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Eligibility overview

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To be eligible to apply for funding through MISP, your organisation’s application must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Organisation eligibility: meet the organisation eligibility criteria.
  • Grant activity eligibility: include only eligible grant activities that align with the aim of MISP.
  • Mandatory documents: submit all mandatory documents.

Only applications that meet all eligibility criteria will progress to the merit assessment stage and be considered for funding.

Note: Organisations are limited to one application. If more than one application is submitted, the department will only consider the first application. All other applications will not be accepted.

Organisation eligibility

Who is eligible to apply?

To apply for MISP, your organisation must meet all organisation eligibility criteria in the table below.

Organisation eligibility criteria

Requirements

Multicultural or multifaith organisation

Your organisation must be a multicultural or multifaith community organisation.

See the Glossary(opens in a new window) for definitions of multicultural community organisation and multifaith community organisation.

Incorporated legal entity

Your organisation must be an incorporated legal entity under one of the following:

  • an Act of Parliament. You must provide a copy of the Act with your application.

Current Australian
Business Number

Your organisation must have a current ABN matching the organisation’s name in your application.

To check if your organisation has a current ABN, go to ABN Lookup.

Not-for-profit

Your organisation must be a not-for-profit demonstrated under one of the following:

  • a social enterprise with a clearly stated purpose or mission related to supporting Multicultural communities in Victoria. Social enterprises must attach their constitution, rules, or governance documents with their application.

Note: incorporated legal entities are considered not-for-profit entities.

Not be the responsibility of another ministerial portfolio

Your organisation must not be the responsibility of another ministerial portfolio (such as health, education, and sport and recreation)

No overdue grant requirements with the department

Your organisation must be up-to-date with all requirements for grants your organisation currently has from Multicultural Affairs.

To check if your organisation is up to date with grant reporting requirements email the Multicultural Affairs Infrastructure Team multicultural.infrastructure@dpc.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window).

No active multicultural infrastructure grants

Your organisation must not have any active multicultural infrastructure grants managed by Multicultural Affairs.

To check if your organisation has any active multicultural infrastructure grants email the Multicultural Affairs Infrastructure Team multicultural.infrastructure@dpc.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window).

Can meet the organisation’s cash contribution

Your organisation must provide evidence that it can meet the cash contribution requirement to complete the project.

See Mandatory documents(opens in a new window) for more information.

Who is not eligible to apply

Organisations that are not eligible to apply for MISP funding include:

  • organisations that are not a multicultural or multifaith community organisation
  • unincorporated legal entities
  • individuals and sole traders
  • organisations that are commercial or set up to make a profit (except social enterprises)
  • public companies limited by shares (unless a foundational document can prove not-for-profit status)
  • commercial enterprises
  • organisations whose activities or facilities sit in another ministerial portfolio (such as health, education, or sport and recreation)
  • TAFE institutes and universities
  • registered pre-, primary, and secondary schools
  • local government authorities (LGAs) including council-managed, operated, administered, and regulated trusts
  • organisations that have not complied with the terms and conditions of previous Multicultural Affairs grants
  • organisations applying under an auspice agreement.

Grant activity eligibility

What grant funding can be used for?

Grant funding can support infrastructure activities listed below on existing community facilities. Organisations can apply for one or more of the eligible grant activities listed.

  • Maintenance: minor works to maintain an existing facility. Activities include repairs and fixes to roofing, flooring, plumbing, and painting.
  • Upgrades: improvements to existing facilities to support the organisation’s full use of available facilities. Activities include upgrades to existing kitchen or bathroom facilities, installation of accessibility features, and upgrades to existing parking facilities.
  • Renovation: structural alterations and internal remodelling. Activities include creation of new rooms, and addition of new kitchen or bathroom amenities.
  • Physical security: upgrading or installing new physical security elements for the purpose of improving security at your facility. Activities include installation of alarm and CCTV systems, security lighting, securing doors and windows, fencing and perimeter security, and permanent traffic barriers and bollards.
  • Security planning: services focused on planning for the physical security of facilities for a specific community group. Activities include threat analysis and risk assessments. Security planning activities are only eligible for multicultural and multifaith peak bodies, and larger organisations based on evidence of community members attending facilities, with multiple premises and general higher outreach. See the Glossary(opens in a new window) for more information on peak bodies.
  • Outdoor areas: improvements to facility outdoor areas. Activities include stages, pergolas, and water tanks 10,000 litres or bigger.
  • Fixed assets: items that will be fixed, non-transferable, and form part of the fabric of the facility. The assets must be closely related to the facility’s use. Activities include solar panels and batteries, heat pumps, heating and cooling, and industrial kitchen appliances. Up to 25 per cent of the grant amount requested (maximum of $25,000) can be used for fixed asset activities.
  • Project management: professional project manager that is not a member of the organisation. Up to 25 per cent of the grant amount requested (maximum of $25,000) can be used for project management.
  • All grant funded activities need to be clearly detailed in your organisation’s project plan and quotes for all activities must be provided. See Mandatory documents(opens in a new window) for more information on the project plan.

