Grants & Funding

Healing and Reconciliation Grants

This program aims to provide financial support to activities that promote a society that supports the aspirations of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Healing and Reconciliation Grants

1:Introduction

In line with the ACT Government commitments, funding has been allocated to promote healing and reconciliation in the ACT after the referendum.

2:Aim

This program aims to provide financial support to activities that promote a society that supports the aspirations of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples by contributing to building respectful, fair, and sustainable communities after the referendum.

This is aligned to the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement 2019-28 Core Areas of Cultural Integrity and Inclusive Community.

3:Government objectives

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led organisations are encouraged to apply.

Consistent with the objectives of the grant program, funding for projects, activities or initiatives that contribute towards healing and reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous Canberrans will be considered.

This is part of the ACT Government’s commitment to Closing the Gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

As outlined in the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement the ACT Government and community partners are committed to self-determination as the guiding principle in the delivery of programs and services.

Consistent with the Inclusive Community action area of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement, this funding seeks to deliver healing and reconciliation activities post the national referendum for an Indigenous Voice to parliament.

Activities must promote a self-determined and inclusive society where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are valued, respected, and experience a life free of racism and systemic discrimination.

ACT Health and Wellbeing

Projects and initiatives must demonstrate how they address any of the ACT Health and Wellbeing Framework outcomes.

For more information, visit the ACT Wellbeing Framework website

4:Eligibility requirements

Who can apply?

  • Organisations
  • Individuals, Government entities and registered political parties are not eligible to apply.

Applicants be located and operate in the ACT.

Applicants must have no overdue acquittal obligations for any previous Community Services Directorate grant. All outstanding acquittals must be completed prior to submitting an application.

Organisation eligibility requirements

Organisations which meet the following organisational eligibility requirements may apply:

  • be a non-government, legally incorporated entity or supported by an incorporated auspicing organisation;
  • be a recognised Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisation, or be a non-Indigenous entity providing auspicing for an unincorporated group led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (for example the Unit Ngunnawal Elders Could, ACT reconciliation Council, or the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body);
  • be a registered not-for-profit or a charitable organisation;
  • have no overdue acquittal obligations for any previous CSD grant; All outstanding acquittals must be completed prior to submitting an application.
  • appropriate insurance cover must be held by the organisation implementing a funded project. This may include Public Liability of no less than $10 million, Personal Accident, Volunteer Cover and or Directors Professional Indemnity. Evidence of insurance may be required as a condition of the grant.

Unincorporated Community groups may be eligible to apply through an auspicing entity. For more information refer to ‘Auspicing arrangements’ section.

Auspicing arrangements

If you are a community group or organisation that is not legally incorporated (unincorporated) then you may ask an incorporated organisation to auspice an application on your behalf.

An auspicing body is an organisation that accepts the legal responsibility including financial accountability for a project. If your organisation is not a legal entity, you will need to arrange for an organisation that has legal status to act as an auspicing body.

The auspicing organisation must provide a letter of support with the application stating they will:

  • be the applicant for this grant funding and if successful contract directly with the Community Services Directorate for the receipt of grant funding, and comply with all grant funding contractual obligations, including the provision of financial acquittal documentation.
  • Be the entity that will accept the grant funding for the project and administer the funding in accordance with the Grant Guidelines and Letter of Offer.
  • Disburse grant funding to the auspiced party in accordance with the Grant Guidelines and Letter of Offer and not unreasonably withhold funding from the auspiced party for the implementation of the project.

Project eligibility

Eligible projects must:

  • Be led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
  • Be delivered prior to 31 March 2024.
  • Have not received funding from another source to delivery the same or similar project.
  • Include all supporting documentation needed for the application.

Funding cannot be used for

The following will not be funded:

  • Activities or items that do not achieve the aims of the program.
  • Projects that are not located in the ACT, or that does not benefit the ACT community.
  • General administration and operational costs such as salaries, community and IT, stationery, insurance, rent, leasing, or utilities.
  • Costs of projects or activities that have already taken place, or items already been purchased.
  • Debt repayments of any kind.
  • Projects or activities already funded by the ACT Government or Australian Government.
  • Projects where alternative funding is more appropriate.
  • Activities that applicants or organisations are obliged to undertake as part of their legal or operational obligations.
  • Any travel or accommodation costs.
  • Projects or activities which are deemed to be inappropriate or offensive including activities that contain content that may offend or bring into disrepute the application organisation, the Community Services Directorate and/or the ACT Government.

6:Funding

Available funding

Eligible entities can apply for grants up to $10,000, with higher requests for significant events considered by exception.

Successful recipients will need to have their projects, activities or initiatives delivered by 31 March 2024 and acquit the funds by 30 April 2024.

7:Assessment of applications

When your application is received it will be checked against these grant guidelines to ensure eligibility for funding.

Assessment process

Following the pre-eligibility check, a Grant Assessment Team will assess your application. The Grant Assessment Team will be made up of an officer from the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, the Co-Chair of the Reconciliation Council and the Deputy Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body.

Panel members will use the information provided in your application and information from any previous Community Services Directorate grant rounds to assess the applications submitted. If you have been successful in other recent grant rounds, the panel may take this into consideration during their assessment considering the high number of applications received to ensure fairness across all applicants.

Assessment criteria for applications

This is a non-competitive grants process, which means your application will need to address the below questions to meet eligibility requirements.

