The Victorian Government has opened applications for Aboriginal Community Initiatives Fund to support community-led projects that educate, prevent, reduce and respond to family violence in Victorian Aboriginal communities.

These projects address priorities that are identified by the 11 Dhelk Dja Action Groups in Victoria.

The fund supports projects that:

• Are Aboriginal led, including Aboriginal led partnerships
• Are consistent with the goals and objectives of the Dhelk Dja Action Groups and strengthen the capacity of Aboriginal communities and Aboriginal organizations to address family violence at a local level
• Will provide an on-going or long-term benefit to the community
• Complement existing local community projects or initiatives and demonstrate partnerships with other government or non-government initiatives
• Align with Dhelk Dja: Safe Our Way – Strong Culture, Strong Peoples, Strong Families 10 Year Agreement (2018-2028)

Funding Information

$1.1 million is equally divided across the eleven Action Group regions. A total of $100,000 is allocated per Action Group region to support multiple CIF projects of varying amounts.

Eligibility Criteria

• Funding is available to Victorian Aboriginal not-for-profit organisations or Aboriginal community groups whose work supports Aboriginal families and/or communities in Victoria.
• Only Aboriginal-led organisations and/or Aboriginal community groups can apply.
• Aboriginal-led organisations may choose to partner with non-Aboriginal organisations where specific content knowledge or other expertise is required. However, the Aboriginal-led organisation and/or community group must be the lead or senior partner throughout the project for partnership-based projects to be considered for CIF funding.
• Funding is only available to incorporated organisations. Non-Incorporated Aboriginal community groups will need to have an auspice arrangement in place to receive the funding.
• Eligible organisations are:
  • controlled, led or directed by Aboriginal Victorians
  • not-for-profit organisations
  • established for the purpose of promoting Aboriginal community objectives or outcomes in Victoria
  • legally Incorporated under Victorian or Commonwealth legislation
  • able to demonstrate financial and administrative capacity to manage the funding and the project or activity for which funding is received
  • person representing a volunteer based Aboriginal community group (Authorised Signatory) partnered with an organisation who has a current Service Agreement with the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
  • Organisations or groups that have previously received funding from the CIF must be compliant with reporting requirements in order to be eligible to apply for further funding.

For more information, visit Victorian Government.