COVID-19 VIC: Non-Profits – Aboriginal Youth Engagement Grants

This program seeks to support Aboriginal young people to connect to community and culture as part of Victoria’s COVID-19 recovery.

The objectives of the program are to:
- Enhance social and emotional wellbeing.
- Foster individual talents and leadership.
- Strengthen identity, culture and faith.
- Enable community participation.
- Build relationships.
- Link into education, training and employment.

The Koorie Youth Council and the Youth Affairs Council Victoria will provide some support to funded organisations to deliver activities.

Grants of up to $50,000 are available.

A total funding pool of $250,000 is available.

Eligible applicants include:
- Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation
- Aboriginal organisation
- Aboriginal-led community, not-for-profit or peak community body based in Victoria

Eligible applicants must:
- Be incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2001 (Vic) or a similar type of organisation.
- Be based in Victoria.
- Have a current Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Have sufficient Public Liability Insurance to cover all aspects of the program.
- Not have any overdue deliverables from other grants with the Victorian Government.
- Not be funded through the Marram Nganyin Aboriginal Youth Mentoring Program.

Eligible activities include:
- Support organisations with the application process, including hosting two online information sessions, with the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing to respond to questions about the program.
- Promote projects to the youth sector via existing KYC and YACVic media and communication channels.
- Invite funded projects to participate in monthly Aboriginal Youth Mentoring Network yarns online with existing partners.
- Assist organisations to deepen their understanding or attend training related to the Code of Ethical Practice for the Victorian Youth Sector, the Victorian Child Safe Standards and where appropriate, the Australian National Youth Mentoring Benchmarks.
- Participate in the Koorie Youth Participation Network and/or the Youth Participation Practice Network hosted by KYC and YACVic.
- Provide templates for recording case studies with participants, which can be used in evaluation and reporting.
- Invite programs and participants to attend, participate and present at the Koorie Youth Summit and the YACVic State Conference.
- Provide access to other KYC and YACVic resources and or training opportunities.

Funded projects should engage a minimum of 15 Aboriginal young people within the project design and delivery between April and 31 December 2021.

The main assessment criteria include:
- What types of activities does the organisation deliver? (10%)
- What needs have been identified for/by the young people they work with? (25%)
- What are they going to do? (20%)
- Who is involved? (10%)
- What will the proposed activities achieve? (25%)
-  How will they measure their success? (10%)

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

The following are ineligible for funding:
- Projects that do not have a youth-led approach.
- Purchase, maintenance or upgrading of facilities or equipment.
- Construction or building restoration work.
- Interstate and international travel.
- Retrospective funding for projects or programs that have already started or are completed.
- Activities taking place outside Victoria that are not part of a cross-border community project.
- Projects that are already funded under other government programs.
- Activities occurring outside of the stated funding period (April to 31 December 2021).
- Organisations that have failed to complete projects previously funded by the Victorian Government, without demonstrating sufficient cause.