Best Charity Events in Australia by City

Spread across a width of almost 4,000km, Australia’s eight states and territories are separated by both distance and culture. Over time, each city has developed its own distinct style and personality – and even different slang. Despite relentless, lighthearted banter between Australians about which city is the best, one thing everyone can get behind is an event for a good cause.

When hosting local charity events, you’ll want to research, understand and match your city’s vibe so that your event appeals to locals. On the flip side, there are also opportunities to borrow ideas from other cities to make your event stand out.

If you’re planning to host a local charity event, keep reading for inspiration on fundraising activities for your city and other cities around Australia.

Table of Contents

Local charity event ideas for Canberra

Local charity event ideas for Sydney

Local charity event ideas for Melbourne

Local charity event ideas for Perth

Local charity event ideas for Adelaide

Local charity event ideas for Brisbane

Local charity event ideas for Darwin

Local charity event ideas for Hobart

Local charity event ideas for Canberra

A city built specifically for the government, Canberra is home to many notable landmarks and venues that can easily be used for local fundraising events. Venues such as Parliament House, the National Museum of Australia, and the National Arboretum are all stunning locations that can cater to a formal, large-scale event. If a large event is not what you’re after, we’ve got some tips and tricks for smaller events that will delight your eventgoers. Because Canberra is a smaller city with a tight-knit community, you have the added bonus that local attendees will not have to travel far to get to your charity event.

With vast areas of nature and greenery, Canberra is also the perfect place to host an outdoor fundraising event. If you’re looking for an outdoor location, Lake Burley Griffin, Mt Ainslie, and Commonwealth Park are some of your top choices.

Holding a charity panel discussion in Canberra

A charity panel discussion brings together several speakers for engaging and thought-provoking discussions. Organising a panel discussion begins with locking in the panellists. Find speakers with differing viewpoints and life experiences to offer a thought-provoking event. Speakers may also be willing to donate their time if they feel the event aligns with their values and interests – it never hurts to ask!

The ideal length for a panel discussion is between 45-60 minutes. However, you can consider extending your event by adding a networking component with some light refreshments or even a formal sit-down meal. You could take inspiration from Bx – Business Networking Reimagined, an Australian-wide networking community with a chapter in Canberra that combines networking with breakfast, lunch, or dinner events. To cater to all audiences, you could break your charity panel discussion into a two-part event and offer different ticket types: one for the discussion and networking components, and another one that also includes the sit-down meal.

Local charity event ideas for Sydney

As Australia’s largest city by population, Sydney is well-known for iconic landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, as well as famous beaches and walks along the eastern coastline. With stunning scenery around the harbour and beaches, there’s no shortage of venues for local charity events, regardless of your budget.

Holding a charity dinner in Sydney

Nothing beats dinner with a view – and Sydney comes with views aplenty. From an informal dinner to a large multi-course banquet, a charity dinner is a perfect way to combine food with fundraising. You can even bring in live entertainment or guest speakers to enhance your event. Remember, you don’t need to splurge to organise a successful event. For a smaller scaler event, take your attendees out to hidden bars or local restaurants. Local Sauce Tours does this by organising small tours that showcase the secret foodie spots of Sydney.

Pop-up dining events are also trending! These once-off or short-term food events come with a twist – such as an unexpected location, a distinctive menu made by two restaurants in collaboration, or even direct interactions with the chef. Consider ways to add a unique spin and make your food event more memorable: you might invite a popular food blogger to teach attendees how to take Instagram-worthy photos, invite members of local immigrant communities to cook and share their culture, or even host an event based around special or seasonal ingredients such as truffles or chestnuts.

Local charity event ideas for Melbourne

Known for its coffee, cultural diversity, and vibrant arts and music scene, this eclectic city has something to offer everyone. Melbourne is not short of things to do, with plenty of scenic and natural wonders. Highlights include the Melbourne Arts Precinct in Southbank, the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens, and the iconic city laneways.

