our grants

background

small grants program

Highways and Byways continues the work of the Missionary Sisters of Service (MSS) reaching out in hope and love to people socially and geographically isolated, strengthening community relationships and networks, developing leadership and empowering people to meet the challenges that confront them.

Since 1944 the MSS have travelled vast distances to reach people in all kinds of places and situations, and support those on the margins: geographically, culturally, spiritually, socially and economically.

Each year we provide small grants to community-led organisations for projects that address disadvantage and exclusion within towns and communities, especially in rural and regional Australia.

OUR theme and focus for OUR 2024 grants

Valuing Community Connections in an Ancient Land

Our 2024 Small Grants Program has now closed and grants have been awarded. To learn more about our grant recipients and their programs, click here.

ELIGIBILITY & HOW TO APPLY

Please check back later in the year for information on our 2025 Small Grants Program.

Featured Grant Recipients

success stories

MARSHES TELL A STORY

WARREN, NSW Some areas of cultural significance around Warren, in north-west NSW, have been seen for the first time by local Indigenous people, thanks to RiverSmart Australia and Highways and Byways. Two bus trips to the area included people from the Warren Wayliwan...

PLANTING SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE

JIMBOOMBA, QUEENSLAND Beth Cook has future generations in mind when she wanders around parts of the Jimboomba Community Garden. Not just tomorrow’s gardeners, but sustainable fruit and vegetable plants that will be producing food for future generations. Beth and her...

READING THE LANDSCAPE

INVERELL, NSW Byron Norman has a big job. He’s a coordinator with the Gwymac Landcare team working with farmers around the Inverell area of the New England Tablelands of NSW, encouraging them to consider tending their land differently. It can be challenging as farmers...

GREEN THUMBS IN ACTION: GROWING AND COOKING TOGETHER

GOONDIWINDI, QLD Karra Suhr’s students are growing food in the first half of the year that they will use to cook up a storm in the second half of the year. Her approach to teaching agricultural science is practical and one she hopes will equip her students to better...

WADEYE ON THE MEND

Wadeye, Northern Territory There’s a patch of Wadeye, a remote outback town south-west of Darwin, that’s starting to look pretty good. Two years of weeds, abandoned car parts and town rubbish is disappearing. Slowly, the Thamarrurr Men’s Shed is re-emerging thanks to...

PRO HART WAY SHOWS NEW LIFE

Broken Hill, NSW Years of drought have taken a toll on the main roads into Broken Hill in NSW. A census found that more than 1,000 trees have died from 3,000 planted. But Pro Hart Way, the road from town to the airport is bucking the trend thanks to a handful of...