Partnerships, Scholarships & Programs
2025 Scholarship Applications are now open!
Community Bank Maldon & District scholarship program is available annually, and this year scholarships awarded will be for up to $2,000 each, to support TAFE or undergraduate university course students, agricultural students and students that identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
To be eligible you must live in the catchment areas serviced by Maldon & District Community Bank, which includes Maldon, Newstead, Dunolly, Harcourt, Lockwood South and Mount Alexander districts, or attend a secondary school in this region.
For further information on the scholarship program (which closes January 12, 2025) or for support completing the application form contact the Community Partnership Lead, Sophie Guerin, on 0478 435 110 or community@mdcb.com.au.
Please lodge a copy of the completed application form in one of the following ways:
Email: community@mdcb.com.au
Postal address: Community Partnership Lead, Maldon & District Financial Services Ltd (MDFSL), PO Box 268, Maldon VIC 3463
Deliver in person: Maldon Branch – 81 High Street
Dunolly Branch – Dunolly RTC (109 Broadway)
Community Partnership Program
Community Bank Maldon & District is always looking to do great stuff with our community.
If your community group has an idea that would help the ongoing development‚ wellbeing and sustainability of our community‚ but you need funds to do it‚ our partnership program could be for you.
We assess applications on a quarterly basis. Please ensure your application is received by us by the following dates. Unfortunately, we are unable to assess applications in between these dates, so please build enough time into your project planning.
- Mon 25 November, 2024
- Monday 24 February, 2025
- Monday 26 May, 2025
- Monday 1 September, 2025
- Monday 1 December, 2025
Please allow up to four weeks from the above dates, to receive notification of the outcome of your application.
For further information‚ download the application forms below‚ call into the branch at 81 High Street‚ Maldon, contact the Community Partnership Lead on community@mdcb.com.au or phone the branch on 03 5475 1747.
Download the forms here to request funding or support, or to acquit funding you have received:
Learner Driver Training Program - apply here
One of our most popular programs is our driver training course for learner drivers. The participants drive in a group of three during the five-day course, with a qualified instructor, in a range of different environments and traffic conditions, including un-sealed country roads, highway and city driving, and defensive driving.
Community Bank Maldon & District subsidises the majority of the $900 per participant program costs. There is a charge to participants of $150. Each graduate receives a reward of a $50 bank account with the Maldon & District Community Bank at the completion of their course.
The course can add up to 15 hours of supervised driving experience per participant.
Pop into speak to a staff member at our Maldon or Dunolly branches, or apply here for the course: Application form – Learner Driver Training Program MDCB and email your application to MaldonMailbox@bendigoadelaide.com.au
Program now closed: Helping your business (or Community Group) thrive post-COVID-19
Planning for next financial year & setting yourself up for the ‘new normal’
This specially designed program ran in 2020, 2021 and 2022 and supported local small businesses to recover, reshape and rebound after COVID-19 restrictions. The program aims were to deliver:
- a tailored viable business plan for your business
- increased confidence
- identify new opportunities, and
- increase collaboration between businesses in the region.
The program was delivered by Sorted’s Clare Fountain to engage, educate and support up to 16 local small businesses. Clare has over 20 years working with regional small business owners to plan for and achieve success. She believes in the resilience of strong communities, and that building stronger businesses helps to build stronger communities.
Maldon & District Community Bank subsidised this program for 16 local businesses, with participants required to contribute $150 per business. Small businesses from across our catchment area, including the towns and districts of Maldon, Dunolly, Newstead, Harcourt and Mount Alexander region, were encouraged to apply for the program.
Participant quotes....
“Clare is a very engaging presenter. Love her honesty and can-do attitude. The sessions were also presented succinctly and the group work managed well, with not too much time spent on feedback from participants but focus on content which was great.”
“The tools were very useful and once we put them into practice they will be extremely useful. It is up to us now!”
“We would highly recommend this program to any small business that aims to be successful!”
“Clear and concise communication, supplemented with notes and opportunity to ask questions.”
Spark Grants
Our Spark Grants encourage and support student-led ideas and projects in local primary schools. The grant provides students with ownership of the funding, encouraging students to work together, research their ideas and decide on a project that makes a difference to their school or the wider community. It’s all about empowering the students to come up with a great idea and deliver a project!
The first round in 2018 funded projects at Maldon, Dunolly, Newstead and Harcourt Valley primary schools. Maldon students created a fairy garden and held a whole of school fun day. Newstead PS used their funding for a fete to raise money for robotics equipment. Dunolly PS installed new classrooms bins for recycling, and Harcourt Valley PS held workshops about managing anxiety.
The second round of funding was distributed in June 2020. Watch this space for the ideas each school spark up! 