Melbourne is home to one of the world’s most culturally diverse communities. Thanks to this multiculturalism, the city boasts countless restaurants that showcase cuisines from around the world. From Chinatown to Lygon Street, unique eateries can be found in every pocket of the city, and locals love to explore them with their families, friends, and fur babies.

Hosting an event to raise money for animal charities in Melbourne

Surveys show that over 60% of Australian households have a pet, and 90% will own a pet at some point in time. If Australia is such an animal-loving country, Melbourne is no exception, with dog parks galore and plenty of dog-friendly eateries.

Organising a fundraiser to raise money for animal charities allows you to help Australia’s wildlife and our animal friends at home. Events such as those organised by Puppy Pub Crawl ingeniously bring together fur friends and food – something that the dog-loving foodies of Melbourne won’t be able to resist. Encourage local businesses to participate and offer free or discounted food to attendees, and make sure there are some pup cups and dog treats on the menu too. Funds can be raised through the tickets themselves, but donations don’t have to be entirely monetary. Encourage attendees to donate their old harnesses, toys, or even sealed food packages. These can be donated to local shelters or pet adoption agencies.

Local charity event ideas for Perth

The capital city of Western Australia, Perth, is the sunniest in the world. Blessed with eight hours of sunlight a day on average, Perth is a great place to spend some time outdoors – something to consider when thinking about local charity fundraising events. Perth is a city with a relaxed and friendly vibe, and there are plenty of locations where you can connect with friends, family, and local communities.

The Lotterywest Federation Walkway is a spectacular place to walk among the treetops and view the city skyline. The Kings Park and Botanic Garden are conveniently nestled between Perth Water and the CBD, showcasing over 3,000 species of the State’s unique flora. Locations like these are especially popular with families and children. Bringing together scenic locations with an outdoor charity event, like a market, creates a great atmosphere for families and friends while promoting local businesses.

Local charity ideas for families and children in Perth

Hosting a family-friendly, children-focused charity event is an ideal way to appeal to your community. You’re sure to get a good response if you provide an opportunity for families to get out of the house and bond whilst supporting a good cause and teaching their children about the benefits of giving. A family-friendly event is also the perfect chance for children to play and parents to mingle.

Kind Hearted Australia Ltd has organised an epic family and community event with market stalls, face painting, and even pony rides. With a jam-packed event like this, setting up a dedicated event website is a great way to share detailed information about your charity event and pique your visitors’ interest. You can showcase individual market stall holders or introduce performers, giving your event a more personal touch.

Local charity event ideas for Adelaide

With stunning churches and cathedrals scattered throughout the city, Adelaide has earned the nickname City of Churches. Spaces in some of these historic buildings are available for hire and could be ideal locations for charity events. Six public squares have also been thoughtfully built across the city, adding a touch of green to public spaces and providing an opportunity for the community to come together. Victoria Square is particularly popular, regularly playing host to events such as markets, movie screenings, and festivals.

Adelaide is known for its rich creative culture and exceptional food and wine. Rundle Mall is one of the busiest malls in Australia and the city’s heart of shopping, dining, and entertainment. Here, you are sure to find plenty of locations for smaller-scale events and other local shops to collaborate with. Inviting local businesses to partake in or sponsor charity events is a great way to show what the community has to offer, and form mutually beneficial partnerships. If you want to highlight local wine culture at your event, the National Wine Centre of Australia is also located in the city’s centre. It showcases wines from the surrounding regions as well as around the country.

Charity movie screenings in Adelaide

Adelaide is a state that appreciates the arts, and a charity movie screening is a perfect way to tap into that culture. Offer more than a gold-class experience by collaborating with local restaurants and wineries and creating a culinary experience that allows attendees to enjoy local food and drinks from the comfort of their movie chairs. You can even tie your movie selection to the theme of your charity event to make it even more meaningful. For example, if you are raising money for an animal shelter, you could show “A Dog’s Purpose” or “Bolt”. Alternatively, movies like “Encanto” or “Finding Nemo” fit with charity causes themes related to families and children.

