Rates & spending · Cumberland Council
Cumberland Council allocates $196,098 to 32 community grant applicants
Round 1 funding covers community programs, events, education, sport and hardship assistance, with some grants conditional on further documents or information.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
Cumberland Council has allocated $196,098 to 32 recommended Community Grants Program applications, including projects supporting refugees, older migrants, parents, students and young people seeking help with sport and education costs.
The funding was approved under Round 1 of the 2026/2027 program at the council’s 28 October meeting. The resolution authorises General Manager Peter Fitzgerald to execute grant disbursements and associated documents. It also calls for successful applicants to be notified and unsuccessful applicants to receive feedback and assistance.
Individual awards listed in the successful-applicant table include $15,000 for the Refugee Advice & Casework Service’s Auburn Multilingual Legal Access Program, $14,760 for Special Miles’ neurodiversity workshops for parents, $13,432 for the Somali Council of NSW’s Somali Youth Learning & Pathways Hub, and $15,000 for Sanctuary Runners Cumberland.
The projects span several grant streams. The table describes activities including legal outreach with interpreters at Auburn Centre for Community, tutoring and mentoring for students in Years 7 to 11, culturally focused support for older migrants, community events and assistance with swimming, basketball, netball and other activities.
Some awards were listed as conditional. Requirements in the table include revised budgets and quotes, additional information about evaluation measures or intended participants, child-protection strategies, evidence of financial need and confirmation of activity registration. The minutes do not record whether those requirements have since been met or whether any grants have been paid.
The grants item was considered in closed session; the minutes cite discussion of personal hardship involving a resident or ratepayer. The resolution was recorded as carried, with all 14 listed councillors in favour and none against. The minutes also record declared interests involving Councillors Helen Hughes, Glenn Elmore and Paul Garrard. The declarations section says Hughes would withdraw for the item, but she appears in its voting list. The supplied record does not resolve that discrepancy, so the listed tally should not be treated as a verified account of participation.
What deserves a closer look
The resolution records an adopted allocation and delegated authority, rather than an unadopted funding recommendation.
Recalculation of the complete successful-applicant table gives 32 applications totalling $196,098, matching the resolution.
The attached table identifies conditions on some individual grants. The minutes do not record whether those conditions were later satisfied or whether payments were released.
Questions for follow-up reporting
Have conditionally funded applicants supplied the required documents and information?
When will grant agreements be executed and payments released?
What happens next
Successful applicants are to be advised of their allocations under the adopted resolution.
Unsuccessful applicants are to receive feedback and assistance.
The General Manager is authorised to execute grant disbursements and associated documents; the minutes do not establish whether this has occurred.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The record identifies the meeting as 28 October 2026 and lists Peter Fitzgerald as General Manager.
Council Meeting 28 October 2026 Page 1 Minutes of the Council Meeting 28 October 2026 Present: Councillors Joseph Rahme (Mayor) Mayor Michael Zaiter (Deputy Mayor) Deputy Mayor Ola Hamed Councillor Nadima Kafrouni-Saba Councillor Steve Christou Councillor Dr Diane Colman Councillor Glenn Elmore Councillor Paul Garrard Councillor Helen Hughes Councillor Ahmed Ouf Councillor (arrived 6:33pm) Suman Saha Councillor Eddy Sarkis Councillor Sujan Selventhiran Councillor Steve Yang Councillor Officers Peter Fitzgerald General Manager Tony Chahine Acting Director Corporate Performance Daniel Cavallo Director Environment & Planning Brendan Govers Director
Meeting title and officers
Open original minutes ↗Council adopted 32 recommended applications, allocated $196,098 from the 2026/2027 Community Grants Program budget and delegated authority to the General Manager to execute grant disbursements and associated documents; the motion was declared carried.
Adopt the 32 applications recommended for funding in Attachment 2 and allocate the $196,098.00 from the 2026/2027 Community Grants Program budget. 2. Delegate to the General Manager the authority to execute the grant dispersions and any associated documents. 3. Advise all successful applications of the funding allocations from the Community Grants Program Round 1 2026/2027 and provide feedback and assistance to applicants that were unsuccessful. 4. Receive and note the submission, assessment and recommendations of Emergency Relief Application ERF0001 in Attachment 6. 5. Attach a table of the successful applicants to the Minutes. The Motion on being Put was declared CARRIED. Councillor(s) For the Motion: Christou, Colman, Elmore, Garrard, Hamed, Hughes, Kafrouni-Saba, Ouf, Rahme, Saha, Sarkis, Selventhiran, Yang and Zaiter.
Min.1230 C10/26-140
Open original minutes ↗The adopted motion calls for successful applicants to be advised of Round 1 2026/2027 allocations and unsuccessful applicants to receive feedback and assistance.
3. Advise all successful applications of the funding allocations from the Community Grants Program Round 1 2026/2027 and provide feedback and assistance to applicants that were unsuccessful. 4. Receive and note the submission, assessment and recommendations of Emergency Relief Application ERF0001 in Attachment 6. 5. Attach a table of the successful applicants to the Minutes. The Motion on being Put was declared CARRIED. Councillor(s) For the Motion: Christou, Colman, Elmore, Garrard, Hamed, Hughes, Kafrouni-Saba, Ouf, Rahme, Saha, Sarkis, Selventhiran, Yang and Zaiter.
Min.1230 C10/26-140
Open original minutes ↗The motion was declared carried, with 14 councillors listed for it, including Hughes, and none listed against.
