Multicultural Venues Program – definitions

Term	Definition
ABN	Australian Business Number
ACNC	Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission
Auspice arrangement	An auspice arrangement is when a larger organisation partners with a smaller organisation to manage the funding agreement and agreed grant activities on behalf of the smaller organisation. The larger organisation is known as the auspice organisation. The smaller organisation is known as the grant recipient.
Auspice organisation	An auspice organisation is an organisation which manages grant funding on another organisation's behalf. This will include taking responsibility on behalf of the grant recipient organisation (the applicant organisation) to: sign the grant agreement take legal and financial responsibility of the grant on your organisation’s behalf receive and distribute grant funds under the grant agreement ensure all grant activities or events are completed submit progress and final reports.
Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC)	The Department of Premier and Cabinet – Multicultural Affairs Programs and Partnerships branch (the department) operates the program.
Eligibility Assessment	DPC will check whether an organisation meets the basic rules or requirements to take part in a program or grant. This will include on-line checks of both state and national registers and website and other internet content checks.
Eligible	Your organisation, proposed venue hires and activities meet the program guideline rules and requirements to apply for or receive funding.
Grant amount requested	This is the funding amount ($) that your organisation is applying for.
GST	Goods and Services Tax
Hire	The applicant organisation paying for a venue for a specific time period in which to undertake a specific activity.
Ineligible	Your organisation, proposed venue hires or activities do not meet the program guideline rules and requirements so it cannot apply for or receive funding.
LGA	Local Government Authority
LGBTIQA+	Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and gender diverse, Intersex, Queer, or Asexual
Multicultural community organisation	An organisation that is governed, managed, and primarily led by members of a specific multicultural ancestry, cultural, language, or faith community. Its primary purpose is to support, represent, and respond to the needs, interests, customs, traditions, and wellbeing of people from that particular multicultural community. The organisation may deliver activities, services, programs, advocacy, or community connections that strengthen and preserve the cultural, linguistic, religious, or social identity of its members. DPC will validate this by checking each applicant organisation’s incorporation documents and an on-line search for information about the applicant organisation.
MVP	Multicultural Venues Program (the Program)
New and emerging communities	Communities of migrants and refugees that have recently arrived in Australia. These groups may need extra support in the settlement process. The main identifiers are: a lack of established family networks, support systems, community structures and resources unfamiliarity with mainstream services and challenges in accessing these services. The Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) has created a prioritised list of new and emerging communities. To be eligible as a new and emerging community, the organisation must primarily identify with one of the countries or ethnicities on the new and emerging priority list: Afghanistan, Arakanese, Assyrian, Bhutanese, Burundi, Chaldean, Chin, Colombian, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Hazara, Iran, Iraq, Karen, Kenya, Kurds, Liberia, Myanmar, Palestine, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Pashtuns, Pasifika communities, Republic of Congo, Rohingya, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tajiks, Timor Leste, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbeks, Yazidi, Yemen.
Not-for-profit organisation	An organisation that does not work to make money for its owners or members whether directly or indirectly. A not-for-profit organisation can still make a profit, but this profit must be used to achieve the purposes of the organisation - not given to owners, members or private individuals.
Public liability insurance	Public liability insurance protects your organisation or community group if someone from the public is injured or their property is damaged because of your activities. It helps cover the costs of claims or legal action.
Regional Victoria	These are the five regions listed in the Regional Development Victoria Act 2002: Barwon South West, Gippsland, Grampians, Hume, Loddon Mallee.
Social enterprise	An organisation: being led by an economic, social, cultural or environmental mission that is consistent with a public or community benefit deriving most of its income from trade reinvesting most of its profit or surplus in fulfilling its mission (at least 50 per cent).
Third-party contractor	A contractor you engage in addition to your venue hire agreement which would provide additional staffing or services not already being provided within the venue hire agreement. For example - additional security, audio-visual, staging, lighting or staffing costs.
Total venue hire cost	The grant amount requested and any additional funding needed together make up the total cost for the venue hire(s). Any cost above the grant amount must be paid by the applicant organisation.
Unincorporated associations	A group of people who come together for a common purpose, like a community group, without becoming a formal legal entity.
Value for money	All applicants are expected to propose and utilise grant funds to support reasonable venue hire costs only. This means the cost should be necessary and proportionate to the applicant organisation’s need and will provide clear benefit to the community.
VCFA	Victorian Common Funding Agreement
Venue	A space/room/facility/building which is available for hire to multicultural community organisations. This must be owned and operated by a not-for-profit community or public sector organisation.

Updated 17 September 2026