Victorian Jewish groups offered grants for healing after Bondi

Victorian Jewish organisations will be able to apply for new one-off wellbeing grants announced today in a move aimed at helping the community recover from the Bondi Beach terror attack and the continuing strain of antisemitism.

The Victorian Jewish Community Wellbeing Grant, launched by South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (SEMPHN), will fund practical community-led activities to strengthen safety, resilience and social cohesion across Victoria’s Jewish community.

The $42.6 million national package was announced after the 14 December 2025 Bondi Beach attack, in which 15 people were killed and 40 injured when gunmen opened fire at the northern end of Bondi Beach during a Chanukah gathering.

The federal funding was designed to support Jewish Australians, Bondi locals, first responders, children, young people and the wider community with access to informal and clinical care, including phone, online and in-person support.

A temporary mental health centre was also planned for Bondi to provide free walk-in support for people grieving and traumatised by the attack.

SEMPHN said the Victorian grant responds to the impact of the Bondi Beach attack and the lived experience of antisemitism among members of Victoria’s Jewish community.

The grant program follows consultation with Victorian Jewish organisations, as well as mainstream mental health and community health organisations.

SEMPHN commissioned Impact Co. in early 2026 to consult with 17 organisations as part of a community-driven approach to supporting the wellbeing of the Victorian Jewish community.

The consultation took place from February to April 2026 and included individual interviews, focus groups and two Community Validation Forums, where the organisations were brought together to test and respond to Impact Co.’s findings.

According to SEMPHN, the consultation informed its approach to the grant by identifying effective existing services and opportunities to build capacity and strengthen resilience within the Victorian Jewish community.

SEMPHN has published Impact Co.’s Final Commissioning Report and supplementary report.

The grants will support practical, community-led activities in Victoria aimed at improving cultural, emotional and social wellbeing, strengthening crisis and wellbeing responses, increasing confidence in seeking help, and contributing to longer-term psychological and physical safety.

Funding cannot be used to provide mental health treatment or clinical support services and must only be used for Jewish community activities in Victoria.

Applications are open to Victorian Jewish community organisations, as well as organisations partnering with a Victorian Jewish community organisation that will act as the lead applicant.

A Victorian Jewish community organisation is defined as one whose primary purpose is to serve, support or represent the Victorian Jewish community.

Applicants must be registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission or be incorporated not-for-profit entities.

Organisations already receiving funding from the Australian Government’s Bondi Mental Health Support Package are not eligible.

The grant program is one of three funded activities listed under SEMPHN’s Bondi Support initiative.

In April 2026, SEMPHN commissioned Relationship Matters and Connect My Mind to provide primary mental health care to people in south-east Melbourne affected by the Bondi Beach attack, the Middle East crisis and broader community trauma.

That support is available to anyone who lives, works or studies in south-east Melbourne, regardless of faith or background. Referrals can be made through SEMPHN’s Access & Referral team by GPs, health professionals, schools and individuals. Interpreter services are available for people who prefer to communicate in a language other than English.

Relationship Matters is providing free short-term, face-to-face mental health support, while Connect My Mind is providing free telehealth support by phone, video or chat for people experiencing mild to moderate mental health concerns.

SEMPHN has also provided additional funding to Jewish Care Victoria to strengthen mental health and wellbeing support for Victorian Jewish community members affected by the Bondi Beach attack and the harm caused by antisemitism.

Jewish Care had already been commissioned by SEMPHN in August 2024 to provide culturally appropriate mental health support to Victorian Jewish community members affected by the Middle East crisis.

The additional funding will support Jewish Care’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Program for the Jewish Community, with a focus on trauma-informed care and recovery, telehealth and outreach support, and greater awareness of available mental health and wellbeing services.

Jewish Care’s expanded service is due to begin in July 2026.

Beyond Blue has also welcomed the Commonwealth’s $42.6 million package, saying it was among national organisations receiving support through a $7.6 million allocation to increase the capacity of existing services.

SEMPHN has been appointed as the lead Victorian primary health network coordinating support services for the Jewish community across the state, noting that about 85 per cent of Victoria’s Jewish population lives in south-east Melbourne.

It is working with Victoria’s other primary health networks and Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network, which is leading the national rollout of the Bondi Mental Health Support Package.

The grant question period closes at 11:59pm AEST on Thursday, 2 July 2026. Applications close at 11:59pm AEST on Thursday, 9 July 2026.

Questions can be sent to [email protected] before the question period closes. Responses will be published in an FAQ document attached to the grant application and updated during the question period.

All proposals must be submitted through the grant application portal. SEMPHN said proposals submitted any other way would not be accepted, and organisations can only submit one proposal.

SEMPHN said primary health networks were committed to health equity and recognised that the impact of the Bondi Beach attack had been felt across communities, beyond any one nationality, faith or cultural group.

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