The council's Burke Museum and Cultural Heritage Team will work with groups such as museums, historical societies, RSL branches, archives or clubs on what the council will decide are suitable projects.

It comes in response to worries that groups are struggling to maintain projects with historical or cultural significance.

"Many are managed by volunteers and often don't have the time, staffing resources or expertise to undertake important projects," Indigo Council stated.

Yackandandah and District Historical Society had been one of the organisations lacking resources and earlier this year asked the council for $75,000 of annual funding for extra staff, saying the town's museum could not stay open without financial support.

But the council's community and economic development director Mark Florence said support would come in other ways because "it is not possible to directly fund staff in the numerous museums and athenaeums".

The new program will be open to charity or not-for-profit groups within the shire that manage or display cultural heritage collections such as physical artifacts, document archives or photographs.

Staff will bring not only their time, but council equipment such as cameras and scanners, as well as basic collection materials including gloves, tools and a trolley.

No extra council funding will be granted to the groups as part of the project.

Council staff will spend a block of five days with different groups every two months, as projects are spread over 12 to 18 months.

If the council decides the program is a success and should continue, groups will be able to apply for a second week of assistance.

Applications will close on September 30 and the council has committed to publish the schedule on October 14.