Local Anti-Racism Initiatives grant program guidelines

I am pleased to launch a new round of the Local Anti-Racism Initiatives grants program for 2026–27.

This program supports First Peoples, multicultural and multifaith organisations to lead practical, community-led responses to racism in the communities they know best.

Racism is not only experienced in major public incidents. It can happen in everyday places: in schools, workplaces and neighbourhoods. That is why local action matters.

Through this grants round, funding of up to $40,000 is available to support initiatives that build understanding and help people respond safely and confidently when racism occurs.

The program recognises that different communities experience racism in different ways, and that effective responses must be shaped by lived experience, cultural knowledge and trusted local relationships.

It also recognises that racism can be experienced in different and overlapping ways, and encourages initiatives that respond to the needs of communities who may face additional barriers to safety and inclusion.

It is important to remember that we all have a role to play in addressing the structures and behaviours that allow racism to continue. This grants round forms part of Victoria’s anti-racism strategy 2024–29 and our broader work to build a fairer, safer and more inclusive state.

As we continue this important work, we support community organisations as they are often the first places people turn to for help. They are well placed to design initiatives that reflect local needs and build trust.

I encourage eligible organisations to apply and bring forward projects that will strengthen communities against hate and discrimination.

Ingrid Stitt MP

Minister for Multicultural and Multifaith Victoria

I welcome the launch of the 2026-27 Local Anti-Racism Initiatives grants program.

Aboriginal people have battled racism in communities across Victoria for generations – at school, at work, on the sporting field, in services, and in all aspects of life. The ongoing impacts of racism, whether individual or systemic, have a profound impact on Aboriginal people and communities.

This Program includes a dedicated funding stream for First Peoples applicants, in recognition of the specific and distinct forms of racism Aboriginal people face. The funding stream supports First Peoples organisations to deliver community-driven anti-racism initiatives at a local level – because Aboriginal people have the lived experience, local knowledge and expertise to know what needs to change, and the solutions that will work.

In the previous round of the Program, eight First Peoples-led projects received funding across education, sport, community-based initiatives and more.

This Program addresses racism at its roots by building individual and organisational capacity, and celebrating Aboriginal cultures and identities.

I encourage First Peoples-led organisations to take inspiration from previous initiatives and apply.

The Hon. Ros Spence MP

Minister for First Peoples

Program overview

The Local Anti-Racism Initiatives Grants Program will fund First Peoples, multicultural and multifaith community organisations and groups to deliver community-led responses to racism.

This program forms part of the Victorian Government’s vision for a more inclusive state under the Victorian anti-racism strategy 2024-29.

Grants of up to $40,000 (excluding GST) are available under two streams:

• Stream 1: Local anti-racism initiatives delivered by First Peoples-led or community-controlled organisations
• Stream 2: Local anti-racism initiatives delivered by multicultural and multifaith community organisations.

This program recognises that while eliminating racism in Victoria is not the responsibility of First Peoples, multicultural and multifaith communities, these communities have the expertise, lived experience and specialised knowledge to deliver local community-driven responses.

This program represents only one part of the Victorian Government’s efforts to combat racism in Victoria and will be delivered alongside other initiatives to address structural racism, as outlined in the Victorian anti-racism strategy 2024-29.

This is a competitive grants program administered by the Multicultural Affairs portfolio, in partnership with First Peoples – State Relations, in the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Key dates

• Applications open Thursday 30 July 2026
• Applications close at 12pm (midday) on Thursday 27 August 2026
• Project must be delivered before Friday 31 December 2027.

Program objectives

Organisations and groups funded through this program must demonstrate how their activities will deliver at least one of the following four program objectives:

1. Understanding racism

Increase broader community understanding and awareness of racism, its impact and the importance of anti-racist behaviour and practices at the local level.

2. First Peoples history and culture

Promote awareness and understanding of First Peoples’ history and culture, and the historic and ongoing impacts of colonisation.

3. Capacity building

Support local communities and community organisations to build their capacity to respond to racism and support affected individuals.

4. Reporting and rights

Improve community reporting of racist incidents and understanding of people’s rights.

Priority communities

Additional considerations will be given to applications with a clear and demonstrated commitment to engaging First Peoples, multicultural or multifaith communities who are also part of the following priority communities:

• refugees and people seeking asylum
• new and emerging communities
• regional and rural Victorians
• women
• people with disability
• seniors
• youth people
• LGBTIQA+ communities.

