Submissions open for Connecting Seniors Grant Program

Deadline: 21-Oct-24

The Department of Communities and Justice is accepting submissions for the Connecting Seniors Grant Program to support older people to connect with others and address the challenges that contribute to isolation for older people.

The Grant Program is available for projects and initiatives that support people aged 65 years and over, and Aboriginal people aged 50 years and over.

Objectives

The objectives of the Connecting Seniors grant program are to:
- provide meaningful and lasting social connections that can be maintained beyond the program
- help older people connect with each other through small group activities held in person throughout the year to build and maintain social connections (rather than a one-off activity)
- enable older people to develop lasting quality relationships.
- engage new people, particularly harder-to-reach older people
- help older people and young people connect through intergenerational projects.

Grants Categories

Aboriginal Grants
- The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is committed to responding to the needs of Aboriginal people and communities and strengthening the Aboriginal Community-Controlled sector.
- The Aboriginal Grants category targets projects led by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs). Aboriginal-led and delivered initiatives benefit from firsthand knowledge of community needs and strengths.
- The introduction of the Aboriginal Grants category supports the Closing the Gap Priority Reform 2: Building the community-controlled sector, and target to ’increase the amount of government funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs and services going through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations.
Multicultural Grants
- To improve support for older people who are culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), DCJ has introduced a multicultural grant category. This category focuses on projects led by multicultural organisations that support people from CALD communities.
- These projects may assist older people who face challenges such as language barriers, racism, digital exclusion, financial hardship, elder abuse, and difficulties accessing community support and services, which can increase their risk of further isolation.
- Only multicultural organisations whose primary focus is to support people from CALD communities are eligible to apply for this grant category.

Funding Information

Funding Categories
- Category 1 – Aboriginal grants
  - Who can apply: Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations
  - Amount: $30,000
  - Number of grants available: 4
  - Total funding: $120,000
- Category 2 – Multicultural grants
  - Who can apply: Not-for-profit multicultural organisations
  - Amount: $30,000
  - Number of grants available: 4
  - Total funding: $120,000
- Category 3 – Creation grants
  - Who can apply: Not-for-profit community organisations, Aboriginal Community Controlled
  - Organisations, Not-for-profit multicultural organisations
  - Amount: $30,000
  - Number of grants available: 6
  - Total funding: $180,000
- Category 4 – Enhancement and/or Expansion grants
  - Who can apply: Not-for-profit community organisations, Aboriginal Community Controlled
  - Organisations, Not-for-profit multicultural organisations
  - Amount: $30,000
  - Number of grants available: 6
  - Total funding: $180,000
- Category 5 – NSW Local Council grants only
  - Who can apply: NSW Local councils
  - Amount: $30,000
  - Number of grants available: 8
  - Total funding: $240,000

Target Group

The target group for the Connecting Seniors grant program is aligned with the Ageing Well in NSW: Seniors Strategy 2021 – 2031 and must include older people who are considered at higher risk of isolation.

Eligibility Criteria

Only organisations with the following legal status will be eligible to apply for funding:
- incorporated organisations registered and approved as a not-for-profit body by NSW Fair Trading
- NSW not-for-profit company limited by guarantee (it is preferred but not essential the organisation holds a valid ACNC registration and/or has DGR status)
- not-for-profit company limited by shares, registered in NSW (must be non-dividend distributing)
- association (registered under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 with NSW Fair Trading)
- cooperative (registered under a relevant Act of Parliament)
- religious organisations operating in NSW (registered as one of the above or established under an Act of Parliament)
- Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation
- NSW Indigenous Corporation (must be registered with Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations)

For more information, visit Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ).