Timeline
Stage 1 applications open
6 August 2025
Stage 1 applications close
17 September 2025
Stage 1 applications assessed
September/October 2025
Invitation to shortlisted organisations
October 2025
Please note: Stage 2 exact dates are not yet confirmed.
Objective 1
Funding available
If a suitable organisation can be identified, they will be offered up to $2.4 million towards the infrastructure costs of their proposed project.
Matched and additional funding requirements (Objective 1 only)
The successful applicant(s) will be required to contribute a minimum equivalent amount in matched funding to the construction of the community centre (50% grant : 50% applicant funding contribution) and then the applicant organisation will fund any additional project funding requirements). Applicant organisations are also responsible for any costs exceeding the grant and matched funding amounts.
Applicants invited to Stage 2 must demonstrate they can access the matched funding contribution and have a project financial plan when submitting the Stage 2 application.
Supporting Indian community diversity
Program funding aims to recognise and support diversity and encourage organisations to take an inclusive, intersectional approach in proposals.
There is an expectation that all applicants consider the diverse needs and experiences of community members including, for example, Indian Victorian women, seniors, LGBTIQA+ people, youth, and children.
Applications which clearly outline how their proposal is inclusive of the whole Indian community will be considered positively.
Objective 2: Community Centre within the Revitalising Dandenong precinct
Funding available
No grant funding is available for this objective.
If a suitable organisation can be identified, subject to forming an agreement with Capital Alliance, the organisation will be offered the opportunity to fit-out the planned community centre and to purchase or lease for the planned community centre at a favourable rate over a long-term period.
Key details
A community centre or community hub-type facility is master planned within the Revitalising Central Dandenong precinct which is a Development Victoria major project.
The Revitalising Central Dandenong precinct developer wants to acknowledge the history and cultural importance of the Little India precinct in Dandenong, with Indian community culture an ongoing aspect of the new development - through the creation of a new Indian community centre and a new Little India.
Organisations interested in Objective 2 are asked to provide their concept proposal, share their proposed requirements for the centre and nominate their interest in becoming the leaseholder or purchasing the centre.
The precinct buildings will be constructed over several years but the community centre is scheduled to be constructed in/from 2027.
For further information see - Revitalising Central Dandenong - Development Victoria and also Overview - RCD.
Capital Alliance is the lead developer for Sites 11 to 15 in the major project where the community centre will be located.
The community centre facility is currently master planned as one or two “retail-like” units with a floor area of 300 to 700 m2 within a multi-storey retail and residential building. Planning approvals are in place.
Capital Alliance and Development Victoria are looking for an organisation to take on the purchase or long-term peppercorn lease of the new facility once building is complete.
Objective 2 is focussed initially on understanding the design and fit-out preferences of the Indian community, to ensure the centre is a good fit for Indian community needs.
Organisations which nominate to participate in Objective 2 must provide information on the services and facilities they consider to be essential for a successful Indian community centre and must provide a concept proposal outlining their required fit-out, design layout and services requirements to support Capital Alliance in understanding the parameters in moving from a cold shell to a fitted out facility and how best to fit the centre into the larger development.
Organisations should also include the range of anticipated activities and anticipated financial and operating model in the concept proposal.
Nominating organisations should also have suitable capability, capacity and resources to undertake the fit-out and operation of the planned Indian Community Centre.
Following further selection discussions with Development Victoria, if a suitable organisation can be identified they will have the opportunity to negotiate directly with Capital Alliance.
The selected organisation will pay for the design and fitout of the facility which will be provided as a cold shell unit by Capital Alliance.
As the facility is yet to be constructed, the selected organisation may wish to contract Capital Alliance directly to provide the fit-out or to work with a third-party contractor.
Updated