The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing is committed to working in partnership with Aboriginal organisations and communities to offer opportunities for Aboriginal young people to exercise self-determination in receiving the supports they need to thrive.
The Marram Nganyin Aboriginal Youth Mentoring Program has been running in Victoria since 2016–17. Marram Nganyin means ‘we are strong’ in the Woiwurrung language of the Wurundjeri people. The program is strengths-based and community-led. It focuses on primary prevention and early intervention.
The program aims to support Aboriginal young people to:
- be healthy and well
- be confident and strong in their identity and culture
- achieve their goals through study, training and work.
- To achieve this, the program funds Aboriginal organisations to deliver local mentoring programs. The mentoring programs are designed and delivered in collaboration with Aboriginal young people. This model recognises that Aboriginal organisations best understand the needs of Aboriginal communities.
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Eligibility:
To be eligible, you must meet all the following criteria:
- be an Aboriginal organisation
- be a community, not-for-profit or peak community body based in Victoria that is an incorporated legal entity under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) or the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2001 (Vic) or a similar type of organisation
- have a current Australian Business Number (ABN) – if your organisation is not incorporated or does not have an ABN, you may still apply if you are supported by an eligible auspice organisation that has agreed to manage the grant for you
- have at least $10 million public liability insurance
- not have any overdue deliverables from other grants with the department.
Auspice arrangements:
Auspice arrangements are allowed under the program:
- If your organisation is not incorporated or does not have an ABN, you can still apply if you are supported by an eligible auspice organisation. This organisation must agree to manage the grant for you.
- An auspice arrangement is when one organisation helps another to administer a grant activity or event. Your community group or organisation is called the grant recipient. The organisation auspicing is called the auspice organisation.
- All applications with auspicing arrangements must include a letter of support from the auspice organisation.
Responsibilities of an auspice organisation:
If your grant application is successful, your auspice organisation will be responsible for:
- signing the grant funding agreement (called a Victorian Common Funding Agreement)
- all legal and financial aspect the grant on your organisation’s behalf
- receiving and distributing grant funds under the grant agreement
- ensuring all grant activities or events are completed
- ensuring final reports and financial acquittals are submitted by the due dates.
Partnership applications:
The department encourages partnership applications. Several Aboriginal organisations can work together to lodge a single partnership application. These applications should achieve wide benefit for all parties.
For example, if there are several applicants in the same region that would benefit from working together in running mentoring programs, these organisations can submit a partnership application to coordinate and access and share resources as a larger group.
One organisation will need to submit on behalf of the partnership and nominate the primary contact person coordinating the partnership and application. Partnerships are still subject to a maximum request of $335,000 per application.
How to apply:
Step 1: Read these guidelines to find out if your organisation and program are eligible.
Step 2: Consider how your program meets the assessment criteria.
Step 3: If you have questions, please email the Office for Youth to ask for a call back and tell us about your preferred language or other communication needs.
Step 4: Complete and submit your application by 11:59 pm on Thursday, 26 October 2023, using the grant application portal.
No applications will be accepted after the closing date.
Successful applicants will get support from the Koorie Youth Council to design and deliver their programs. This recognises the statewide leadership role of the Koorie Youth Council as the representative body for Aboriginal young people in Victoria.