Types of activities that will be funded

Below are examples of the types of activities that will be funded through this grants round:

• initiatives that establish new community-led reporting avenues, increase the awareness of existing reporting avenues and/or build community confidence to report racist incidents
• initiatives that build capacity in communities to respond to racist incidents and provide culturally safe and accessible supports to affected individuals and communities
• initiatives that promote awareness and understanding of First Peoples’ history and culture, and the historic and ongoing impacts of colonisation
• activities focused on addressing online racism and on building capacity of online users to respond to online hate
• projects that increase the availability of anti-racism materials, resources and supports within local community infrastructure
• initiatives that amplify First Peoples, multicultural and multifaith voices in the media and aim to shift racist attitudes
• educational programs that build understanding of racism and individual rights, and/or facilitate anti-racist and anti-discrimination behaviours
• arts, sports and youth programs that engage participants from diverse backgrounds and promote positive ways to address and respond to racism
• activities that develop, strengthen or expand community networks, including building new networks and connections with different communities and organisations
• action-based research generated through community projects, that respond to local challenges and align with program objectives.

What will not be funded

These activities will not be funded through this grants round:

• political activities
• religious activities
• recurrent administrative, infrastructure and other organisational costs including the day to day running costs of an organisation such as rent, utilities, office supplies and supplementing non-program staff wages
• public liability insurance
• set-up costs of a business
• purchase of capital equipment (including hardware or software)
• purchase or lease of buildings or land
• travel outside Victoria
• visits to Victoria from people interstate or overseas
• competitions, commercial, or fundraising activities
• retrospective funding for projects or programs that begun prior to 30 October 2026 or have been completed prior to October 2026
• activities that do not benefit Victorians
• expenses not related to the activity outlined in the application.

Who can apply?

To apply for a grant, your organisation or group must meet the following eligibility criteria.

Program eligibility

Stream eligibility

Auspice arrangements

If your organisation is not incorporated or does not have an ABN, you may consider partnering with another organisation that meets the program eligibility criteria and will accept legal responsibility for the grant. This is known as an auspice arrangement. If the application is successful, your organisation will deliver the activity, but the auspice organisation will be responsible for:

• signing the grant funding agreement with the department
• ensuring the legal and financial requirements of the grant and funding agreement are met
• receiving and distributing grant funds under the funding agreement
• ensuring all project activities are completed
• submitting reports and financial acquittals on behalf of your organisation.

If you want to propose an auspice arrangement your application must include a letter of support from the auspice organisation, nominating their primary contact person and signed by their Chief Executive Officer (or equivalent)

Please make sure any auspice fees are presented in your budget (maximum of 10 per cent and included within the maximum request of $40,000 (excluding GST) per application).

Partnerships

You may partner with another organisation to deliver your activities. Partnerships can be formed with other community organisations, councils, and local schools; however, the application must be led by a First Peoples-led community-controlled organisation or a multicultural or multifaith community organisations.

Your application must include a letter of support from the partnership organisation(s) that confirms their role in project delivery, nominates a primary contact person and is signed by the Chief Executive Officer (or equivalent).

Partnership applications are still subject to a maximum request of $40,000 (excluding GST) per application.

Cross border communities and national organisations

Funding is available to eligible organisations or groups servicing Victoria’s cross-border communities.

National organisations are also eligible to apply where they regularly operate in Victoria and have a demonstrated history of working with Victorian communities.

These organisations and groups must be incorporated entities registered with an appropriate state regulator and must be able to demonstrate their service to Victorians.

Who cannot apply?

The following entities are not eligible to apply for these grants:

• unincorporated legal entities
• individuals and sole traders
• organisations that are commercial or set up to make a profit (except social enterprises)
• trusts
• people or organisations outside of Victoria (except for cross-border communities and national organisations that operate regularly in Victoria)
• local government authorities
• community organisations that are not First Peoples-led or community-controlled or multicultural or multifaith community organisations.

Assessment process

All applications must be submitted online, unless a prior arrangement has been agreed with the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Each application will be scored against the assessment criteria outlined above.

Eligible applications will be assessed by a panel of representatives from the Department of Premier and Cabinet including the Multicultural Affairs portfolio and First Peoples – State Relations, the Victorian Multicultural Commission and an external representative with knowledge or expertise on racism and anti-racism.

After assessments are completed, program staff will put together the panel’s recommendations for approval by the Minister for Multicultural and Multifaith Victoria.

The following conditions will apply to all successful applicants of the program:

• the grant recipient must enter into a Victorian Common Funding Agreement (funding agreement) with the Department of Premier and Cabinet which will set out the conditions, reporting requirements and contractual targets of the funding
• the funded activity must start by November 2026 and be completed by December 2027
• funds must be spent on the project as described in the funding agreement
• any unspent funds must be returned to the department
• any variation to the approved project must be submitted to the department for approval before implementation
• where relevant, organisations must arrange Working with Children checks on staff and people aged 18 and over who come into regular, direct and unsupervised contact with young people.

