
Community Partnerships Program
Positively engaging with local and global communities
About
We’re passionate about our partnerships and creating positive change for the wider community. We embody this through our support for a wide range of initiatives in our key development areas of art and culture, sport, education and philanthropy.
Every year, we support community groups with in-kind and financial support valued from $1000 to $20,000. From channelling the inspiration and creativity of our staff, to assisting with venues, merchandise and promotional channels, we aim to make a difference beyond the University.
Engagement
We endeavour to foster connections with community groups.
Relevance
We seek to provide relatable partnerships to students and the wider public.
Recognition
We aim to drive advocacy from the community groups we partner with.
Our partners

West Coast Fever
Our three-year partnership represents an unprecedented step in Western Australian women's sport, the first between an elite female sporting team and tertiary education institution.
FAQs
What does the University support?
We provide support for a range of community initiatives in the fields of art and culture, sporting, education and philanthropy.
In doing so, partnerships should support our key priority to provide world-class education, research and community engagement for the advancement of the prosperity and welfare of our communities.
What guidelines are used to assess partnership applications?
The partnership should:
- foster and develop relations with the community and/or organisations
- create educational opportunities and pathways
- reinforce our position as a leading teaching and research university and
- contribute to our profile and enhance our reputation.
Partnerships should also be designed to add benefits to the University. These may include:
- Brand exposure and media coverage
- Naming rights or category exclusivity
- Branding on event promotion, merchandise, advertising material
- Speaking opportunities
- Inclusion of tickets for attendance at key stakeholder events
- Access to a mailing list, newsletter or database information
- Opportunity for promotional space
We generally do not consider partnerships in the following categories:
- Activities that may be reasonably judged to be denigrating or offensive to individuals or community groups and/or which may bring adverse publicity to us.
- Requests from individuals or teams raising money or seeking support, including for academic studies, sporting support, travel or accommodation.
- Applications for financial support by students (individuals and teams) to assist with sporting, study or research associated costs. These will be referred to and funded by the relevant faculty/department e.g. conference registration fees, travel fares and exhibition funding.
- Any other activities deemed inappropriate or that would compromise our reputation.
The policy also excludes gifts and donations whereby the University provides an unrequested gift of money or in-kind support, where there is no expectation of benefits in return.
What types of community partnerships do you offer?
We offer two broad categories of community partnership:
- Financial support: a monetary amount for which the University is invoiced.
- In-kind support: the provision of venues, merchandise, publication of content on the University’s website, promotion through UWA’s communication channels, staffing or other, as negotiated.
How we support
Our Community Partnerships Program is one of the ways we love to engage with and support local and global communities. Our mission is to align with other organisations that share our values.
Before submitting an application, we invite you to read our FAQs to ensure your proposal aligns with our key priorities of leadership in education, internationally renowned research and community and global engagement.
Guidelines
The following guidelines are used to assess partnership applications:
The partnership should:
- foster and develop relations with the community and organisations
- create educational opportunities and pathways
- reinforce our position as a leading teaching and research university and
- contribute to the University’s profile and enhance its reputation

FAQs
What does the University support?
We provide support for a range of community initiatives in the fields of art and culture, sporting, education and philanthropy.
In doing so, partnerships should support our key priority to provide world-class education, research and community engagement for the advancement of the prosperity and welfare of our communities.
What types of community partnerships do you offer?
We offer two broad categories of community partnership:
- Financial support: a monetary amount for which the University is invoiced.
- In-kind support: the provision of venues, merchandise, publication of content on the University’s website, promotion through UWA’s communication channels, staffing or other, as negotiated.
What is the maximum amount of funding I can apply for?
The Community Partnerships Program covers outgoing contributions, and partnership agreements, valued from $1000 to $20,000. In addition to financial support, we provide in-kind assistance including venues, merchandise, promotions through UWA channels and staffing.
If my organisation applied for a partnership or received a partnership previously, can I still apply?
Yes, as long as your partnership proposal still meets the above eligibility criteria.
Can students (individuals and teams) apply?
Applications for financial support by students (individuals and teams) to assist with sporting, study or research-associated costs will be forwarded to the relevant faculty/area for consideration and approval e.g. conference registration fees, travel fares and exhibition funding.
UWA sports clubs are not eligible for the Community Partnerships Program, but UWA Sport offers club grants to assist student sports clubs with the administration, facilities and services of sports clubs. For more information, visit sport.uwa.edu.au/competitive-sport/clubs.
What types of partnerships have been supported in the past?
For information about our current and past partnerships, visit Our partners.
What is the application process?
Complete the online form outlining the partnership proposal and benefits.
Is there a deadline for applications?
We accept partnership applications year-round and applications are assessed monthly.
When will I be notified?
We aim to send you written notification of the outcome of your application within 30 days.
What guidelines are used to assess partnership applications?
The partnership should:
- foster and develop relations with the community and/or organisations
- create educational opportunities and pathways
- reinforce our position as a leading teaching and research university and
- contribute to our profile and enhance our reputation.
Partnerships should also be designed to add benefits to the University. These may include:
- Brand exposure and media coverage
- Naming rights or category exclusivity
- Branding on event promotion, merchandise, advertising material
- Speaking opportunities
- Inclusion of tickets for attendance at key stakeholder events
- Access to a mailing list, newsletter or database information
- Opportunity for promotional space
We generally do not consider partnerships in the following categories:
- Activities that may be reasonably judged to be denigrating or offensive to individuals or community groups and/or which may bring adverse publicity to us.
- Requests from individuals or teams raising money or seeking support, including for academic studies, sporting support, travel or accommodation.
- Applications for financial support by students (individuals and teams) to assist with sporting, study or research associated costs. These will be referred to and funded by the relevant faculty/department e.g. conference registration fees, travel fares and exhibition funding.
- Any other activities deemed inappropriate or that would compromise our reputation.
The policy also excludes gifts and donations whereby the University provides an unrequested gift of money or in-kind support, where there is no expectation of benefits in return.
How are applications reviewed?
The Community Partnerships Program review panel evaluates and approves partnership applications. The panel membership comprises:
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Community and Engagement
- Chief Marketing Officer
- A faculty representative (academic) and
- A UWA Marketing and Communications representative (partnerships)
Will I be required to report on the outcomes of the partnership?
Partnerships are monitored to ensure the terms specified in the partnership agreement are adhered to. The University reserves the right to review its commitment should there be any changes to the original proposal or concerns. A formal evaluation of the partnership is undertaken at the conclusion of the agreement and sent to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Community and Engagement) within six weeks. The evaluation report should outline whether objectives were met, and the total cost and benefits to the University. Failure to do so will result in an automatic denial of future requests. Ongoing partnerships will be evaluated annually.
Our partners
We provide support for a wide range of community initiatives in the fields of art and culture, sporting, education and philanthropy.
In doing so, our partnerships support our key priority to provide world-class education, research and community engagement for the advancement of the prosperity and welfare of our communities.
Become a University partner
Learn more about how you can partner with us to help benefit community groups at a local, national or international level.
Apply
Applications are currently closed for 2020 while we undertake a review of the Community Partnerships Program.
Contact us
Email
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Find us
We're located within Winthrop Hall