ECFA (The Estonian Cultural Foundation in Australia) is pleased to announce the following funding for projects enhancing Estonian culture, language and heritage across Australia. For the coming year, 2025-26, ECFA received 18 applications and has allocated $38,000 to various groups across the country. Grant applications were received from NSW, QLD, VIC and WA, as well as applications for Australia wide projects. This reflects the diverse range of quality projects and activities being undertaken in the Australian Estonian diaspora.
The recipients are listed below:
- Estonian Archives in Australia = $3,500
- Estonian Language Curriculum Developing Workshop = $5,000
- EstWest = Estonian Cultural Association in Western Australia = $1,500
- Newy EestLASTE Kultuuriring (Language and Culture Club for Estonian Kids in Newcastle) = $700
- Sydney Mudilasring, Estonian Children’s Playgroup in Sydney = $2,000
- Sydney Estonian Handicraft Circle = $2,000
- Melbourne Estonian Society = $2,000
- Gold Coast Estonian Society = $3,000
- Melbourne Estonian Society Craft Group = $900
- Sydney Estonian Society – Piip ja Tuut Australia tour = $5,500
- Sydney Estonian Society – Mamma Lood Australia tour = $2,000
- Estonian ‘Sõrve’ Childrens’ Camp = $8,000
- Hans Ots Grant (to Sõrve childrens camp) = $1,900
Details of funding
Estonian Archives in Australia = $3,500, to replace the old computers which are out of date and cannot be upgraded. The Estonian Archives are an important repository of our memory of our culture and events in our diaspora across Australia.
Estonian Language Curriculum Developing Workshop = $5,000
We have teachers working with the Mudilasrings (children’s learning and playgroups) and other groups in each state. A key fundamental to maintaining our culture is the Estonian language. This project involves bringing together Estonian playgroup educators and community language teachers from across Australia together for a three-day intensive curriculum development workshop to be held in Sydney in February 2026. The main aim is to develop a practical implementation plan for use in Estonian playgroups and potential Community Language Schools.
This workshop will focus on Curriculum framework for Estonian language education in older playgroups and primary school year levels Prep–Year 2. It will consider alignment of curriculum objectives and content with the Australian National Curriculum for Languages. It should also strengthen the national network of Estonian language educators, promoting ongoing collaboration and resource sharing.
EstWest /Estonian Cultural Association in Western Australia = $1,500
towards the venue hire for an Estonian family-and-music Christmas festival in December 2025. The Perth Estonian Christmas Festival aims to bring joy and connection to over 250 children and their families in their community. This event is designed to engage both young school-aged children and youth, while also including meaningful, intergenerational activities that welcome seniors in a supportive and festive environment.
Newy EestLASTE Kultuuriring (Language and Culture Club for Estonian Kids in Newcastle) = $700
to provide ongoing opportunities for Newcastle and Hunter region children to get acquainted with Estonian language and culture through songs, dances, stories, games, cultural activities and excursions.
Sydney Mudilasring, Estonian Children’s Playgroup in Sydney = $2,000
to support the work of this group in fostering and developing Estonian culture for young children in Sydney. This Mudilasring meets weekly and promotes Estonian language, music and culture among Estonian families and their young children, and strengthens the Estonian community in Sydney. The playgroup continues to be a place for Estonian families and children to meet, speak Estonian, sing, dance, and celebrate holidays. In 2024, this group expanded to also include pre-school sessions for 4 years and above.
Sydney Estonian Handicraft Circle = $2,000
SESKKE have commenced the establishment of a “library” of Estonian folk-costumes (rahvariided).in Australia. They aim to collect pre-loved rahvariided, be it on loan or donated, then repair, clean, maintain and lend out to people when needed for performances. They are also making new rahvariided from materials purchased in Estonia, especially children’s clothes. Funding for 2025-2026 is mainly for software to manage and maintain inventory of the library.
Melbourne Estonian Society = $2,000
to conduct an Estonian childrens’ Language and Culture camp. Building on the success of last year’s initiative, the Estonian Children’s Language and Culture Camp 2025 aims to further strengthen the connection between Estonian families across Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Gold Coast Estonian Society = $3,000
to conduct an Estonian childrens’ Language and Culture camp “Queensland’í Perelaager”. The Gold Coast Estonian Society, is organising a family camp in November 2025 for the Estonian communities of Gold Coast and Brisbane. The 3-day, 2-night camp will be held in Tyalgum and is designed for families with children aged 0–15, offering age-appropriate activities in Estonian. The camp aims to foster a deeper sense of cultural identity and ensure the long-term sustainability of the Estonian diaspora in Australia. The camp is already fully booked, with a substantial wait-list.
Melbourne Estonian Society Craft Group = $900
Kirivööd – Estonian-Baltic band weaving. The aim is to conduct workshops to teach traditional Estonian pick up band/belt weaving. The group plans to expand on this to other activities in future years.
Sydney Estonian Society, Ave Nukki and others
Australia tour: Piip and Tuut – Children/Family play = $5,500
This funding is to support the promoters to bring a 2-person play to Australia, with performances in main cities. Piip and Tuut won the Estonian Theatre Prize of the Year in 2014 as the best company playing for the young audience and were nominated for the same prize in 2018, 2021 and 2023; However, they have a unique audience by appealing to the whole family. In 2022 they were decorated with a state award, the Order of the White Star by the President of Estonian Republic.
Sydney Estonian Society, Ave Nukki and others
Australia tour: Mamma Lood (Nana’s stories) – Children/Family play = $2,000
This funding is to support bringing a performance to Australia, with performances in main cities. Actor Margus Tabor – Ugala Theater In almost everyone’s life there has been a Nana. A confident woman who raised a flock of children, who persisted through fire, floods, soviet rule and of course a drunk husband. Nana through her long life’s experience has many stories to tell. Sadly her stories are disappearing with time but some still survive. To memorialize this priceless inheritance, Viljandi Ugala theater’s Margus Tabor brings his own Nana’s stories to the stage. And not just her stories but the entire life philosophy of Hiiumaa!
Estonian ‘Sõrve’ Childrens’ Camp (7 th to 14 th January 2024) = $8,000
the annual camp, is a key cultural and social Estonian community event, that has been running for over 60 years, and provides a rich experience for children and all adults, sharing customs, heritage, language, dancing and singing. As in previous years, the camp is to be held in regional NSW.
Hans Ots Grant = $1,900
This grant is provided by ECFA and administered by Sõrve Sõbrad. The purpose is to provide financial assistance to children or leaders who are resident in Australia and who, because of excessive cost of travel, financial or other hardship reasons would otherwise not be able to attend the annual children’s summer camp. By agreement, this year’s grant was reduced due to a surplus from previous years.
TOTAL AMOUNTS AWARDED for 2025-2026 = $38,000
AMOUNTS Rolled over from previous years
HEIA – Hello Estonians in Australia (formerly the Australian Estonian Media Project / eesti.org.au ) = $2,000
HEIA has been launched! HEIA aims to keep you informed on what’s happening in the Estonian community in Australia. Keep up with the latest events, news, consular and passport information, cultural activities, and more. People receive an email with updated news via HEIA a few times each week, or you can simply go to their website at eesti.org.au
This funding has been rolled over from the previous year, and will support the team who are looking to commission specific original content from professional Australian-Estonian journalists/writers in the coming year.
For further information on ECFA grants, contact Dr Juho Looveer, President ECFA Juho.Looveer@gmail.com