Funding limitations

Applications for places of worship can only include physical security activities.

Organisations using leased facilities cannot apply for funding for maintenance activities, fixed assets, and activities that are the responsibility of the property owner. The organisation must also obtain permission from the property owner to complete all activities included in the application.

What grant funding cannot be used for?

Grant funding cannot be used to support the activities listed below.

  • Inappropriate use of public funds: activities that do not align with the objectives of MISP and the Victorian values.
  • Property purchases: activities include purchase of land, established buildings and properties, and new prefabricated buildings.
  • New construction: construction, trades, and works to create or extend a new community facility. Activities include construction of new buildings and the extension of existing building.
  • Pre-construction: all costs associated with the preparation and design of the project and application to MISP. Activities include feasibility studies, business case development, conceptual design, architectural works, and all permit fees.
  • Security services: all security costs that are not associated with the physical security of the facility. Activities include security guards and similar services, cyber security, and CCTV and alarm monitoring services.
  • Unfixed assets: items that are unfixed, mobile or transferable. This includes:
  • furniture such as tables, chairs, desks, and couches.
  • technology and audio-visual equipment such as computers, tablets, phones, televisions, projectors, screens, cameras, speakers, and microphones.
  • kitchen appliances and equipment such as domestic fridges and freezers, microwaves, blenders, toasters, glassware, plates, bowls, and cutlery.
  • gardening such as gardening tools, plants, water features, and garden ornaments.
  • ornamental items such as statues, and artwork.
  • other items such as sporting equipment and musical instruments.

  • Outdoor areas: playgrounds, sporting grounds, garden beds, plants, and water tanks under 10,000 litres, and gardening equipment.
  • Operational costs: ongoing or recurring costs associated with the operation of the organisation. Activities include staff salaries, utilities, rent, administrative costs, cleaning, gardening, appliance servicing, and subscription fees.
  • Overseas purchases: all contractors and suppliers must be based in Victoria.
  • Existing projects: activities include complete or partially complete projects, works, or activities.
  • Previously funded projects: activities that have been previously funded by Multicultural Affairs. Organisations can apply for funding for a new project at a location that has previously received funding from Multicultural Affairs. However, the previously funded project must be complete and acquitted.
  • Religious focused projects: projects advancing religious activities and used exclusively for worship. Activities include construction of altars, shrines, pulpit, purchase of fixed assets used in religious ceremonies and rituals only, and purchase of religious artifacts and symbols.
  • Political focused projects: projects advancing political activities.
  • Decorative or ornamental projects: projects that are only decorative or ornamental in nature. Activities to include murals, friezes, mosaics, stained glass, and elaborate woodwork, plasterwork, and façade decorations.
  • Ineligible facilities: all activities at ineligible facilities. Ineligible facilities include facilities located outside Victoria, facilities owned by another State or territory or the Commonwealth Government, facilities not owned or leased by the organisation, privately owned facilities that do not have public access, facilities that sit in another ministerial portfolio (such as health, education, or sport and recreation), and facilities that are under construction.
  • Project management: project management costs paid to a member of the organisation.
  • Consultants: costs paid to a consultant for pre-construction activities. Activities include consultants undertaking permit preparation and application activities, grant writers, building surveyors, engineers, architects, and lawyers.
  • Projects with a negative impact: projects that could have a negative impact on existing businesses and services, or compete with other local commercial interests, as per the National competition policy
  • Contingency: organisation cannot apply for contingency or funding for unknown costs. All project activities and their cost must be included in the MISP project plan.
To check your organisation’s grant activities are eligible, please email the Multicultural Affairs Infrastructure Team multicultural.infrastructure@dpc.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window) before starting your application.

Mandatory documents

The following documents are mandatory and must be submitted with all applications. Organisations may be asked to provide further information on any documents provided.

Please check the documents can be clearly read and all pages are provided. Applications missing any of the mandatory documents or provide incomplete documents will be ineligible and will not progress through the application process.

