Deadline: 28-Aug-23
The NSW Government is looking to fund 3 not-for-profit organisations to lead innovative community projects that strengthen social cohesion, increase democratic resilience, and improve trust in the democratic institutions.
Objectives
- Natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic, and economic uncertainty have tested the resilience of the communities, given rise to mis- and disinformation, extremist views, and conspiracy theories. In turn, this has contributed to a loss of trust in the democratic institutions.
- The NSW Government recognises the potentially divisive impact of hate, fear, and division on its communities. It seeks to improve social cohesion and prevent violent extremism. Socially cohesive communities are more resilient to, and recover more quickly from, shocks and stresses, whether a pandemic, a flood, or an act of violent extremism, or extremist hate.
- The Premier’s Department is looking to fund 3 not-for-profit organisations a maximum of $50,000 (including GST) each, to lead innovative community projects that address and challenge the:
- proliferation of racist ideas, attitudes, and worldviews
- promotion of hateful and extremist ideologies and vilification of vulnerable population groups
- promotion of conspiracy theories.
Funding Information
- Three individual grants of up to $50,000 (inclusive of GST) are available for 3 not-for-profit organisations.
Eligible Projects
- These can include projects that:
- raise awareness of, and resilience to, hateful, intolerant, and extremist views and messaging
- foster critical thinking in youth
- empower young people to be champions for community harmony
- improve digital literacy to identify, critically assess, and be resilient to online hate and disinformation
- improve understanding of civics education that strengthens commitment to democratic principles
- increase the resilience of individuals to the dangers of hate, extremism, and intolerance
- provide mentoring for young men, that improves attitudes towards women, democracy, and minorities
- empower women to challenge and report hate, intolerance, and extremism
- promote harmony between communities impacted by overseas events
- improve confidence to identify and report hate
- increase ability of youth to identify, deconstruct, and challenge hateful narratives
- improve connectedness between diverse communities and or community organisations working collectively to challenge extremism, and promote tolerance.
Project Outcomes
- The project must achieve the following 4 outcomes:
- Participants/beneficiaries have new insights into understanding challenges to social cohesion and the importance of societal resilience.
- Participants/beneficiaries have improved understanding of different approaches for addressing efforts to undermine social cohesion.
- Participants/beneficiaries are motivated to act as a change actor in their efforts to strengthen social cohesion.
- Participants/beneficiaries are engaged from diverse communities.
Eligibility Criteria
- This grant is only available for not-for-profit organisations based in NSW that have an Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Applicants should demonstrate their not-for-profit status by being one of the following:
- incorporated non-government organisations (not-for-profit)
- registered associations under an Act of Parliament
- registered cooperatives under an Act of Parliament
- a company limited by guarantee
- a company limited by shares (non-profit distributing)
- a community-based organisation registered or established under an Act, that is not-for-profit
- an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth) or
- a Local Aboriginal Land Council under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW).
Ineligibility Criteria
- The following organisations are not eligible to apply for funding under this program:
- individuals and sole traders
- local councils
- state and federal government departments and associated entities
- for profit organisations and commercial enterprises.
- Organisations cannot apply for this grant if they have National Redress Schemelaunch sanctions. The National Redress Scheme has been created in response to recommendations by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
- The scheme includes sanctions against those organisations who have been named and failed to join the National Redress Scheme. If your organisation has redress sanctions, then you cannot apply for grant funds.
- Additionally, you cannot apply for grant funds if your organisation:
- is subject to a winding up order or has an appointed administrator
- has a pending/ongoing legal case
- is bankrupt
- does not demonstrate a commitment to social cohesion in practise.
- The Premier’s Department may seek confirmation or clarification regarding a project’s activities and funds sought as part of this program before the grant is awarded.
For more information, visit NSW Government.
