Following the devastation of the 2022 floods, WHLM have talked to flood impacted women across the region, who have indicated that those that have been displaced increasingly need opportunities to reconnect. They have also alerted us that those who run or attend support groups and services have lost key resources that enable them to operate.
WHLM understands that communities are best placed to inform what will be most helpful for their recovery, and have $100,000 in quick response funding available for community-based activities, events and projects that support the mental health and wellbeing of women and/or girls in flood impacted communities across the Loddon Mallee Region.
Key Dates:
- Application open date Monday 06/03/2023.
- Application close date Friday 31/03/2023.
- Successful applicants announced 21/04/2023.
- Activities completed by 31/07/23.
- Acquittal and evaluation within 2 weeks of activity completion.
Eligibility:
To apply you Your Project must be for charitable purposes and offer clear public benefit for women and girls and must meet the following criteria:
- Be a not -or-profit, charity, community group or organisation that operates within the Loddon Mallee region, this can include community/neighbourhood houses, sporting clubs, arts, culture, and social activity groups
- Have an ABN (Australian Business Number) or be under auspice* of an organisation with an ABN
- Deliver projects/activities in one of the following Local Government Agencies of Macedon Ranges Shire, Mount Alexander Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Greater Bendigo, Loddon Shire, Campaspe Shire, Gannawarra Shire, Buloke Shire, Swan Hill Rural City and Mildura Rural City. Activities proposed to take place outside of these municipalities will not be considered.
Please note, you will be considered ineligible if:
- Application is submitted by individuals, sole traders, private or commercial businesses (as per the submitted ABN).
- The project is proposed to be completed after 30th June 2023
- Application is submitted by an organisation that is not a legal entity (i.e., a registered not-for profit), without the written consent of the governing / partnering body who holds the ABN / Incorporation Certificate.
- Application is submitted late, or without required financial documentation.
- The applicant already receives funding for the activity.
- The project has already commenced or has been completed and the funds are to be applied retrospectively
Funds available and priorities:
Funding is available for activities and projects that bring women together to reconnect and support their emotional and social wellbeing, for training opportunities for women and organisations that support women in disaster response and recovery, and for projects that connect flood impacted women to local supports and services.
WHLM will fund a variety of activities, including but not limited to: events, training and educational opportunities and projects.
Funding is available for projects/activities between $1,000- $10,000 activities that will take place between 30th April 2023– 30th June 2023.
WHLM proposed to fund:
- 3 x $10,000 projects/activities
- 6 x $5,000 projects/activities
- 10 x $3,000 projects/activities
- 10 x $1,000 projects/activities
Projects that utilise local suppliers and providers of services, work in partnership with other community groups and respond to WHLM values of Respect, Courage and Diversity and key strategic priorities are strongly encouraged.
What can be funded:
- Events/activities that bring women and/or girls together in a supportive environment
- Events/activities that promote positive mental health and are underpinned by the 5 ways to wellbeing framework
- Events/Activities that connect women and/or girls to supports and services
- Flood preparedness and emergency management training for women
- GADAUS Gender in Emergency management training for organisations
- Strengths based capacity building workshops that support community groups members to recognise, connect and respond to someone experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis.
- Replacement of minor infrastructure/equipment lost to flooding in community spaces that support women’s mental health and wellbeing
What cannot be funded:
- Events/activities where the mental health and wellbeing of women and/or girls is not the primary outcome
- Activities that require ongoing funding to meet the objectives around women’s mental health and wellbeing
- Ongoing staff wages
Assessment Criteria:
Assessment Criterion – DOWNLOAD
Project Budget:
You must include a project budget that clearly shows the items that WHLM grant funding would be used for and that also shows all income and expenses related to your project. Budgets should be realistic and must add up – i.e., total expenditure must match total income.
Why is this important? A clear budget helps WHLM to understand the size of your project, exactly how WHLM funds will be spent and helps demonstrate community support for your project through in-kind contributions either from your organisation or partners / community members.
Clear Project Information:
A clear description of exactly what the grant funds will be used for, when and where the project will happen, who will benefit and who will be involved in delivering the project, why the project and grant funds are needed, how funds will be spent and how the activities and success of the project will be recorded, evaluated, and shared.
Where possible, we encourage you to make it clear that your organisation is ready and able to deliver the project and, if required, provide ongoing support for the initiative.
How to apply:
Women’s Health Loddon Mallee accepts applications via the Smarty Grant portal, this link will be activated when the portal opens at 10am on Monday 6th March.
We recommend you download this printable copy of the application form to ensure you have all the required information prior to submission.
Attachments required:
- An Auspice Agent is another organisation that is a legal entity with an ABN. A letter signed by two committee members from the auspice agent confirming they will auspice the application must be provided when the grant application is submitted. Auspice fees will not be covered in the funding amount.
- If your project is to undertake works on Council owned / managed land or property, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, or, Parks Victoria land, you must attach evidence of approval from the relevant land manager.
- Evidence of Public Liability Insurance
Reporting requirements:
A project Acquittal and final completion report with a summary of the benefits and challenges of the project, a financial statement of income and expenditure, and photo evidence of the project and/or media links will be required to be submitted 3 weeks after project completion.
WHLM Contact Details:
If at any time you need help with your application, do not hesitate to contact the WHLM office on 035443 0233 or email us at: whlm@whlm.org.au
*Eligible legal entities – Further Information on Auspice arrangements:
Every application needs to include an organisation that holds either an ABN or Incorporation Certificate. If your organisation doesn’t have that, WHLM may still fund the project, but you need another organisation’s support, which we refer to as the Auspice (with your organisation being the delivery organisation).
This situation often occurs when the organisation delivering the activity or project is a branch of an overarching organisation – such as a local CWA or YMCA branch. In this case, the CWA or YMCA would be the legal organisation.
Even though your organisation may complete the application (and will be doing the work), it’s the Auspice legal and financial information that needs to be provided. They also need to provide a letter of support, confirming they are willing to play this role.
Why is this important? This program is only able to distribute funds to not-for-profit organisation’s with an ABN or Incorporation Certificate, and WHLM needs to know that the organisation with that ABN / Incorporation Certificate understands and agrees to carry out their responsibilities in relation to your project, if successful.
