improve their mental health.
Good Flock: Will establish an intergenerational friendship program between a kindergarten and aged care home.
Good Shepherd Australia and New Zealand: Up to 100 volunteers from their The Food Centre will participate in 17 trauma-informed, peer-led wellbeing sessions over 12 months.
Happy Paws Happy Hearts: Will run a program enabling young people & rescue animals to visit older Australians in aged care homes for intergenerational connection.
Healthy Kids Project: Will run a free run club aimed at building resilience and better mental health in kids through movement.
Hello Sunday Morning: Will run “Rethink the Drink” educational webinars to support people with alcohol-related behavioural change.
Lifeline Northern Beaches: Will run “Understanding Suicide,” A Lifeline Training Series that builds a base understanding of suicide prevention.
Live To Tell Your Story: Its “Power Up 4 Dust Up” project promotes healthier eating, reduces diet-related illnesses, and fosters intergenerational learning.
Mentoring Men: Its work aims to strengthen men’s mental health and build more connected, resilient communities by expanding access to free, one-to-one mentoring.
Minus 18 Foundation: Will run the Queer Formal Adelaide youth event which aims to increase emotional wellbeing and connection amongst young people aged 12-19.
Mount Barker Family House: Its Duck Flat Community Garden project aims to foster community wellbeing, inclusion, and environmental sustainability through hands-on gardening activities, education, and shared experiences.
Neuroscience Research Australia: Will run a community-led event in Campbelltown, co-hosted with Tharawal Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS), to translate findings from its ‘Deadly Brains’ research project.
One in Five Association: Will develop a series of 6–8 high-quality, emotionally powerful videos that share real stories and highlight the importance of mental health research.
Pacific Rim Just For Kids: Its Just4Kids Paediatric Dental Program aims to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of disadvantaged children by addressing untreated dental issues that can significantly affect confidence, self-image, and overall development.
Parks Shire Food Service: Its Community Luncheons program aims to reduce social isolation and promote wellbeing through community luncheons in Parkes NSW, Trundle NSW, and Peak Hill NSW.
Parkinsons NSW: Will conduct 800 individual counselling sessions and 300 group counselling sessions over twelve months, starting in October 2024, at no cost to participants.
People for Nature: Will run workshops that enable participants to take positive actions that support both their mental and physical health, fostering resilience, hope, and stronger communities.
Pledge for the Planet: Its 48 Hour Mission motivates sports clubs and community groups to take climate action through movement and pledges.
Proveda Limited: Proveda’s Belong Club, with the Dance Health Alliance, will provide fortnightly dance classes for those 65 and older, including individuals with disabilities.
Rite Mentoring: Will deliver two 16-week group mentoring programs in Noble Park and Keysborough, directly supporting 30 vulnerable young people to build resilient, mentally healthy practices.
Salute for Service: Its Operation Connect project aims to reduce social isolation and improve emotional wellbeing among current and former Australian Defence Force members and their families.
Seacliff Hockey: Will enrol 20 coaches, team managers, and key volunteers in accredited Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training delivered by St John SA.
Sexual Health Victoria: Will train nurses and GPs to use validated screening tools during appointments to improve early identification of mental health concerns in patients seeking sexual and reproductive health services.
St Marys House of Welcome: Will run a project that aims to provide meaningful engagement for a team of chronically homeless and disadvantaged service users struggling with mental health issues.
Switchboard Victoria: Its LGBTIQA+ Suicide Prevention Resource Development Project seeks to work with LGBTIQA+ Australians with a lived experience of suicide to develop peer resources that facilitate connection, help-seeking and increased visibility of LGBTIQA+ experiences.
Tanjil Valley Landcare Group: Will create an all- inclusive garden space for the community to gather and enjoy, located at Willow Grove Recreation Reserve.
Tanyas Home: Will run an outreach and support project helping vulnerable mothers access mental health care and rehabilitation.
Thamarrurr Youth Indigenous Corporation: Will create a culturally grounded, nurturing space for women and girls of Wadeye to come together.
The Equality Project: Its Better Together Conference aims to foster meaningful dialogue across LGBTIQA+ communities and their allies to build understanding and connection.
The Legacy Club of Brisbane: Will support people a with a disability across Queensland who have lost a veteran parent through its Explorers program.
The Man Cave Global: Will run programs that empowers teenage boys to become great men through school-based workshops.
The Master Builders Association of New South Wales: Will deliver General Awareness Training and safeTALK Training to enhance on-site mental health support.
The Trustee For Raise Foundation: Will recruit up to 1,000 young people into our Raise Digital Mentoring Program in 2026.
The Walter Well Project: Will run free, culturally tailored mental health education sessions to support CALD communities’ wellbeing.
Triumph of Good: Will run weekly group singing sessions to combat isolation and help seniors with dementia stay connected and engaged.
Wattle Volunteering: Will run youth-led cleanups and workshops improving mental wellbeing and climate resilience in Melbourne.
Wesley Mission: Will run cultural camps empowering First Nations youth to build resilience identity wellbeing and connection.
WomenCAN Australia: Will equip WomenCAN staff with trauma-informed and Mental Health First Aid skills to uplift women’s care.
Yimby Melbourne: Its Walkability Index project aims to help build a healthier, more walkable Melbourne.

New Zealand

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rotorua: Its Big Brothers Big Sisters program will provide one-to-one mentoring for children facing barriers and experiencing adversity.
Dogwatch Sanctuary Trust: It initiative will support vulnerable people keep their dogs through essential support and pet care assistance.
Endangered Species Foundation: Its Embrace a Stream project combines hands-on stream restoration with education and community connection to improve the health of waterways and the wellbeing of people.
First Foundation: Its Exposure to the World of Work programme will impact 330 students to reach their full potential through mentoring and career development opportunities.
Louise Perkins Foundation: ‘Sweet Louise’ offers a unique service dedicated to supporting people living with advanced breast cancer.
Manuku Beautification Trust: Its Boomer Shed project provides community benefits by fostering social connection and supporting local groups. It offers a welcoming space to build friendships and reduce social isolation.
Resport Charitable Trust: Works to reduce the volume of sports gear and textiles entering landfill by giving them a second or third life.
Skylight Trust: Its Tai Oranga program will provide essential psychoeducation to children aged 7–9, equipping them with emotional regulation tools to manage change and challenges in their lives.
University of Auckland: Its project aims to explore how gardening can facilitate intergenerational social connections to build mentally healthy and resilient communities.
Upper Waitemata Ecology Network: Will lead an urban regeneration project that uses bioorganic and regenerative agricultural practices.
Waipuna Hospice: Will implement the “My Everyday Wellbeing”, a world leading digital platform supporting the mental and emotional well-being of its staff and their families.

More information about the Bupa Foundation can be found here.

INDEPENDENT NEWS IS IMPORTANT.

PLEASE GIVE WHAT YOU CAN: PayPal.Me/clevergreensolutions

Enjoy reading Eco Voice? Please help us by purchasing a GIFT Voucher or send one to a friend and encourage people to purchase trees or seeds via The Native Shop – www.nativeshop.com.au