One of the benefits of hosting a movie screening is that there is no need to be concerned about the weather or wonder how to target your demographic. From family-friendly cartoons to horror movie nights that are not for the faint-hearted, the options are endless. The Mawson Centre regularly hosts movie screenings during the school holidays, but movies are popular all year around. You can host a couple of events to gauge interest and then potentially turn it into a multi-day or regular event to generate a constant stream of donations.

Local charity event ideas for Brisbane

Heading back to the east coast brings us to Brisbane with its youthful vibe, charming rivers, and warm subtropical climate. This nature-filled city enjoys almost 300 days of sunshine every year, making it an ideal place to enjoy the outdoors, so consider this when organising your charity event. Locations such as the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens and the Roma Street Parkland are both beautiful gardens that can host outdoor events, or head out to Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park, a popular recreation spot for climbing and running that could be the right location for your next charity walk or run.

Hosting a charity walk in Brisbane

For cities like Brisbane, with warm weather and nature scattered throughout the city, a charity walk or a fun run is likely to be a hit. The appeal of a charity walk is that a wide range of people can participate, regardless of age or fitness level. Consider offering various distances or tracks to give attendees a few alternate options, and you could also consider adding a run for those who are up for it.

The Australian Rotary Health is an organisation that hosts mental health charity walks in Queensland and around the country. Some tips you can take from the Australian Rotary Health charity walks to increase attendance are to offer free tickets for younger participants or make the event dog-friendly.

Local charity event ideas for Darwin

Heading north to Darwin brings us to another city jam-packed with natural wonders, outdoor attractions, and a warm holiday vibe. Despite being Australia’s smallest capital city, Darwin offers some interesting and beautiful attractions. Crocosaurus Cove is a unique wildlife exhibit that gets attendees up close and personal with saltwater crocodiles and also has event spaces for hire. On the not-so-wild side, you have places like Nightcliff Jetty, where you can admire the beautiful sunrises and sunsets, as well as the scenic Mindil Beach, which hosts markets from April to October. Venues in high-traffic locations such as these can help your charity event draw in a big crowd.

Hosting a trivia night for charity in Darwin

A fundraiser trivia night, like those hosted by Northern Territory Young Lawyers, is a classic event that appeals to a broad range of individuals and is a great way to combine fun, food, and fundraising. Look for opportunities to take advantage of the naturally warmer climate by hosting your trivia night at open-air locations during the dryer seasons. You may also consider looking for opportunities to collaborate with local eateries for food and drink specials on the night.

Local charity event ideas for Hobart

Our final stop is Australia’s second-oldest capital city, Hobart. Despite the size of the city, Hobart is bursting with natural wonders, artistic culture, and historic buildings to explore. From upscale charity galas at the iconic Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) to casual guided walking tours that explore the hustle and bustle of the Salamanca Markets, there are plenty of local charity ideas that showcase what Hobart has to offer. Stunning outdoor scenery is just a short drive away at Mount Wellington (also known by its Aboriginal name, kunanyi) and Coal River Valley, one of Tasmania’s major wine-producing areas.

Holding fundraising activities in Hobart

Fundraising activities are a fun way to bring the community together while supporting a cause, and in a city like Hobart, you’ll be spoilt for venue choices. With its old-town vibes, Hobart is a quaint city with much to see, eat, and explore. Battery Point is a historic suburb located just 10 minutes from the city centre. A historic tour followed by high tea at one of Hobart’s best cafes could be a unique way to combine history, the outdoors, and food. For adult attendees, a charity wine tour through Coal River Valley’s family-run wineries with cheese and chocolate and a stop at one of Richmond’s local bakeries could be a tempting choice. Regardless of what type of charity event you host, be sure to gather post-event feedback to understand what worked and what didn’t so that you can improve future events.

Create your next charity fundraising event