Deadline: 7-Dec-21
VicHealth is seeking applications for The Big Connect program to support mental health and wellbeing of people Victoria’s young people. They are looking for major programs/ideas that increase access to opportunities for Victoria’s children and young people (aged 0-25 including families) to build meaningful social connections.
Successful, proven projects and new innovations will receive capacity building and financial support to scale up sustainably, delivering great benefit for the mental wellbeing of young people – now and into the future.
Focus Areas
- Supporting young people to feel like they belong to a community or their local neighbourhood
- Creating opportunities to address barriers to participation focus areas
- Destigmatising and increasing the understanding of loneliness, social isolation and mental health issues
Funding Information
- The minimum funding amount is $100,000 and the maximum funding amount is $250,000 for projects to be delivered over a maximum 18-month period.
- Payments will be spread across the life of the project, depending on the timeframe or length of the project that is proposed in the application. For projects proposing the full 18-month timeframe, a maximum of $50,000 will be available in the final 6 months of the project.
Eligibility Criteria
- They anticipate that a wide range of organisations are in a position to develop and deliver solutions that will create ongoing and meaningful social connections for Victoria’s young people. This includes (but not limited to) art and cultural organisations, community sporting clubs, sport leagues, and associations, peak bodies, health promotion organisations, youth organisations and other recreation and creative organisations. Organisations must hold legal structure of either:
- Company Limited by Guarantee
- Incorporated Association
- Local Government entities are INELIGIBLE. Councils are encouraged to consider opportunities available through VicHealth’s Local Government Partnership.
- Individuals, Sole Traders, For-Profit and Commercial organisations, charitable trusts, Victorian State Government Entities and Statutory Authorities are INELIGIBLE.
- Ineligible applicants may apply for funding through an auspice arrangement. See the Funding Guidelines for further information.
NOTE: VicHealth will not provide advice on organisational eligibility. The onus is on applicants to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria.
For more information, visit https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/funding/the-big-connect
