The Bunya Fund
Co-operatives and mutuals help create an economy and society that works in the interests of the widest number of people by sharing ownership and business rewards.
We need more co-operatives to build a more inclusive economy in Australia. The co-operative movement has established The Bunya Fund, a co-operative development fund, to grow the next generation of co-operatives and mutuals (and support bold new initiatives from more established co-operatives and mutuals).
The Bunya Fund funds education, training, advisory and mentoring to help co-operatives and mutuals take on challenging economic, social, cultural and environmental problems in Australian communities and thrive. Successful applicants receive support valued between $5,000 and $25,000.
This ground-breaking Fund is the first of its kind in Australia. The BCCM launched The Bunya Fund in June 2022, announcing funding recipients in November 2022, April 2023 and July 2024.
More than $350,000 has been committed in the first three years to fund community owned co-ops to increase their social, environmental and economic impact in key areas of the economy from housing to health, employment, disability services, organic farming and the arts and beyond.
