Family Violence Research Grants Program: Phase 1

The department is not able to enter into a funding agreement with individuals. Applicants must belong to an eligible Australian-based organisation. Sole traders are ineligible to apply.

Eligible applicants

Only Australian based organisations are eligible for the research grants. This includes not-for-profit entities, Australian universities or research centres.

A not-for-profit entity must show the organisation is registered:

• with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission
• with Consumer Affairs Victoria as an incorporated association, or
• under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) or the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 (Vic).

Applicants will need to have:

• a current Australian Business Number (ABN)
• no overdue reports with FSV or the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (the department).

All grant applicants will need to:

• Conduct and deliver research and knowledge translation activities solely in Victoria and with Victorian populations, with a primary focus on producing outputs that measurably impact positive outcomes in Victorian family violence, sexual violence and harm policy and practice.
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of Victorian family violence reform, its attached social context, and the Victorian family violence sector and/or Victorian sexual violence reform and sexual assault services.
• Adhere to ethical research practices and approaches.
• Demonstrate appropriate research and practice expertise and collaboration.

Further information on eligible and ineligible types of research can be found in Section 1: Project rules and requirements of the Guidelines.

Please note: Some of the research topics require applicants to meet further eligibility criteria as specified in the Guidelines.

The priority research subject areas and research topics are summarised in the following table.

The research topics relate in the first instance to the subject areas of the Victorian Family Violence Research Agenda 2021-2024.

The research topics respond to current gaps in the evidence base. They have been compiled from analyses of current research and following extensive consultations with stakeholders, including Victorian Government departments and community sector organisations.

Detailed information about each research topic is included in Section 3: Research Priorities of the Guidelines, to guide applicants in their proposals.

Provided applications meet the eligibility criteria, they will be assessed against the following criteria.

1. Quality, feasibility and alignment of the project with the intent of the Research Grants Program
2. Grant team track record and capability
3. Translation of research into practice and policy
4. Appropriateness of the budget / value for money
5. Commitment to research partnerships.

Further information on the assessment criteria can be found in Section 2: Submission and selection process of the Guidelines.

Eligible applications will be assessed by a number of panels against the assessment criteria. The panels will advise on the merit of applications received.

As part of the assessment process, FSV may request more information or clarification of an application. Final funding decisions will be made by FSV. The assessment process is as follows:

1. A panel assesses all applications for eligibility.
2. Subject matter expertise-based panels undertake an initial scoring of eligible applications against the assessment criteria, to provide a preliminary ranking of applications and determine whether more information or clarification is needed.
3. A master panel reviews the top-ranking applications and comes to a consensus before shortlisting preferred projects, determining a final ranking and recommendations for funding.
4. Funding recommendations are made to the Deputy Secretary of FSV, who makes the final decision on funding outcomes.
5. Highly ranked projects that do not receive an initial funding offer may be placed on a waiting list.

Further information on the selection process can be found in Section 2: Submission and selection process of the Guidelines.

Applicants must submit their application in full using the FSV SmartyGrants online platform. Applications will be assessed solely on the information contained in the application.

• Apply now for Small-Scale Grants
• Apply now for Medium-Scale Grants
• Apply now for Large-Scale Grants

Please note: Applications must be received no later than 3 pm AEST, 22 April 2022. Please adjust for local differences and allow time to resolve any potential connectivity issues if these are relevant.

Submitted applications will be considered final. Late submissions due to extraordinary circumstances may only be accepted at the discretion of FSV.

Grants will be offered in three funding ranges, with differing eligibility and selection requirements attached to the value ranges:

• Small-scale grants – maximum budget of $75,000, with a timeframe for completion of up to one year
• Medium-scale grants – maximum budget of $200,000, with one to 1.5 years to complete
• Large-scale grants – maximum budget of $300,000, with two years to complete.

Please note: Maximum budget limits and timeframes for project completion cannot be changed and will not be negotiated.

Further information on funding can be found in Section 1: Project rules and requirements of the Guidelines.

The grant recipient must enter into a funding agreement with FSV. The agreement will set out the conditions, reporting requirements and contractual targets of the funding.

Funds must be spent on the project as described in the funding agreement and any unspent funds must be returned to the FSV upon request.

Any variation to the approved project must be submitted to FSV before implementation. Successful applicants will have their project details (including organisation name, project title and grant funding provided) published on the department’s Grants web page.

For further information on the Funding Agreement please see the attached Victorian Common Funding Agreement Terms and Conditions.

All research projects over $75,000 (medium- and large-scale projects) must be conducted in partnership between universities and community sector organisations.

Phase 1 is focused on producing research outputs that measurably affect outcomes in Victorian family violence, sexual violence and harm policy and practice. Accordingly, the focus on partnerships is to ensure that knowledge translation is firmly embedded within the application process and the lifecycle of the grants.

Further information on partnerships can be found in Section 1: Project rules and requirements of the Guidelines.

The whole of Victorian Government Victorian family violence agenda 2021–2024 (the Research Agenda) and Family Violence Research Program are commitments of the Family violence reform rolling action plan 2020–2023 (RAP) to develop a robust evidence base to support family violence reform.

The Research Agenda articulates the Victorian Government’s research priorities and provides a focus point for research commissioned by government and initiated by universities, the sector or industry partners.

The Family Violence Research Program 2021–2024 (the Research Program) is FSV’s plan to deliver on its research priorities under the Research Agenda, in partnership with the sector and universities. It will include a competitive, open, merit-based research grants program delivered in two phases.

Phase 1 of the Research Program will focus on producing research outputs that measurably impact good outcomes in Victorian family violence, sexual violence and harm policy and practice. This includes understanding the:

• prevalence, nature and impacts of various forms of family violence, sexual violence and harm
• effectiveness of current interventions, services and supports
• needs of specific priority cohorts
• understanding and responding to barriers to programmatic and policy success.

Further information can be found on the Research Agenda and Program web page.