Post by EnergyAustralia

80 applications. One shared purpose: making a positive difference in our local communities. Round 1 of our 2026 community grants just closed, and the response from the Latrobe Valley, Lithgow and Illawarra regions has been incredible. 80 organisations stepped forward with ideas that will strengthen local communities, support education and drive sustainability outcomes. We're excited to bring many of those ideas to life. But while we assess this year's round, here's a snapshot of what community investment looks like in action. At Illawarra Christian School in the Illawarra region, more than 100 students from Years 3 and 6 took part in a SolarBuddy STEM workshop, learning about renewable energy, energy poverty and building portable solar lights, with our own Dave Simpfendorfer there on the day to support the session. "Programs like SolarBuddy remind us why community investment matters. When we support local schools to explore real challenges like energy efficiency and access, we're not just inspiring the next generation of problem-solvers, we're connecting our community to something bigger than themselves." – Ivan Currie, Tallawarra Power Station Site Lead EnergyAustralia community grants program runs in March and September each year. For more information head to: http://ms.spr.ly/6042vBjki