Community & Business
23 October, 2026
Dancing has its own reward
MAREEBA’S Hispanic Club is one of 81 recipients from around the country to get an Australia Post community grant.
The club will receive $10,000 for its Dancing Together: Reducing Social Isolation Through Partner Dance in Mareeba program, which helps to improve mental wellbeing in the local community.
The free dance program is designed for people experiencing loneliness, social isolation or limited opportunities to connect outside their existing social networks.
It provides regular, welcoming activities that help newly arrived migrants, older residents and other community members build relationships.
Australia Post announced the recipients to coincide with Mental Health Month. They will share over $700,000 worth of grants, with more than half based in rural and remote locations where access to mental health support is limited.
The grant program also included additional funding for the second time dedicated to initiatives in disaster-impacted communities, recognising the important role local not-for-profit groups play throughout the recovery process.
The 2026 grants build on more than a decade of support provided by Australia Post’s Community Grants program.
Australia Post general manager of community and stakeholder engagement, Nicky Tracey, said local groups were best placed to understand what their communities needed.
“Strong local networks can make a real difference to how people feel supported and connected, particularly in communities experiencing challenges,” she said.
“These grants are designed to back organisations at the heart of their communities, that understand the people they serve and create practical ways to bring them together and support their wellbeing.”
