Project eligibility

A grant funding offer will not be made until the EOI process has completed.

If a suitable organisation can be identified, they will be offered up to $2.4 million towards the infrastructure costs of their proposed project.

Eligible activities

Eligible infrastructure costs, in order of EOI preference, will include –

• construction, trades and works to create a new community facility
• significant renovations / remodelling or upgrade works on an existing community facility including:
  • alterations, extensions or internal remodelling to improve accessibility or create new rooms, kitchen or bathroom replacement.
  • outdoor areas such as permanent staging
• project management costs paid to a professional contractor (using up to 10% of the total grant amount requested) – these require a quote from a professional consultant and cannot be from a staff member or volunteer of your organisation.
• late-stage town-planning related works – but only if a planning application has already been lodged

Ineligible activities

Grants funds cannot be used for the following:

• projects that do not align with the aim of the EOI to create a community centre
• project locations outside the target LGAs
• the purchase of:
  • land, property and/or buildings (project proponents must already own and not lease the land)
  • unfixed, mobile or transferable assets
  • assets, materials and products from overseas suppliers (contractors must be based in Victoria)
• leasing of properties / buildings
• already completed or partly completed projects, works or activities
• contingency costs for the project
• planning permit and building permit application fees or tribunal costs
• projects that have previously received funding from Multicultural Affairs or the department; for example, if your organisation received funding in 2021 to construct a community hall or centre, you cannot apply for more funds to complete the same community hall or centre
• projects for infrastructure, facilities or land that is privately owned and not accessible by community members (community infrastructure facilities must have public access)
• organisations or projects that are the responsibility of another ministerial portfolio
• projects advancing political activities
• projects advancing religious activities (for example, infrastructure exclusively used for worship – to be funded, it must be open for wider community use)
• recurrent or ongoing costs (such as rent and utilities, staff salaries / volunteer payments, building maintenance)
• inappropriate use of public funds that don’t match the EOI objective or Victorian values.