In 2026, RFBI awarded over $250,000 in funding through our Benevolence Grant Program to support community-led initiatives across metropolitan, regional and rural NSW and the ACT.
These programs will support more than 43,000 older people while also strengthening the communities around them, reaching tens of thousands more through essential services, families, carers and local support networks across Southwest Sydney, the state’s Central West, Mid North Coast and the ACT.
Funded Projects
City of Liverpool Meals on Wheels
Funding: $10,000 | 180+ people supported
Delivered across Southwest Sydney, this program provides affordable, nutritious meals alongside regular wellbeing checks for more than 180 vulnerable older people and community members. The service supports independence, reduces isolation and provides a consistent point of contact for early identification of health or welfare concerns.
Funding: $42,000 | ~42,000 people supported
Supporting communities across Bathurst, Dubbo, West Wyalong and the ACT, this investment strengthens critical infrastructure that underpins Meals on Wheels service delivery. While directly supporting over 700 regular clients, the broader network reaches approximately 42,000 people annually, ensuring safe, reliable access to meals and essential support at scale.
Funding: $5,000 | 60–80 people supported
Delivered in Edmondson Park (NSW) and Belconnen (ACT), this initiative engages 60–80 older people through culturally appropriate cooking sessions and nutrition education. It supports improved health literacy while creating opportunities for social connection within diverse community groups.
Regional Counselling (Lifeline Central West)
Funding: $30,000 | 96 people trained
Delivered across the Central West, including Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange and Mudgee, this program trains 96 community members in Older Person Mental Health First Aid while also delivering local wellbeing activities. Through building skills at the community level, it helps create stronger support networks for older Australians, enabling earlier intervention and improved mental wellbeing across the Central West.
Funding: $50,000 | Up to 100 people supported
Operating across NSW and the ACT, this program supports up to 100 older veterans, partners, widows and carers through medication assistance, wellbeing check-ins and service navigation. By reducing cost barriers and connecting people with longer-term supports, it also strengthens outcomes for families and improves coordination across health and community services.
Funding: $40,000 | 120–180 people supported
Operating across Southwest Sydney and the Lower Hunter, this program delivers volunteer-led reading groups that engage 120–180 older people in shared literature and conversation. Training volunteers creates ongoing opportunities for connection that extend beyond the funded period and into local communities.
Funding: ~$29,000 | 270–300 people supported
Delivered across regional and metropolitan NSW, this program provides face-to-face eye health education to 270–300 older people. By improving awareness and encouraging early detection, it supports independence, mobility and access to care, with flow-on benefits for carers and local health services.
Sussex Inlet Foundation for Community Development
Funding: $20,000 | 900+ direct, 1,100+ indirect
Delivered across Sussex Inlet, Cudmirrah, Berrara and surrounding Shoalhaven communities, this program provides transport, wellbeing check-in calls and local support to around 900 older people, with more than 1,100 people benefiting indirectly through continued contact, referrals and support networks. It plays a critical role in maintaining connections and identifying needs early, particularly in areas with limited access to services.
These projects represent the kind of practical, community-focused support the RFBI Benevolence Grant Program was designed to enable. By investing in initiatives that improve wellbeing, build local capacity and address the needs of older Australians, we are helping create stronger communities across NSW and the ACT. We look forward to following their journey and sharing the outcomes of these programs over the coming year.