If a suitable organisation can be identified, they will be offered up to $2.4 million towards the infrastructure costs of their proposed project.
Two-stage approach
Stage 1
This stage is an open application for all organisations that meet the eligibility criteria. Applicants in this stage need to demonstrate a basic project outline, the readiness and feasibility of their project, and provide documents to support and validate their application. An assessment process will then be undertaken by the Department of Premier and Cabinet (the department) resulting in one recommended applicant or a shortlist of recommended applicants being invited to proceed to Stage 2.
Stage 2
This stage will be invitation only for shortlisted applicants who passed the eligibility and merit assessments of Stage 1. Applicants in this stage will need to demonstrate more detailed project readiness and feasibility and provide additional supporting documentation. Applicants will progress through a second assessment process, including an expert review panel, before final recommendations are provided to the Minister.
EOI principles and preferences
The EOI seeks to identify projects which meet the following principles and preferences – but alternative options put forward may also be considered:
- Projects proposing “whole of Chinese community” access to the community centre – in favour of preferenced access to a single language, faith or cultural group
- Projects proposing new construction or extension to an existing facility – in favour of renovating but not extending an existing space / facility
- New or initial project concepts - in favour of projects already commenced (unless the commenced project closely fits the other EOI preferences)
- Community led and managed projects - government is not the sole funder and only a minority, starting funder
- The identification of one most-suitable applicant organisation and project to be offered funding – in favour of splitting the available funding between more than one
- The target applicants are Chinese community organisations, but flexibility may be offered to a different entity type if a close fit to the EOI and preferences can be achieved.
How 'ready' does your proposed project need to be?
The department understands that community facilities such as community centres are important to organisations and their communities. These facilities also require very significant, ongoing community member commitment, financial and professional contractor resources to plan for, build, maintain and operate the facilities successfully.
The department also understands that Chinese community organisations and their communities across Melbourne’s east may be at different stages of community scale, demand and need. They may already have existing facilities or may still be working towards achieving their first facility. In 2025, potential projects could be at the discussion, conceptual, planning or even construction or fit out stages
For the purposes of this EOI, the department is seeking a project ready to start physical works within a reasonable time frame – for example, within a year.
Stage 1 of the EOI tests the readiness level of applicants across a mix of factors including public commitments, financial, scale and current stage of development proposals.
Recognising that your organisation and project proposal will likely have a mix of strengths and weaknesses, and that it will be competing with others, we invite you to apply.
Updated