The Motion on being Put was declared CARRIED. Councillor(s) For the Motion: Christou, Colman, Elmore, Garrard, Hamed, Hughes, Kafrouni-Saba, Ouf, Rahme, Saha, Sarkis, Selventhiran, Yang and Zaiter. Councillor(s) Against the Motion: Nil. Min.1231 C10/26-137 Tender Evaluation Report - Toongabbie Bridge Intersection Upgrade (RFx1676) Motion (Saha/Zaiter) That Council: 1. Accept the Tender Evaluation Panel's recommendation to award the contract to CA&I PTY LTD (ABN40 158 442 436) in accordance with Clause 178(1)(a) of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021, for $4,256,867.00 (excluding GST) including allowance for provisional sums as required during the contract period.
Min.1230 C10/26-140 voting record
Open original minutes ↗The Refugee Advice & Casework Service's Auburn Multilingual Legal Access Program was listed with an amount of $15,000.
CONNECTED COMMUNITES GRANT 26CCGR1029 Refugee Advice & Casework Service Auburn Multilingual Legal Access Program Auburn Multilingual Legal Access Program is a significant extension of RACS's established weekly legal outreach service, removing language barriers preventing refugees in Cumberland from accessing essential legal assistance. Each Wednesday, 60–100 people seek assistance at RACS's face-to-face service at Auburn Centre for Community. The new Program provides dedicated professional interpreting, enabling clients with limited English to communicate directly and confidentially with RACS lawyers and understand their legal options, rights and responsibilities. By making specialised legal assistance genuinely accessible in people's preferred language, Program supports early intervention, reduces social exclusion, strengthens family stability and helps prevent legal problems escalating into crisis. $15,000.00 Applicant has met all eligibility criteria and demonstrated clear project outcomes. CONNECTED COMMUNITES GRANT 26CCGR1031 Early Education (EarlyEd) Incorporation Active Play, Active Families, Connected Communities Active Play, Active Families, Connected Communities will support Cumberland families with young children of all abilities to confidently use local playgrounds and outdoor spaces.
Appendix 2, application 26CCGR1029
Open original minutes ↗The program description provides for professional interpreting for clients using RACS's face-to-face service at Auburn Centre for Community.
Each Wednesday, 60–100 people seek assistance at RACS's face-to-face service at Auburn Centre for Community. The new Program provides dedicated professional interpreting, enabling clients with limited English to communicate directly and confidentially with RACS lawyers and understand their legal options, rights and responsibilities.
Appendix 2, application 26CCGR1029
Open original minutes ↗Special Miles' neurodiversity workshops for parents were listed with an amount of $14,760.
revised budget with quotes and additional detail about expenditure items. CONNECTED COMMUNITES GRANT 26CCGR1035 Special Miles Early Understanding, Better Support: Neurodiversity Workshops for Parents Early Understanding, Better Support: Neurodiversity Workshops for Parents is a free, practical and interactive program for parents and carers in Cumberland community. Delivered by Special Miles, seven workshops will cover child development, early signs of neurodiversity, ADHD, autism, learning differences, behaviour, emotional regulation, communication, screen time, sibling support, parent wellbeing and executive functioning. Parents will gain practical, evidence-informed strategies to support behaviour, communication, emotional wellbeing and everyday family life. English and Arabic delivery and resources will improve accessibility for culturally diverse families. A follow-up session three months later will review strategies used, experiences and ongoing support needs. $14,760.00 Applicant has met all eligibility criteria and demonstrated clear project outcomes.
Appendix 2, application 26CCGR1035
Open original minutes ↗The Somali Council of NSW's Somali Youth Learning & Pathways Hub was listed with an amount of $13,432, conditional on clear child-protection strategies.
regarding measures to ensure program targets intended cohort. EDUCATION ACCESS GRANT 26EAGR1007 SOMALI COUNCIL OF NSW LTD Somali Youth Learning & Pathways Hub The Somali Youth Learning & Pathways Hub will support secondary school students from Somali and other culturally diverse migrant and refugee- background families living in Cumberland. Delivered from the Somali Council of NSW Community Hub in Guildford, the 10-week program will provide small-group tutoring, mentoring and education pathway support for up to 30 students in Years 7–11. The program will also engage parents and carers to strengthen their understanding of education pathways and available support. The initiative aims to improve educational confidence, participation and aspirations while creating stronger pathways to further education and training. $13,432.00 Applicant has met all eligibility criteria and demonstrated clear project outcomes. * Conditionally funded based on the provision of clear child protection strategies. EDUCATION ACCESS GRANT 26EAGR1008 Mates from Himalayas (MFH) Mental Health First Aid Training Mates From Himalayas (MFH) will train 50 Nepali speaking community members as accredited Mental Health First Aiders across 12 months.
Appendix 2, application 26EAGR1007
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from Cumberland Council's minutes for the Council meeting held on 28 October 2026. Their confirmation status is not established by the supplied record.
Key facts from the minutes
- Council adopted 32 recommended applications and allocated $196,098 from the 2026/2027 Community Grants Program budget.
- The General Manager was authorised to execute grant disbursements and associated documents, and successful applicants are to be notified.
- Unsuccessful applicants are to receive feedback and assistance.
- The successful-applicant table records conditions on some awards, including further quotes, budgets, evaluation information or documentary evidence.
- The motion was recorded as carried, with 14 councillors listed for it and none against. Hughes’ inclusion contrasts with her stated intention to withdraw, so the actual tally cannot be verified from the supplied record.
Why it matters
- The allocation could support community activities and individual assistance across Cumberland, but some listed grants depend on applicants providing further information or documents. The minutes do not say when agreements will be executed or payments released.