Community Capital Update

Hi everyone,

There’s a lot happening across community capital and wealth building right now.

In this newsletter we’re highlighting:

• Learning Series now open — building practical community capital capability;

• Community Investment Fund — advancing national design and readiness;

• Yarra Ranges — enabling communities to generate, own and govern the assets shaping their local economy;

• NSW Mid Coast — generating capital for services, families and young people;

• Goulburn Broken — shaping natural capital and environmental markets for local benefit;

• Community Owned Australia — enabling rural community ownership;

• Policy & systems change — contributing to national reform efforts to unlock community capital;

• Growing philanthropic momentum — increasing support for community capital and wealth building.

Community Capital Learning Series — Registrations Open

Registrations are now open for the Community Capital Learning Series.

This series is designed to build practical understanding and capability to generate, access, own and govern assets in ways that support stronger, more resilient communities and economies.

Learn more and register here.

If funding is a barrier, you can complete the subsidy EOI and we’ll be in touch if sponsorship becomes available.

If you’re looking for something more tailored, we also offer bespoke sessions for communities, organisations and partners — feel free to get in touch.

Community Investment Fund Initiative — Moving to the Next Stage

We’re excited to share that the Community Investment Fund initiative has received funding to progress to the next stage.

This next phase will focus on advancing the design and building readiness for a national system of locally governed, place-based investment — enabling communities to pool capital and invest in the assets, services and enterprises they need.

We’ll be reaching out to communities and partners soon with opportunities to be involved.

Generating, Owning and Governing Capital in the Yarra Ranges

It was a privilege to support the Yarra Ranges community last week — building the capacity and conditions to generate, own and govern the capital that shapes everyday life.

We worked alongside local community members, organisations and council through a series of workshops focused on:

• Generating capital — Creating new sources of income, funding and assets for community benefit

• Owning capital — Enabling communities to acquire and own key local assets

• Governing capital — Deciding how capital is used — who makes decisions, who benefits, and how outcomes are managed over time

This work is feeding directly into a community-led local economic development strategy, grounded in local priorities, leadership and action.

It’s already translating into real opportunities, including:

• Repurposing an old general store

• Establishing a community abattoir

• Developing local renewable energy initiatives

• Setting up a natural capital foundation

• Expanding artisanal agriculture

This is exactly why we do this work through our Community Activator Program.

Generating Community Capital for Families and Youth in the NSW Mid Coast

We’ve been working with partners across the NSW Mid Coast to develop a Community Capital Strategy focused on generating capital for community benefit.

This work is focused on practical ways to:

• Strengthen the sustainability of essential services

• Improve financial wellbeing and security for families

• Expand economic participation for young people

Key areas of action include:

• Growing community and employee ownership of income-generating assets

• Enabling collective investment through shared structures

• Embedding revenue-sharing and redistribution models

• Creating passive income pathways beyond wages

• Activating under-utilised assets such as land, buildings and infrastructure

The long-term vision is a region where communities actively generate, own and steward capital — leading to stronger services, greater financial security, and more resilient local economies.

Natural Capital & Environmental Markets in the Goulburn Broken Catchment

We recently had the privilege of supporting the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority to deepen their understanding of natural capital and environmental markets.

Catchment Management Authorities and similar organisations have long been delivering environmental services that generate significant benefits — from healthier ecosystems to improved water, biodiversity and land outcomes.

This session focused on:

• Understanding the fundamentals

• Mapping the benefits, value and beneficiaries

• Exploring how natural capital and market approaches can be designed and shaped to reflect local priorities and conditions

With so much experience in the room, the conversation quickly shifted from fundamentals to leadership and innovation.

Community Owned Australia — For Rural Communities

A significant milestone for the sector — the launch of Community Owned Australia.

This new national support service led by ACRE is designed to help rural communities own, operate and sustain the assets they rely on — from local businesses and services through to new development opportunities.

This is a powerful step forward in enabling community ownership as a pathway to economic renewal, resilience and long-term wellbeing.

Shaping Policy & Legislative Change

We’re excited to be part of a new group working together to drive the policy and legislative changes needed to enable community capital and wealth building in Australia.

Convened by Nick Rose from Sustain, this collaboration is exploring how to build support for the policy settings and structures required to unlock community-led ownership and investment at scale.

Internationally, momentum is growing. Scotland is leading the way through its Community Wealth Building Act, embedding community wealth building into legislation and public policy.

Our contribution aligns well with our Community Capital Policy Program which supports government at all levels to create policy, planning, and investment environments that unlock community capital systems.

Growing Philanthropic Interest in Community Capital & Wealth Building

We’re seeing increasing momentum and recognition of community capital and wealth building across philanthropy.

Recent developments include:

• The Paul Ramsay Foundation highlighting the role of place as a critical, and often missing, piece in Australia’s productivity and wellbeing

• The Greater Melbourne Foundation including community wealth building as a focus area in its latest grants

This growing alignment signals a broader shift — towards approaches that strengthen local ownership, participation and long-term value creation.

Philanthropy plays a key role in the ecosystem alongside other collaborators. We’re keen to keep this momentum going through the Collaborators Activator Program designed for intermediaries, enablers, government, support, impact and philanthropic organisations seeking to adopt or strengthen community capital approaches.

If you’d like to connect, explore opportunities, or share what you’re working on, we’d love to hear from you.

Reach out anytime.

The CCC Team