Funding available to promote Women and Gender Diverse People (Australia)

This grant is for projects that promote women and gender diverse people as valued members of the ACT community. Projects must address the priorities of the:

• ACT Women’s Plan 2016-26
• supporting Third Action Plan 2023-26.

Objective

• Consistent with the objectives of the grant program, funding for projects, activities or initiatives that contribute towards closing the gap on disadvantage between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous Canberrans will be considered.

Aim

• This program aims to support projects that promote women and gender diverse people as valued members of the ACT community.

Priority Areas

• The ACT Women’s Plan 2016-26 identifies the following priority areas for action:
  • Health and Wellbeing: Health and wellbeing is significantly impacted, if not determined, by access to resources outside a narrowly conceived health system. Education, employment and income, safe and affordable housing all contribute, with research consistently showing that areas of low socioeconomic position have the worst health outcomes, and the highest rates of avoidable death.
  • Housing and Homelessness: They know that low income earners are particularly vulnerable to housing stress, with women therefore being especially vulnerable. Gender inequality factors such as attitudes towards gender roles and caring, violence against women and the gender pay gap all contribute to women’s vulnerability to housing crisis.
  • Safety: The ACT Government is committed to putting in place measures to reduce the incidence of violence against women and girls and to ensure that they feel safe in their homes and communities.
  • Economic Security: The ACT has the second lowest pay gap compared with other jurisdictions. However, at November 2015, ACT women working full-time ordinary hours each week earned on average $1209, compared with ACT men, who earned $1536 each week.
  • Leadership: It is essential that women are able to take up leadership roles in order to influence decisions which affect their lives and to ensure women are able to realize their full potential.

Funding Information

• The total funding available under this Program is $80,000.
• The maximum grants an individual can apply for is $5,000.
• The maximum grants an organisation can apply for is $20,000.
• Successful recipients will have 12 months from the date of the Letter of Offer to expend the funding.

Eligible Projects

• Eligible projects must:
  • Achieve outcomes in line with the priorities of the ACT Women’s Plan
  • Occur primarily in the ACT
  • Have not received funding from another source to deliver the same or similar project
  • Provide how the program will primarily benefit ACT residents
  • Include all supporting documentation needed for the application.

Ineligible Projects

• The following will not be funded:
  • Projects that do not contribute to or meet the aims and priorities this program
  • Projects that are not delivered primarily within the ACT or benefits the ACT community
  • Projects requiring ongoing funding to sustain the project or activity
  • Projects or activities already funded by the ACT Government or Australia Government, or where alternative sources of funding are available
  • Projects that are a duplication of, or in parallel with an existing service, program, project, or event.
  • General administration and operational costs such as salaries, memberships, subscription fees, communication and IT, stationery, rent, leasing, or utilities, machinery, vehicles, or large capital equipment of any kind
  • Items not declared in the grant application and therefore unapproved
  • Costs of projects or activities that have already taken place, or item already purchased
  • Operational insurance costs specific to the project
  • Activities for or by a political party
  • Debt repayments of any kind
  • Any travel or accommodation costs
  • Projects which have a high component of administration costs (other than research).
  • Prize money or gifts
  • Activities that contain content that may offend or bring into disrepute the applicant organisation, the Community Services Directorate and/or the ACT Government
  • Activities that do not comply with public safety requirements or meet relevant Australian Government legislative requirements
  • Projects or activities which are deemed to be inappropriate or offensive.

Eligibility Criteria

• Individuals can apply if they:
  • Reside in the ACT (A copy of an ACT Driver’s License or Proof of Identity Card, or proof of residency stating their current address must be provided)
  • Are over the age of 18 years old, or have a parent, carer or guardian submit the application on their behalf
  • Have not received funding from another source to deliver or provide the same or similar project/program
  • Have no overdue acquittal obligations for any previous Community Services Directorate grant. All overdue acquittals must be completed prior to submitting an application.
  • Have appropriate insurance (public liability, professional indemnity or other appropriate insurance) to undertake the activity or event. Evidence will be required prior to receiving the grant funding.
• Organisations can apply if they:
  • Operate in the ACT
  • Are a non-government, legally incorporated entity or supported by an incorporated auspicing organisation
  • Are a registered not-for-profit or a charitable organisation
  • Have no overdue acquittal obligations for any previous Community Services Directorate grant. All overdue acquittals must be completed prior to submitting an application
  • Have not received funding from another source to deliver or provide the same or similar project/program
  • Have an appropriate insurance cover held by the organisation implementing a funded project. This may include Public Liability of no less than $10 million, Personal Accident, Volunteer Cover and or Directors Professional Indemnity. Evidence of insurance may be required as a condition of the grant.

Assessment Criteria

• Due to the competitive process, all eligible applications will be assessed and prioritised by the Grant Assessment Team against the following assessment criteria:
  • Contribution to the ACT Women’s Plan: The extent to which the proposal advances the objectives and priorities of the ACT Women’s Plan (for more detail refer to Section 4 ‘Priority areas’).
  • Outcome: The proposal must have a clear outcome for the project, initiative, or activity.
  • Capacity: The proposal demonstrates that the individual/organisation has the capacity to deliver the project and manage the funding. Where the project requires the co-operation of another organisation or ACT Government Directorate, the applicant must demonstrate they have consulted with that organisation or Directorate and sought their endorsement. This endorsement should be provided in the form of a Letter of Support from the cooperating organisation or Directorate.
  • Innovation: The extent to which the project demonstrates innovation and/or leverages other resources, including from the private sector.
  • Budget: The budget is realistic and clearly details all expenditure for the project and demonstrates value for money.

For more information, visit Australian Capital Territory.