COVID-19 VIC: Business, Non-Profits, Individuals – Coronavirus Aboriginal Community Response and Recovery Fund

This program aims to support Aboriginal Victorians to deliver community-led initiatives to respond to the impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19). It seeks to provide grants to Aboriginal organisations and community members for initiatives that support emergency relief, outreach and brokerage, cultural strengthening, and social and emotional wellbeing.

Funding sought should be for the value of the entire initiative, unless the initiative has already been partially funded.

A total funding pool of $10 million is available. A minimum of $1 million will be distributed across five regions in Victoria:
- Metro
- North East
- North West
- South East
- South West

Remaining grant funding will be distributed equitably. This means that funding will be provided to regions based on demonstrated COVID-19 impacts on the Aboriginal community.

To ensure a range of small and large communities have the opportunity to access the Fund, no more than 50% of a region’s funding can be awarded to one local government area.

Eligible applicants include:
1. Organisations that must be:
- Victorian-based and have a registered Australian Business Number (ABN).
- An Aboriginal entity incorporated under Commonwealth or Victorian legislation. This includes; Victorian Aboriginal businesses and not-for-profit organisations, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), Traditional Owner groups and land trusts.

2. Individuals who must:
- Partner with a Victorian based entity that has a registered Australian Business Number (ABN), and is:
a) An eligible Aboriginal entity (listed as eligible organisation).
b) In extenuating circumstances, a non-Aboriginal entity (for example, a local council or other organisation).
c) Have the capacity to receive funding and work with the individuals to deliver and manage the initiative, including meeting the reporting requirements.
- Be aged 16 and over.
- If aged 16 or 17, obtain guardian approval.
- Live in the community for which they submit an idea for an initiative.

Note that individuals cannot partner with entities outside of Victoria as they are not eligible for funding.

Eligible initiatives must fall within at least one of the following categories:
- Emergency relief: To provide flexible, practical support for individuals and families in crisis, such as material aid, food, transportation, mobile phone data, funerals, accommodation, supports to resolve lateral violence or emerging family conflicts.
- Outreach and brokerage: To support 'at risk' cohorts, including those at risk of disengagement from education, training and/or employment, or involvement in the child protection, family violence and justice system, etc.
- Cultural strengthening: To ensure connection to culture, community and country.
- Improved social and emotional wellbeing (including improved mental health outcomes): Initiatives to promote and protect mental wellbeing.

The main assessment criteria include:
- Aboriginal-led
- Effective and/or innovative
- Address a service gap
- Demonstrates local need and support from the community
- Equitable distribution

Please refer to the Guidelines for the complete list of the assessment criteria.

The following are ineligible for funding:
- Initiatives that do not align with the guidelines.
- Ongoing operational or maintenance costs for initiatives upon initiative completion.
- Initiatives from which the applicant or their immediate family will personally profit (noting that salaries for initiative administration are not considered personal profit).
- Initiatives that have commenced or have been completed prior to the application being submitted.
- Initiatives that are located outside Victoria.
- Illegal, malicious or discriminatory activities or initiatives that will result in neighbourhood division.
- Initiatives that are contradictory to government or landholder policy or practices.
- Initiatives already accounted for in a local council’s 2020-21 budget statement.
- Costs for feasibility studies, research/study placements, business cases or similar reports.
- Costs associated with the preparation of the application.
- Initiatives that are deemed to be unfeasible (due to budget, time constraints, legislative or regulatory constraints, technical constraints or similar).
- Initiatives for a private or for-profit purpose.
- Initiatives that cannot be delivered within six months of signing the funding agreement (excluding time required for receipt of any necessary approvals and permissions).