Social media behemoth Facebook has launched the Facebook Australia Groups Fund at the first-ever Community Leaders Connect event held in Sydney last night.

The funding program is aimed to boost meaningful connections within Australian communities.

Here, the $30,000 fund allows Facebook Groups across Australia to apply for funding to support an offline event that brings members of the group together to foster meaningful connections.

Last night, Facebook brought together group admins to share insights from their experience of administering their group and best practice tools and techniques to manage their communities.

Among the groups and admins that attended were ‘Mama Tribe’, ‘Like Minded Bitches Drinking Wine’, ‘WA Gardeners’, ‘Bondi Surf Club Lifesaving Patrol’ and ‘Football without Borders’.

The funding program is part of Facebook’s continued support to help the admins who lead these communities to grow and strengthen bonds among members.

It is an initial step to support Facebook Groups in Australia and complements Facebook’s global work to support community leaders.