Deadline: 26-Sep-2025
The Dame Roma Mitchell Grants provide grants to children and young people who have been, or are currently, under a guardianship order in South Australia for at least one full year.
Dame Roma Mitchell Trust Fund grants are available to assist with achieving personal goals, contributing to health and wellbeing, and providing developmental opportunities. Grants for achieving personal goals include social, recreational, and self-development opportunities. Examples include funding for musical instruments, workshops, art materials, and sporting equipment. Grants for health and wellbeing support independence, identity, and health. Previous grants have been awarded for driving lessons, essential basic furniture and household items, and counselling or other health services not covered by existing government funding. Finally, grants for developmental opportunities can help young people re-engage in learning or earning to achieve educational or vocational outcomes.
To be eligible, applicants must be under 30 years of age at the time of the funding round’s closing date and have been under a guardianship order for at least one full year. An alternative eligibility path exists for those who have lived in the long-term care of relatives under family care agreements and were financially supported regularly by the Department for Child Protection for a combined total of at least one year. Individuals, not agencies or groups, are eligible to apply.
There is no set limit on the amount of funding one can apply for, but the available funds are limited. The Board aims to provide consistent contributions towards commonly funded items and considers each individual’s circumstances. Applicants can apply for up to two items per grant round, and it is recommended to list the most important item first.
Funds will not be provided for emergency or crisis relief, payment of bills, debts, or fines. Other items that are not supported include mobile phones, gaming consoles, motor vehicles, non-essential furniture, nursery items, general clothing, or recreational travel. Items that may not be supported unless a strong justification is provided include those that should be provided by the Department for Child Protection or are covered by other funding avenues like Services Australia or the NDIS.
Examples of items and activities that may be supported include essential furniture and household items, driving lessons, non-motorized transportation like a bicycle, and educational costs such as laptops, course fees, and specialized tutoring. The fund may also support social and recreational activities, health purposes like counseling or dental services, and employment requirements like apprenticeship costs or personal business start-up expenses.
Applicants over 18 must provide proof of income, such as a payslip or Centrelink Income Statement. A supporting letter is not mandatory but can help strengthen an application, especially for items not normally funded. Grant payments are made directly to the supplier of the approved goods or services, not to the applicant. The Public Trustee will not reimburse for items already paid for. The official order or quote from the supplier must be current, dated within the last seven days, and include the supplier’s ABN and business address. It must also have an itemized description of the goods or services.
Applications are assessed by the Dame Roma Mitchell Trust Funds Board of Advice, which includes two young people who have been in the care system. The assessment criteria include the priority of the listed items, previous grants received, available funding, the applicant’s explanation for needing the items, their age and living arrangements, and whether the goods or services could be funded from another source.
An application outcome will be uploaded to the individual’s online grant portal, and an email will be sent to notify them. Unsuccessful applicants will receive a grant notification letter with details on why they were not successful. The Board’s decisions are final, but applicants are welcome to re-apply in future rounds. If successful, a grant notification letter will be provided along with instructions on how to access the funding.
Successful applicants must use their grant within six months. If an item is purchased for less than the approved amount, the remaining funds will be retained in the fund. If a quote is for more than the approved amount, the applicant is responsible for paying the difference. Approved items cannot be swapped for something else. Applicants may submit one application per funding round, per year.
For more information, visit Department for Child Protection.
