The Program aims to deliver tangible local benefit and impact to Aboriginal communities against the Closing the Gap socio-economic outcome targets, recognising that Aboriginal communities have the solutions to problems or issues in their community.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: From $1 to $250,000
- Application opened: 2 October 2023
- Application closed: 30 October 2023, 10:00 am
Program objective
The Community and Place Grants Program aims to support one-off projects which include programs, equipment, vehicles and infrastructure developed by local Aboriginal communities and with local community support to drive change and contribute towards the 17 socio-economic outcome targets under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap launch.
The projects must contribute to the Closing the Gap targets specifically,not the broad outcome area.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to familiarise themselves with the 17 socio-economic outcome targets under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. Detailed information can be found on the Closing the Gap launch website.
This program is administered by Aboriginal Affairs.
Eligibility
Who can apply
To be eligible for an Aboriginal Affairs NSW Community and Place Grant you must:
• Be an Aboriginal and or/Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO);
OR •
Be an unincorporated Aboriginal community group with an eligible auspice organisation.
Applicants or their auspice organisation must:
• Be an eligible legal entity located in NSW, and able to enter into a funding agreement with Aboriginal Affairs NSW Premier’s Department, have an Australian bank account, and an Australian Business Number (ABN);
• Have public liability insurance of at least $10 million per claim or include the cost of insurance within their application.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Projects could include:
• Activities, programs, the purchase or lease of equipment and capital works.
• A single project or multiple activities that form a larger project.
• Local partnership projects where all parties are Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), or Aboriginal community groups, and a tangible program or infrastructure outcome is being delivered in an Aboriginal community.
When the project can start and end
Community and Place Applicant Checklist (nsw.gov.au)
The project should be started by 1 July 2024 and the project must be completed by 30 June 2025.
What costs you can apply for
Eligible costs are:
• Wages for program management (nonongoing roles)
• Costs for specialised facilitators and/or trainers
• Costs associated with staff training for specific program delivery (noting this must be linked to the project application and identified outcomes)
• Promotional materials, such as flyers, social media and advertising
• Program related materials and resources, including art supplies, workbooks, course materials, (for equipment, see equipment and vehicles eligible costs)
• Venue hire and catering
• Transport hire (for vehicle purchase, see equipment and vehicles eligible costs)
• Up to 10 percent of the total application for project management and administration (this includes auspicing fees)
• Construction costs, including tools and materials
• Wages for contractors and consultants
• Wages for non-ongoing staff to support project delivery
• Accessibility and safety installations
• Emergency management and safety upgrades
• Applicants may include up to 25 percent of the total infrastructure component of their application as contingency (where relevant), and up to 10 percent of the total application for project management and administration. Design, including regulatory applications and approvals costs, must be listed as administration costs.
• Purchase or lease of cars, buses and trailers
• Costs associated with driver training for specialised vehicles
• Computer hardware and installation
• Computer software and licensing
• Vehicle extras such as; accessibility equipment, insurance, car seats and the fitting of these
• Office furniture and equipment
• Equipment needed for service provision
• Repair to specialised equipment
• Licensing and Registration fees
Who can’t apply
You are not eligible if you are:
• An Individual • Incorporated not-for-profit organisations not controlled or operated by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Unincorporated groups which are not led by Aboriginal people.
• Federal and State Government agencies and bodies.
• NSW Public Schools.
• For-profit organisations, including Aboriginal businesses.
• Unincorporated organisations or groups without an eligible auspicing organisation.
• Organisations that have not met project requirements, including acquittal and reporting, for funding received from Aboriginal Affairs NSW in the previous two years.
• Organisations with redress sanctions, as described in the National Redress Scheme.
What costs you can't apply for
Funding cannot be used for:
• State-wide projects.
• Projects in a community outside NSW.
• Wages, salaries, and on-costs for ongoing roles.
• Sitting fees, travel allowance, or costs associated with membership of boards/councils.
• International travel costs. Proposals for domestic travel costs need to demonstrate the benefits of travel to the project, organisation, and community.
