Call for Applications Disability Advocacy Futures Program – Australia

Deadline: 25-Mar-25

The Department of Communities and Justice is accepting applications for the Disability Advocacy Futures Program to support people with disability navigate local services, organisations working towards long-term social change, and policy advocacy groups run by, or on behalf of, people with disability.

Aims

• Categories:
  • The Special Purposes and Projects grants aim to:
    • support initiatives to assist people with disability in NSW to actively engage in their communities in a more informed and empowered way, for which alternative funding sources are not available.
  • The Sector Development grants aim to:
    • drive quality improvement, collaboration and innovation among advocacy organisations,and to build stronger networks and learning opportunities.

Objectives

• Grant applications must demonstrate how the proposed project will contribute to the development of the NSW disability advocacy sector and assist people with disability to actively engage in their communities, by meeting at least one of the program objectives below.
• The DAFP 2024/25 SP&P and SD grant program has 3 key objectives:
  • Increase available supports to assist people with disability in NSW to actively engage in their communities in a more informed and empowered way.
  • Further develop the NSW disability advocacy sector through quality improvement, collaboration and innovation.
  • Build stronger networks and learning opportunities for the NSW disability advocacy sector.

Funding Information

• One off funding amounts will be available under the categories totalling up to $1,000,000 for this program, including:
  • Category 1: Special Purposes and Projects grants are for new innovative projects from $20,000 (minimum) up to $100,000 (maximum).
  • Category 2: Sector Development grants are for new innovative projects from $20,000 (minimum) up to $100,000 (maximum).

Target group

• The DAFP 2024/25 SP&P and SD funding focuses on all people with disability in NSW who need support to access NSW Government funded or provided services, whether or not they are NDIS participants. Where relevant, it may also target and prioritise specific communities and disability types.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be from:
  • Incorporated not-for-profit community organisations with capacity to contract for services.
  • For the purposes of this grant, organisations deemed to be ‘incorporated not-for-profit community organisations’ include:
  • incorporated organisations that are registered and approved as not-for-profit bodies by NSW Fair Trading
  • not-for profit companies limited by guarantee, registered in NSW (must have ACNC registration and/or DGR status)
  • Indigenous Corporations (must be registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations)
  • NSW Local Aboriginal Land Councils
  • religious organisations operating in NSW
  • NSW non-government organisations established under their own Act of Parliament.
  • The following are mandatory eligibility criteria:
  • all applicants must have appropriate insurance of $10 million
  • all applicants must address the NSW National Redress Scheme sanctions
  • applications will not be accepted from organisations that have outstanding acquittals with DCJ.

Assessment Criteria

• Demonstrated ability to meet the grant objectives and outcomes.
• Demonstrated value for money and capacity to deliver projects/activities for the target group(s)
• Demonstrated experience working with the target group(s) and ability to collaborate and consult with relevant stakeholders.

For more information, visit Department of Communities and Justice.