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Funding to promote healing and reconciliation in the ACT

In line with the ACT Government commitments, Healing and reconciliation grants provide funding to promote healing and reconciliation in the ACT after the 2023 referendum.

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 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.

Application dates

Applications are closed.

Funding amount

Up to $10,000. Requests for higher amounts are considered by exception.

Check if you can apply

You can apply if you meet the eligible criteria. Eligibility criteria are the set of rules that tell you who we consider for this grant. Learn:

  • who can apply
  • what you can use the funds for.

Who can apply

You can apply if you are an organisation located or operating in the ACT.

You can't apply if you:

  • have overdue acquittal obligations for any previous Community Services Directorate grants
  • are a government entity, profit making entity, or registered political party.

Organisation eligibility requirements

Organisations must meet the following organisational eligibility requirements to 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
  • 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.

What you can use the funds for

Eligible projects must:

  • be led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • be delivered before 30 June 2024
  • demonstrate how they address any of the ACT Health and Wellbeing Framework outcomes
  • have not received funding from another source to deliver 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.

What happens next

Assessment process

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

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.

How we assess 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: The proposal demonstrates how the project, activity or initiative will be delivered by 30 June 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.

Grant outcome

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

Acquittal and reporting requirements

All successful applicants must spend 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.

Further guidance

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.

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.

Grant agreement

If you're successful you'll need 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.

If you fail to seek approval to change the purpose you may have to return the full grant amount that was paid by the Community Services Directorate.

Providing and requesting 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.

Past grant recipients

You can find past grant recipients in Community Services Directorate's annual reports.

Need help?

Contact the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs

Let us answer your question by email.

Email
OATSIA@act.gov.au