• Activities that may create an ongoing dependency on Community and Place Grants Program, i.e., funding over multiple years.
• Costs that are not directly associated with the delivery of the project that is funded by the grant.
• Project costs that are supported by another grant, subsidy or financial assistance.
• Project works or costs that have been or will be covered by insurance claims (for example, repairs following weather events).
• Project costs incurred prior to the earliest possible project start date of 1 July 2024.
• Costs to cover existing debts or budget deficits.
• General operational or business as usual costs.
• Maintenance or construction of residential infrastructure.
• Cost of project items that have already received grant funding, including through Community and Place Round 1.
Please see Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for more information on what can and can’t be funded.
Most recent recipients
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
N/A
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Address the assessment criteria
- Alignment with the Community and Place Grants Program objective to deliver tangible benefit and impact against the Closing the Gap socioeconomic outcome targets in a local Aboriginal community
- Demonstrated local Aboriginal community support
- Value for money
- Capacity to deliver
Start the application
All Expressions of Interest (EOI) and applications are to be completed online via Smarty Grants, the Aboriginal Affairs NSW online grants platform. Applicants will not be able to apply for a grant without submitting an Expression of Interest. An Applicant’s Guide and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to assist applicants with the Expression of Interest and application processes is available from the Aboriginal Affairs NSW website.
Stage One – Expression of Interest Application Expressions of Interests open on 02 October 2023 and close on 30 October 2023. Your Expression of Interest will require you to provide a project overview, and must include the following information:
• Project idea, how it will be delivered and who will be involved.
• Details about your organisation or group and your experience managing projects or funding.
• Which local Aboriginal community will benefit from your project.
• How much funding you are applying for.
• Expected Closing the Gap Socio-Economic Target(s) the project aims to meet. Applicants can also choose to submit a video response to Expression of Interest questions.
Aboriginal Affairs NSW staff are available to support applicants with recording and preparing a file for upload, if required.
Stage One - EOI applications will be assessed by AANSW for eligibility and program alignment, with applications being approved to provide a full application by the AANSW Deputy Secretary. Applicants who are successful with their Expression of Interest application will be invited to submit a full application for funding.
Please note: an invitation to Stage Two does not guarantee that funding will be awarded. All EOI applications approved will be invited to full application, and it is anticipated invited applicants will be collectively seeking more than the funding allocation. Stage Two applications will be comparatively assessed.
Stage Two – Full Grant Application Full grant applications will open on 4 December 2023 and close on 29 January 2024. Full grant applications will require more detail on your project including the following:
• Alignment with identified Closing the Gap Socio Economic Target(s).
• Project Plan – including key milestones and activities.
• Project Risk Plan – Key risks and processes for managing these.
• Project Budget – Detailed budget breakdown.
• Supporting Documentation (See Program Guidelines)
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty
Stage One – Expression of Interest Application Expression of interest (EOI) applications will be initially reviewed by AANSW staff for applicant eligibility and community need.
A panel comprised of senior officers from AANSW and across NSW government will review all EOIs and complete a merit assessment on program alignment.
Recommendations from the EOI stage will be approved by the Deputy Secretary for Aboriginal Affairs NSW.
Stage Two – Full Grant Application Full grant applications will be assessed by AANSW Regional Teams and an assessment officer from Aboriginal Affairs NSW, based on the assessment criteria.
Ineligible and unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing.
The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty is the final decision-maker for funding.
The Minister will consider the recommendations of the assessment panel in this decision-making. AANSW staff may request additional information and/or clarification from applicants at any time during the assessment process.
Part funding may be offered where an application includes ineligible activities or budget items. Independent probity advisors will provide guidance on issues concerning integrity, fairness, and accountability that may arise throughout the application, assessment, and decision process.
This helps to ensure decisions are made with integrity, fairness, and accountability, while delivering value for money for NSW
Anticipated assessment outcome date is May 2024
Anticipated date for funding deed execution with successful applicants is June 2024
Support and contact
AANSW Community Investments team via emailgrants@aboriginalaffairs.nsw.gov.au