Community Music Australia has lodged its first national policy submission, contributing to the Australian Government’s consultation on the future direction of Australia’s cultural policy.
The submission highlights the vital role community music plays in Australia’s cultural, social and economic life and calls for greater recognition and investment in community music participation as part of the nation’s cultural infrastructure.
Community music is one of Australia’s most accessible and widely participated forms of cultural activity. Every day, community bands, orchestras, choirs, ensembles and other music groups provide opportunities for Australians to connect, create, learn and contribute to their communities. These organisations strengthen social cohesion, improve wellbeing and provide lifelong pathways for participation in the arts.
Despite these benefits, community music has historically received limited recognition within cultural policy and funding frameworks. Community Music Australia’s submission calls for a stronger focus on participation and community-led cultural activity.
Key recommendations
- Dedicated funding for community music — Establish targeted federal funding programs specifically for community music organisations and grassroots ensembles.
- Long-term operational support — Move beyond short-term project funding to provide sustainable operational funding that supports organisational stability and long-term planning.
- Instrument and equipment renewal programs — Support periodic replacement and upgrading of instruments, music libraries and technical equipment to ensure accessibility and artistic quality.
- Regional and accessibility support — Increase funding streams that specifically support regional, remote and disadvantaged communities to access music participation opportunities.
- Recognition of community music as preventative health infrastructure — Encourage cross-portfolio collaboration between arts, health and community sectors to recognise and support the wellbeing benefits of community music participation.
- Support for volunteer capacity building — Provide funding and training opportunities that strengthen governance, administration and volunteer sustainability within community organisations.
Community Music Australia welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the consultation process and looks forward to working with governments, policymakers and sector stakeholders to strengthen support for community music participation across Australia.
A copy of the full submission is available below.
PDF Submission to the National Cultural Policy Consultation Community Music Australia · May 2026 · opens in a new tab