MFE program acronyms and definitions

ABN	Australian Business Number
ABR	Australian Business Register
Acknowledgement of country	It's a way of showing awareness of, and respect for, the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of the land where a meeting or event is held. An Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners can be done by anyone.
ACNC	Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission
Auspice arrangement	An auspice arrangement is when a larger organisation partners with a smaller organisation to fund a grant activity or event. The larger organisation is known as the auspice organisation. Your organisation or community group is known as the grant recipient.
Auspice organisation	An auspice organisation is an organisation who manages grant funding on another organisation's behalf. This will include taking responsibility to: sign the grant agreement take legal and financial responsibility of the grant on your organisation’s behalf receive and distribute grant funds under the grant agreement ensure all grant activities or events are completed submit accountability and evaluation reports on your organisation’s behalf.
Community organisation	These are not-for-profit organisations that exist to support and improve the well-being of people and communities. They run programs, services or projects that help the community in general, or support groups of people who need extra help because of age, disability, financial situation or social circumstance.
DFFH	Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
DPC	Department of Premier and Cabinet
Eligibility assessment	Checking whether an organisation meets the basic rules or requirements to take part in a program or grant.
Eligible	Your organisation or project meets the rules and requirements to apply for or receive funding.
Funding stream	Funding streams indicate the various funding amounts available for a grant program. Each funding stream may have different eligibility, application and project requirements depending on the funding stream.
GST	Goods and Services Tax
Ineligible	Your organisation does not meet the rules and requirements, so it cannot apply for or receive funding.
In-kind contribution	An in-kind contribution is a contribution of goods or services to your event, other than money, which would normally have a financial value. For examples include: volunteer labour donated goods (such as an event space, equipment, or food) donated services (such as project management or security).
LGA	Local Government Authority
LGBTIQA+	Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and gender diverse, Intersex, Queer, or Asexual
Match funding	Under the large stream, the organisation must financially contribute to the project as well, whether through a dollar or in-kind amount. This is called matched funding.
Merit assessment	Looking at the quality or strengths of an application or idea to decide which ones are the best or most suitable.
MFE	Multicultural Festival and Events
Multicultural	Racially and ethnically diverse people who live in Victoria.
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.
Not-for-profit organisation	An organisation that does not work to make money for its owners or members whether directly or indirectly. A not-for-profit organisation can still make a profit, but this profit must be used to achieve the purposes of the organisation - not given to owners, members or private individuals.
Public companies limited by shares	A type of company that is listed on the stock market and owned by shareholders.
Public liability insurance	Public liability insurance protects your organisation or community group if someone from the public is injured or their property is damaged because of your activities. It helps cover the costs of claims or legal action.
RMFEF	Regional Multicultural Festival and Events Fund
Rural and regional Victoria	These are the five regions listed in the Regional Development Victoria Act 2002: Barwon South West Gippsland Grampians Hume Loddon Mallee
Social enterprise	Social enterprises are organisations that: are led by an economic, social, cultural or environment mission that is consistent with a public or community benefit get most of their income from trade reinvest most their profit or surplus to fulfil their mission (at least 50 per cent)
TAFE	Technical and Further Education
Unincorporated associations	A group of people who come together for a common purpose, like a community group, without becoming a formal legal organisation.
Value of money	All supported costs must show good use of funding. This means the cost should be reasonable, necessary for the event, and provide clear benefit to the community.
VCFA	Victorian Common Funding Agreement
Welcome to country	A Welcome to Country ceremony is performed by Aboriginal Traditional Owners for people visiting their Country. These ceremonies vary from speeches of welcome to traditional dance and smoking ceremonies.

Updated 19 March 2026