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Led: The proposal demonstrates how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are leading this project, initiative, or activity.
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing: The proposal demonstrates how the proposed activity will promote bringing people together with the focus on healing within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, and where appropriate promoting reconciliation led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
  • Timeline: Timeline: The proposal demonstrates how the project, activity or initiative will be delivered by 31 March 2024.
  • Budget: The budget is realistic and clearly details all expenditure for the project including demonstrating value for money.

A budget is an estimate of income and expenditure required to complete your chosen activity. You will need to provide a budget with your application. This needs to show the funding breakdown for different items.

If you have applied for another grant for this same project, please ensure this is explained in your application.

Late applications will not be accepted.

Notification of outcome

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their applications in writing.

8:Accepting grant

Grant Agreement

Successful applicants will be required to enter into an Agreement. This will be via a Letter of Offer with the Community Service Directorate for which Grant funding will be provided. The Letter of Offer will include:

  • How to accept an Offer;
  • Detail the Grant Amount to be Funded;
  • Detail the purpose or activity for which the Grant is given;
  • The term of your funded activity for which the Grant amount must be fully expended;
  • How to Acquit your Grant funds when the project has been completed.

Funds must be spent only on items and activities listed in your application. Sometimes the Letter of Offer will have conditions of what the funding cannot be spent on.

Changes to activity

Your grant is funded based on the details of your application only. If something changes due to unexpected circumstances, you must first obtain written approval from the Community Services Directorate. Your request to change the activity will be reviewed by the Delegate and you will be advised in writing if the request is approved or declined. Failure to seek approval to change the purpose can result in non‑conformance and may result in you having to return the full grant amount that was paid by the Community Services Directorate.

9:Acquittal and reporting requirements

All successful applicants must expend the funds within the timeframes nominated in the Letter of Offer.

An acquittal is a signed declaration, submitted at the end of the activity, stating that funding was used for the agreed purpose. This includes providing copies of receipts as proof of expenditure.

Acquittal process

The acquittal of the grant is managed through SmartyGrants website.

Instructions will be provided to successful applicants in their Letter of Offer. You will need to login using the same identification details you used to submit the application. Please keep this in a safe place.

The funds must be expended in accordance with the activity/project outlined in the grant application and in the Letter of Offer, and all receipts must be retained and submitted with the acquittal.

Unspent funds

Any unspent funds from your grant must be returned to Community Services Directorate. Please email the Community Services Directorate Grants team at CSDgrants@act.gov.au to advise of any unspent funds.

Please note: To be eligible for funding in any future Community Services Directorate grants rounds, applicants must meet all acquittal requirements.

10:Application submission

Applications open 12 noon, Monday 11 December 2023.
Applications close 3 pm, Wednesday 28 February 2024.

You are unable to submit applications after 3 pm, Wednesday 28 February 2024

Online Application Form

Now that you have read the Grant Guidelines, this section explains how to submit your application on SmartyGrants. All applications must be submitted via the online application form on the SmartyGrants website.

All Applications must be submitted online. Hardcopy or email applications will not be accepted.

Start early – the process of preparing a grant application depends on how well you have planned the activity for which you are applying. You can start this process long before you start and submit an application.

If you have never prepared a proposal or written a grant application, we suggest you take some time to understand the process and reach out for assistance if you need it. You will find lots of tips on the SmartyGrants website

Start gathering your support materials. These might be quotes, request for class dates, or website details for digital courses. You can never have enough evidence to support an application, so long as it is relevant to the activity to be funded.

Create log in

You will need to create a log in to begin your application and you may begin anywhere in the application form. Please make sure you save as you go.

Navigating form

On the right-hand side of every screen, there is a box which links directly to every page of the application. Click on any page to jump directly to that page. You can also click 'next page' or 'previous page' on the top or bottom of each page to move forward or backward through the application.

Saving draft

You can press 'save' at any point and log out. When you log back in, your draft application will be saved, and you can start where you left off.

Submitting application

The submit button is on the final page. You will not be able to submit your application until all the questions are completed. Once your application has been submitted, you cannot make further changes to it.

Supporting documentation

All applicants must provide supporting documentation at the time of submission.

If your application does not include all the required documentation, it may be deemed ineligible.

SmartyGrants provides an online help guide for applicants. This guide will explain the essential steps you need to take to complete and submit your form. The help guide is available on the SmartyGrants website.

Correct contact details

Please make sure that the contact details listed in your application form are correct. Community Services Directorate will use this information for all correspondence relating to your application.

Save application

It is recommended that you keep a copy of your application for your records as well as your application ID number (e.g., 2324HRxx). You can print a copy of your completed online application or save it as a PDF.

11:Application feedback

Providing feedback

Applicants are encouraged to complete the feedback questions at the end of the application form. This feedback assists to improve grant programs, processes, and service delivery. You can also email feedback to the Community Services Directorate Grants team at CSDGrants@act.gov.au.

Requesting feedback

Community Services Directorate supports your right to ask questions about the grant application process. If your application has not been successful, email the Community Services Directorate Grants team at CSDGrants@act.gov.au, quoting your application ID number and outlining your specific concerns. The Community Services Directorate will provide a response as soon as possible.

This information also assists to improve grant programs, processes, and service delivery.

12:More information and assistance

Any additional information provided by Community Services Directorate as part of this grant program will be posted on the ACT Government Grants website.

In addition, all applicants that have started or submitted an online application form will be notified by email to the address that was registered with SmartyGrants.

For more information and assistance, please contact the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs by emailing OATSIA@act.gov.au

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