Note: Documents must be provided in PDF or word formats, or JPG or PNG for photos.

Mandatory document

Requirements

Project Plan

Complete the MISP Project Plan template. Project Plans that are incomplete or in other formats will not be accepted.

The project plan must detail all project activities including construction works, fixed assts to be purchased, and professional project management. Each activity listed in the project plan must include:

  • the cost of the activity
  • details of quotes received for the activity
  • the contractor selected to complete the activity
  • the timeframe to complete the activity
  • the funding source for each activity (either MISP grant funding OR funding from your organisation).

Timetable of facility use

Complete the MISP Timetable of Facility Use. Timetables of facility use that are incomplete or in other formats will not be accepted.

The document must include the following:

  • normal use: all uses of your organisation’s facility in an average month in 2025. The facility use includes all activities, events, festivals, workshops, education sessions, social support, and meetings by your organisation and any other organisation using the facility.
  • yearly use: all use of the facility on a yearly or irregular basis.

Applicants are encouraged to include any additional timetables or schedules prepared by your organisation and distributed to members or the wider community that shows the use of the facility.

Note: the use of the facility includes all use by the organisation and any other organisations that using the facility.

Risk plan

Complete the MISP Risk Plan template. Risk Plans that are incomplete or in other formats will not be accepted.

The risk plan must include details for the risks already listed in the Risk Plan.

Applicants are encouraged to include additional risks relevant to their project.

Planning approval

(Planning permit and Endorsed plans)

Provide one of the following for all project activities:

  • planning approval: a copy of an approved current planning permit AND a copy of the endorsed plans relevant to all activities in your organisations project plan.
  • written evidence that planning approval is not required: this evidence can be from either your organisation’s local council, surveyor, or lead contractor. Accepted evidence includes emails from a professional email address or letters on an official letterhead. The evidence must be no more than three months old, include the details of your organisation’s project, and clearly state planning approval is not required. For projects with a total project cost of more than $200,000, the evidence that planning approval is not required must be from your organisation’s local council or surveyor.

Note: Planning permit applications and unendorsed plans will not be accepted.

Building permit

Provide one of the following for all project activities:

  • building permit: A copy of an approved current building permit relevant to all activities in your organisation’s project. Building permits that have expired or do not cover all project activities will not be accepted.
  • written evidence that a building permit is not required: this evidence can be from either your organisation’s local council, surveyor, or lead contractor. Accepted evidence includes emails from a professional email address or letters on an official letterhead. The evidence must be no more than three months old, include the details of your organisation’s project, and clearly state a building permit is not required. For projects with a total project cost of more than $200,000, the evidence that a building permit is not required must be from your organisation’s local council or surveyor.

Note: Building permit applications will not be accepted.

Quotes or cost estimates

Provide one of the following for each project activity in your organisation’s project plan:

  • quotes: official quote from a contractor or supplier.
  • cost estimates: a cost estimate from a registered quantity surveyor.

Note: one quote or cost estimate can include more than one project activity.

All quotes or cost estimates provided must:

  • be an official quote including the name of the contractor
  • list the project activities included in the quote
  • be no more than 60 days old from the date of application
  • list the activity costs excluding GST. If quotes that do not clearly exclude GST, the department will assume the quote is GST inclusive and will deduct the GST amount from the quote
  • match the project activity details listed in the project plan.

Note: At least two quotes must be provided for any individual item over $100,000.

Land title or lease agreement

Provide one of the following:

  • land title: copy of a Certificate of Title or Register Search Statement showing the organisation is the registered proprietor of the project location.
  • lease agreement and property owner permission: formal lease agreement between the organisation and the property owner. The lease agreement must be for sole use of the property and have at least three years remaining from date of application. The organisation must also provide a letter or email from the property owner giving permission for the project activities to be completed. The letter must include all project activities and be no more than 60 days old at the time of application.

Organisation’s cash contribution

(if applicable)

Includes:

  • Evidence of matched funding
  • Additional funding

Provide evidence that the organisation can meet the organisation’s cash contribution requirements for matched funding and any additional funding.

  • Matched funding: the minimum amount of funding the organisation must contribute to match grant funding provided by the department. See Matched funding(opens in a new window) for more information.
  • Additional funding: the balance of funding required to complete the project that will not be covered by grant funding from the department. Additional funding may include some matched funding.

