NSW Justice Reinvestment Grant Program Stage 2

Only eligible organisations who submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) during stage 1 between 23 January 2024 and 18 March 2024 and were found eligible may submit a Full Grant Application in Stage 2. 

Applications from organisations who did not submit an eligible EOI will not be considered. 

Applicants were required to:

• be an eligible legal entity located in NSW
• be able to enter into a funding agreement with Department of Communities and Justice
• have an Australian bank account
• have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• have public liability insurance of at least $10 million per claim or propose to include the cost of insurance if invited to submit a Full Grant Application in Stage II.

Funding is available to both communities with existing justice reinvestment initiatives and communities that have not yet tried justice reinvestment.

ACCO applicants

Priority in the NSW Justice Reinvestment Grant Program will be given to Aboriginal Community Controlled (ACCO) applicants. For the purpose of this grant an ACCO delivers services, including land and resource management, that build the strength and empowerment of Aboriginal communities and people, and is:

• incorporated by relevant legislation (including Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) or NSW Fair Trading)
• not-for-profit
• controlled and operated by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
• connected to the community or communities in which they deliver the services
• governed by a majority Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander governing body.

Applicants will be required to provide documentation to support their ACCO status.

Non-ACCO applicants

In addition to ACCOs, only organisations with 1 of the following legal statuses are eligible to apply for funding:

• incorporated organisation registered and approved as a not-for-profit body by NSW Fair Trading
• NSW-based not-for-profit company limited by guarantee (must be registered with ACNC and/or have DGR status)
• NSW-based Indigenous Corporation (must be registered with ORIC)
• NSW Local Aboriginal Land Council
• NSW non-government organisation established under its own Act of Parliament.

Organisations cannot apply unless they submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) during stage 1 between 23 January 2024 and 18 March 2024 and were found eligible. 

Applications from organisations who did not submit an eligible EOI will not be considered. 

The overarching objective of the NSW Justice Reinvestment Grant Program is to support Aboriginal communities to reduce contact between Aboriginal adults or young people and the criminal justice system at the local level. 

This may be implemented through initiatives that address interactions with the criminal justice system itself and /or address the social determinants of crime, which can include: out-of-home care, poor school education, early police contact, unsupported mental health and cognitive disability, drug and alcohol use, unstable housing, and other factors. 

Given the overarching objective involves local communities addressing issues at a local level, the objectives of the Grant Program also extend to capacity-building, including:

• Establishing or supporting Aboriginal-led local governance arrangements that can identify and drive place-based change
• Deepening collaboration between Aboriginal communities and local services and groups that have a role in developing and implementing local solutions
• Supporting communities to adopt a systems-focused approach to reform
• Providing communities with access to different forms of evidence, including data, to inform work. 

• Services delivered outside NSW.
• Wages, salaries, and on-costs for ongoing staff.
• 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.
• Costs that are not directly associated with the delivery of the proposal that is funded by the grant.
• Proposal costs that are supported by another grant, subsidy or financial assistance.
• Proposal works or costs that have been or will be covered by insurance claims (for example, repairs following weather events).
• Proposal costs incurred before the earliest possible 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 proposed items that have already received grant funding.
• Infrastructure (capital works), equipment purchases and other assets, including the purchase of vehicles.
• Commercial activities.
• Cash payments.
• Management or administration fees.

If you have questions about what funding can, or can not, be used for, contact the Justice Reinvestment team at: justicereinvestment@dcj.nsw.gov.au