Where funding will support the care, education, services or activities for children (under 18 years), the applicant must be:

• a separate legal entity that can be sued in its own right in child abuse proceedings
• appropriately insured against child abuse.

This requirement improves the ability of child abuse survivors to bring a legal claim for compensation and ensure that successful claims can be paid.

Payment and reporting

Successful organisations will be paid once the agreed project milestones and deliverables outlined in the funding agreement are completed.

Milestone payments are made via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).

Successful organisations must acknowledge the Victorian Government’s support of the project through the Community Support Fund (CSF).

Information sessions

To support organisations with the application process, online information sessions will discuss the program guidelines and provide an opportunity for organisations to ask questions.

For more details, including dates and times, visit the Local Anti-Racism Initiatives Grants Program page.

Contact the department

For more information, help with your application or to check if you have any outstanding final reports related to funding administered by the Victorian Government, email antiracism.strategy@dpc.vic.gov.au.

Please allow up to two days for someone to respond to your request. The inbox is checked Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.

More information

How to check your Australian Business Number (ABN)

• Visit the Australian Business Register (ABR)

How to check your organisation type

• For incorporated associations, co-operatives or organisations incorporated through other means, go to Consumer Affairs Victoria.
• For a Company Limited by Guarantee, go to ASIC Connect.
• For registered charities, go to Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).
• For First Peoples corporations registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006, go to Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC).

Definitions

Anti-racism

The work of actively opposing racism by advocating for changes in political, economic and social life to eliminate structures, policies and practices that cause and perpetuate racial inequality.[1]

Community-controlled organisation

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community control is an act of self-determination. Under Clause 44 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled Organisation delivers services, including land and resource management that builds the strength and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and people and is:

• incorporated under relevant legislation and not-for-profit
• controlled and operated by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
• connected to the community, or communities, in which they deliver the services
• governed by a majority Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander governing body.[2]

Cultural safety

An approach to providing services by creating an environment where First Peoples, multicultural and multifaith people can receive care and support without assault, challenge or denial of their identity and experience.[3] This involves learning from and relating respectfully to people from communities to provide culturally appropriate care and support.[4]

Discrimination

Unfair or unequal treatment of a person or group of people because of a personal characteristic that is protected by law. It is against the law to discriminate against a person in areas of public life, including in workplaces, schools, government services and taking part in community activities.

First Peoples

All Traditional Owners of a place (including family and clan groups) and their ancestors. Also, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who live or lived in what we now call Australia in the time before or since the start of colonisation.[5]

In-kind contribution

An in-kind contribution is a contribution of a good or a service to the event other than money, that would normally have a financial value. Some examples include:

• volunteer labour
• donated goods (e.g. event space, equipment or food)
• donated services (e.g. project management or security).

Intersectionality

Intersectionality recognises that people may experience overlapping forms of inequality, discrimination and disadvantage based on a range of attributes. These attributes can include Aboriginality, ethnicity, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, class, socioeconomic status, language, migration status and religion. This shapes peoples’ experiences, opportunities and life outcomes.

An intersectional approach to anti-racism recognises that people who have multiple attributes experience unique forms of racism because disadvantage and discrimination are compounded. It looks at ways to address racism through actions that respond to the needs of people based on the whole person rather than the single attribute of race or ethnicity.

LGBTIQA+

An acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex, queer and asexual people.

Lived experience

Personal knowledge gained through direct, firsthand involvement in everyday events rather than through assumptions and constructs from other people, research or media.

Multicultural

A term used to describe people or groups of people who belong to the many cultural, racial and ethnic groups in Victoria.

Multicultural community organisation

An organisation that is owned, governed, and primarily led by members from one or more specific cultural, racial, ethnic, or language community that has common needs, customs, and traditions. The organisation will have a primary purpose to support people from the cultural, racial, ethnic, or language group or several related groups.

Multifaith

Used to encompass the vast number of diverse faith groups in Victoria. Faith refers to a group that share their own religion, spirituality and traditions.

Multifaith community organisation

A faith-based organisation that is owned, governed, and primarily led by a specific faith community and has common religious beliefs, practices, and values.

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.

Racism

Beliefs, behaviours, systems and structures in a society that cause unfair and unequal distribution in power, resources and opportunities between racial or ethnic groups. Racism includes beliefs, stereotypes, prejudices or discrimination at the personal, institutional and societal levels.

Racism, structural

Racism that is entrenched in a society between institutions and individuals.

Social enterprise

Social enterprises are companies that:

• are led by an economic, social, cultural, or environmental mission consistent with a public or community benefit
• derive a substantial portion of their income from trade
• reinvest the majority of their profit/surplus in the fulfilment of their mission (at least 50%).