Acceptable evidence of funding sources include:

  • bank statements or bank account summary: an official statement or summary for the organisations bank showing a balance that at least meets the minimum cash contribution requirement. The account must be in the organisation’s name and the document must be no more than 3 months old at the date of application.
  • bank loan: approved bank loan for an amount that at least meets the minimum cash contribution requirement. The bank loan must be in the organisations name and must show the balance available on the loan at least meets the minimum cash contribution requirement.

Note: Financial statements, statutory declarations, letters of commitment, pledges, fund raising plans, and in-kind contributions are not an acceptable form of minimum cash contribution.

If your organisation has an alternative funding source that is not listed, please email the Multicultural Affairs Infrastructure Team multicultural.infrastructure@dpc.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window).

Financial statement

Provide the organisation’s financial statement for the 2024-25 financial year. This is the same statement organisations provide to Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) through myCAV or to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).

Note: If the financial statement is older than the 2024-25 financial year or is in another format, please email the Multicultural Affairs Infrastructure Team multicultural.infrastructure@dpc.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window) before starting your application.

Photographs

Provide 5-10 current photos showing the areas of the facility where project activities will take place.

Note: the photos must be at least 2MB each in size and be in a JPG or PNG file format.

Optional documents

Organisations are encouraged to provide additional documents that support their application. The following are examples of optional documents that can be included in the application. Please check the documents can be clearly read and all pages are provided.

Note: Documents must be provided in PDF or word formats, or JPG or PNG for photos.

Optional document

Requirements

Evidence of security incidents

(only applications including security activities)

Provide any evidence of security incidents at the project location. Examples include:

  • police incident reports
  • claims on the organisation’s insurance
  • photographs of intentional damage to the project location.

Note: The above documents will be considered in the merit assessment for applications that include security activities.

Project drawings / schematics

Provide any professional designs, drawings, or schematics that include any of the project activities included in the application.

Public liability insurance

Provide a certificate of currency for public liability insurance that:

  • is in the name of the organisation
  • shows the insurance is valid at the time of application
  • clearly shows the organisation has a minimum cover of $10 million for any one incident

Note:

  • All projects supported through the program must have active public liability insurance with a minimum cover of $10 million for any one incident
  • A certificate of currency for public liability insurance must be provided by successful applicants before entering into a funding agreement
  • Insurance from the Multicultural Seniors Grants Program cannot be accepted.

Letters of support

Provide letters of support for your project from stakeholders. Examples include letters of support from stakeholders that use the facility on a recurring or regular basis.

Other supporting documents

Provide any other documents related to the project that support your application.

Note: Peak bodies applying for security planning activities must provide their constitution or other governance document that outlines their role as a peak body and the community they represent.

Possible project examples

You can also ‘test’ possible projects by emailing a short description to the Multicultural Affairs Infrastructure Team multicultural.infrastructure@dpc.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window)

Project example 1:
Project in regional Victoria

Summary

  • A multicultural community organisation requested funding to replace the roof and install an alarm system at their community hall in Bendigo.
  • The cost of the roof replacement is $100,000 and the alarm system is $25,000.
  • Grant amount requested: $125,000
  • Total project cost: $125,000

Outcome

  • The organisation was successful in receiving funding to replace the roof and install the alarm system.
  • Matched funding of 1:4 was required as the grant amount requested was over $100,000 and the department confirmed the project location was in regional Victoria.
  • Grant amount awarded: $100,000
  • Matched funding required: $25,000

Project example 2:
Project at a place of worship

Summary

  • A place of worship in North Melbourne requested funding to install security cameras and upgrade their bathrooms.
  • The place of worship had been vandalised six months ago and the police incident report was provided with their application.
  • The cost of the security cameras is $20,000 and the cost to upgrade the bathrooms is $50,000.
  • Grant amount requested: $35,000
  • Total project cost: $70,000

Outcome

  • The place of worship was successful in receiving funding to install security cameras only.
  • The bathroom upgrade was not funded as places of worship are only eligible to apply for physical security activities under MISP.
  • Grant amount awarded: $10,000
  • Matched funding required: $10,000

Project example 3:
Project with eligible and ineligible activities

Summary

  • A multicultural community organisation based in St Kilda requested grant funding to extend their community hall and install new solar panels.
  • The cost of the community hall extension is $125,000 and the cost of the new solar panels is $25,000.
  • Grant amount requested: $75,000
  • Total project cost: $150,000

Outcome

  • The organisation was successful in receiving funding for their new solar panels.
  • The kitchen extension was not funded as building extensions are not eligible under MISP.
  • Grant amount awarded: $12,500
  • Matched funding required: $12,500

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