Australia’s first co-op development fund announces fourth successful round

10 September 2025

Australia’s industry-backed co-operative development program, the Bunya Fund, has awarded more than $66,800 in its fourth round to support early-stage co-operatives to grow, innovate and strengthen their communities.

The Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM) is pleased to announce the five diverse and impactful co-operative recipients of Round 4 funding from The Bunya Fund. The sector-backed fund is generously supported in this round by BCCM members Australian Unity, CBH Group and APS Benefits Group.

Launched in 2022, The Bunya Fund is Australia’s first co-operative development fund. It exists to foster the growth and impact of the co-operative and mutual movement by funding advice for new and emerging co-operatives, as well as supporting established co-operatives to innovate.

BCCM CEO Melina Morrison said, “Round 4 has highlighted the breadth of innovation that co-operatives bring to communities – from strengthening regional economies and housing affordability, to empowering artists and creating inclusive jobs. It shows how the co-operative model can be adapted to tackle some of Australia’s most pressing challenges.”

Bunya Fund Manager, Linda Seaborn, added, “As in previous rounds, what’s most exciting is that this support is made possible by established co-operatives and mutuals investing back into the sector. When co-ops support co-ops, the impact multiplies – we see stronger local economies, deeper community engagement and greater resilience.”

The Round 4 recipients and their funded projects are:

• Boyup Brook Co-op: Co-design of a Community Development Plan focused on identifying new business activities that will strengthen the co-op’s value proposition and membership.
• Edigrocer: Strategic advice to support the conversion of an established community grocer to co-operative ownership.
• Hands on Artists Co-op: Development of digital marketing capacity of a longstanding arts organisation that has recently become a co-op.
• Middle Ground Housing: Development of a limited equity housing co-op model working with co-op Community Housing Providers.
• Nundah Community Enterprises Co-op: Creation of resources and a strategy to replicate a successful disability employment worker co-op model.

Together, these projects demonstrate the adaptability of the co-operative model in addressing wellbeing, regional economic development, housing, cultural sustainability and inclusive employment.

In this round, the Fund placed particular emphasis on wellbeing initiatives, regional co-op development in Western Australia, housing innovation and South Australian projects with potential for debt finance.

Since its launch, the Bunya Fund has nurtured dozens of high-impact co-operatives across the country, ensuring communities have access to the advice, professional services and infrastructure that can make the difference between a good idea and a thriving enterprise.

Discover more about the Bunya Fund, view Round 1 (2022), Round 2 (2023) and Round 3 (2024) projects, or read our last two Bunya Fund Impact Reports.