Kinetic announces 2026 Moving Communities Fund recipients across Australia and New Zealand

Kinetic, the largest bus operator in Australasia and a leading multi-modal mass transit operator, has announced the recipients of the third round of its Moving Communities Fund, with 43 grassroots organisations across Australia and New Zealand sharing in more than $180,000 in grants of up to $10,000 and in-kind support.

More than 1,200 organisations applied for support this year, up from over 700 in 2025.

The fund backs local organisations working on the issues that matter in their communities, from youth mental health and food security to employment support, disability inclusion and school attendance. In-kind support includes free charter transport and giving organisations access to buses to move people to events, programs and appointments.

Kinetic Managing Director (Australia) Matthew Campbell says the fund is designed to back organisations already doing the work in their communities.

"A vehicle that gets a family to a medical appointment. Bikes that get kids to school. Therapy equipment that helps a child with autism feel safe in a classroom.

"These are practical problems being solved by practical people, and that is exactly what this fund is for. We are proud to back the organisations that show up for their communities every day."

Australian recipients this year are working across autism education and therapy, employment preparation for women rebuilding after family violence or long periods out of work, support for the families of fallen and injured veterans, First Nations sporting and cultural programs, and practical transport help for students who struggle to get to school.

Others are tackling youth mental health, school breakfast and uniform programs, food waste and social isolation among older people.

Among them is Far North Queensland Legacy, which has supported veterans' families across a region stretching from Cardwell to Cape York for almost 100 years.

Executive Officer Rebecca Milliner says the grant will put a low-access community transport vehicle on the road.

"Somewhere in Far North Queensland right now there is a widow who has not left her home in four days. Not because she does not want to, but because she cannot get there, and her family is far away," she says.

"For the families we serve across this vast, remote corner of Australia, that vehicle is not just transport. It is connection. It is dignity. It is someone showing up and saying you are not forgotten."

Kinetic Managing Director (New Zealand) Calum Haslop says the second New Zealand round drew applications from every corner of the country where Kinetic has operations.

"You see the range of what is happening at the grassroots level: A community health shuttle keeping rural residents connected to their healthcare. Kai and a safe place to go on a Friday night. Coaching that teaches a disabled New Zealander to catch the bus on their own.

"It is about giving people independence and choice, and it happens to be built on public transport, which is our business.

“Our people live and work in these communities, and we are pleased to be able to back the organisations doing this work."

New Zealand recipients are equally varied, spanning community health transport in rural areas, crisis support for migrant and refugee women and children, youth mentoring and safe youth spaces, food rescue, early childhood education, road safety and support for young people at risk of homelessness.

Among them is Aspire Community Support in the Waikato region, which will use its funding to coach participants with disabilities as they move from supported group travel to travelling independently on the Hamilton bus network.

Aspire's Tim Bray says the programme is a practical route to independence.

"This grant will help more people with disabilities across the Waikato build the confidence and skills to use the Hamilton bus network independently,” he says.

“For participants, that means greater freedom to get to work, training, community activities and home without relying on another person.

"It is a practical step towards more choice, participation and independence."

The Moving Communities Fund forms part of Kinetic's broader community investment across the region. Since the fund launched in Australia in 2024 and New Zealand in 2025, Kinetic has committed more than $480,000 to over 100 community projects spanning youth mentoring, literacy, family violence awareness, road safety, homelessness support, disability inclusion and food security

More information is available at wearekinetic.com/community.

Congratulations to the 2026 Moving Communities Fund recipients: 

Australia 

• Aboriginal Investment Group (NT) 
• Access Community Housing Company (QLD) 
• Centacare NQ (QLD) 
• Communicare (WA) 
• Cowboys Community Foundation (QLD) 
• Cycling Without Age Australia, Gold Coast Chapter (QLD) 
• Dress for Success Tasmania (TAS) 
• Emergency and Long-Term Accommodation Moranbah (QLD) 
• Far North Queensland Legacy (QLD) 
• Football Futures Foundation (WA) 
• Fuel For Schools (QLD) 
• Giant Steps Melbourne (VIC) 
• Heal.ed Tribe (QLD) 
• Lookout 07 (QLD) 
• Mackay North State High School (QLD) 
• Reconciliation Council of Tasmania (TAS) 
• Redfern All Blacks RLFC (NSW) 
• Rural Youth of Tasmania (TAS) 
• Scouts SA (SA) 
• Seed the Ground (QLD) 
• STEPS Pathways College (QLD) 
• SunnyKids (QLD) 
• TeamSports4All (VIC) 
• Ubuntu Project (VIC) 
• Umbrella Multicultural Community Care (WA) 
• Walking4Warriors (QLD) 
• Whitsunday Voices (QLD) 

New Zealand 

• Aspire Community Support and Foundation (Waikato) 
• Big Brothers Big Sisters Auckland (Auckland) 
• Golden Bay Association Football Club (Nelson Tasman) 
• Hockey Manawatu (Manawatū) 
• Kids in Need Waikato Charitable Trust (Waikato) 
• Life Education Trust Canterbury (Canterbury) 
• Marlborough Boys' College (Marlborough) 
• Masterton Family Education and Support Centre, Cloud Kids (Wairarapa) 
• North Waikato Transport Trust (Waikato) 
• Nourished for Nil (Hawke's Bay) 
• Presbyterian Support Otago (Otago) 
• Shakti Women's Refuge Trust (Auckland) 
• The Conductive Education (Southern) Charitable Trust (Southland) 
• The Youth Hub Trust (Canterbury) 
• Tūranga Tangata Rite (Tairāwhiti) 
• Zeal Youth Trust Aotearoa (Wellington)