ACT Government’s Seniors Grant Program in Australia

Deadline: 28-Jan-25

The Australian Capital Territory Government’s Seniors Grant Program aims to support innovative projects that promote older Canberrans as valued members of the local community and enable their active participation in community life.

The program has a particular emphasis on supporting projects which address the areas of elder abuse, enhanced social inclusion, and those that address diverse the needs of older members of the community, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders and culturally and linguistically diverse seniors.

Funding Information

• The total funding available under this program is $80,000.
• The maximum grant that can be applied for is $10,000.

Priority Areas

• The Seniors Grants Program has 3 priority areas for projects and initiatives:
  • Respect and inclusion of older Canberrans 
    • This priority targets the wellbeing and participation of older Canberrans. Types of projects include:
      • Supporting older Canberrans to be able to live well, with dignity, safety, and purpose. This includes activities to better understand and/or address factors that contribute to increasing the risk of vulnerability or marginalisation of older members of the community.
      • Projects, activities, or initiatives which assist older Canberrans to participate in all aspects of community life, be it through work, volunteering, art, sport, and/or skills development. This includes projects that enhance whole of community engagement with older members of the community.
  • Awareness of elder abuse and supported decision making 
    • Projects, activities, or initiatives that contribute towards raising awareness and the prevention of elder abuse within the ACT community. This includes, but is not limited to projects which:
    • Focus on the diverse experiences of elder abuse, including culturally and linguistically diverse seniors and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander seniors
    • Provide education and promotion of supported decision making over substitute decision making for older people
    • Education, information, and awareness raising in relation to end of life planning.
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander seniors

Eligible Projects

• Eligible projects must:
  • Provide a service/program which will be located primarily in the ACT and primarily for the benefit of ACT residents
  • Provide how the program will primarily benefit ACT residents
  • Include all supporting documentation needed for the application.

Eligibility Criteria

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led organisations are encouraged to apply.
• Individuals, profit making groups, government entities and registered political parties are not eligible to apply.
• Eligible organisations, partnerships or collaborations can only apply once in the 2024-25 round.
• Organisations can apply if they:
  • Operate in the ACT
  • Are a 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.

For more information, visit ACT Government.