Diverse Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Grant Program – Australia

Deadline: 1-Nov-23

Applications are now open for the next phase of the Diverse Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Grants Program.

The Victorian Government is delivering a grants program for community-led and community-specific organisations from diverse communities to support the mental health and wellbeing of multicultural and multifaith communities, LGBTIQ+ communities and people with disability.

Goals

• Enable the community-led sector to maintain its important role in supporting mental health and wellbeing
• Increase engagement of the community-led sector in current mental health and wellbeing reforms and system redesign
• Build new evidence and knowledge about diverse communities’ mental health and wellbeing needs and the best practice approaches used by the community led sector to meet those needs

Funding Information

• Apply for grants between $80,000 and $240,000 for two years for community-led and community-specific organization’s ideas and solutions that support the health and wellbeing of multicultural and multifaith communities, LGBTIQ+ communities, and people with disability in Victoria.

What kinds of projects will be funded?

• The Department of Health will consider proposals in which:
  • The insights of people with lived experience of the mental health and wellbeing system are valued. i.e. where their contributions are at the center of the work
  • Larger organisations show a genuine commitment to partnering with smaller, less established organisations in an equitable and accountable manner
  • Organisations use partnerships to strengthen their ability to reach priority groups within their diverse community
  • Intersectionality is embedded in the project design
  • The overarching project goals, and first year deliverables, have been clearly outlined and follow a convincing program logic
  • The reasons for selecting the target group are clear, some examples of possible target groups are included
• Applicants should consider the following questions:
  • Are people with lived experience of mental health and wellbeing system a part of this project? And/or will they be brought in to work as partners in this process?
  • Does the project acknowledge diversity within my community group?
  • Does the project plan to engage the most vulnerable, marginalised or underserviced people in the community?
  • Where they lack the knowledge to engage with groups or individuals, is there a plan to address this?
  • Is there a plan to compensate individuals and/or organisations for their time/expertise, if this is an aspect of the project?  Plans that include consultation of outside people or organisations with no pathway for compensation or recognition will not be considered.

Who are grants for?

• This Grants Program is for community-led and community-specific organisations, in particular organisations that service multicultural and multifaith communities, LGBTIQ+ communities, and people with disability.
• ‘Community-led’ includes organisations and groups led by diverse communities that provide a range of formal programs and supports to people from their communities, and are in a position to deliver mental health and wellbeing supports.
• ‘Community-specific’ includes organisations that provide support that has a specific focus on a diverse community or communities. They will often be shaped, led or staffed by people from that community, and have strong community connections and trust. People from that community will often be part of leadership, governance and advisory structures to guide the work of the service. They must also be in a position to deliver mental health and wellbeing supports.

Priority or Target Groups

• Priority or target groups may include:
  • Incarcerated people
  • International students
  • People on temporary protection visas
  • People from low SES backgrounds
  • Older or younger people, and projects that aim to build intergenerational bonds
  • People living in regional or rural Victoria
  • People or groups who are currently facing additional barriers to social inclusion or connection
  • People experiencing intersecting forms of disadvantage or discrimination

Eligibility Criteria

• Organisations must have:
  • a current Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • an Australian bank account that corresponds to your ABN
  • insurance that meets the requirements of a Department of Health service agreement
• Your organisation must be one of the following entity types:
  • Incorporated associations registered under Consumer Affairs Victoria – these commonly have ‘Association’, ‘Incorporated’ or ‘Inc.’ in their legal name
  • Incorporated cooperatives registered under Consumer Affairs Victoria – these commonly have ‘Cooperative’ in their legal name
  • A not-for-profit entity registered under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) or the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 (Vic)
  • A social enterprise incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001, or
  • A Local Government Authority, but only in support of another organisation.
• If your organisation does not meet the eligibility requirements, you are encouraged to partner with an eligible organisation.
• Auspice organisations are permitted to apply.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Organisations that are:
  • an individual and/or sole trader
  • a for-profit corporate entity
  • State and Federal Government Departments and Agencies, Commercial Enterprises, Local Government Authorities, Registered Primary and Secondary Schools, Preschools and Universities
  • based outside of Victoria
  • not community led or focused
• Or have:
  • failed to comply with the terms and conditions of previously awarded grants
  • overdue final reports with Department of Health

For more information, visit Victorian Government.