Victoria Remembers Grant Program

The program guidelines include information about the objectives of the Victoria Remembers Grant Program, eligibility and assessment criteria and activities that can and cannot be funded.

Download and read the program guidelines before you apply:

We prioritise projects that:

• honour, commemorate, or educate about veterans’ service in effective ways
• target veterans who are:
  • women
  • First Nations
  • LGBTIQA+
  • from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD)
  • veterans with disability
  • veterans who have experienced negative impact of service to their mental health
• focus on post-1990 Australian Defence Force operations
• create and expand collaborative partnerships.

We will not fund applications for projects that:

• have already started
• start before 1 January 2027
• are submitted:
  • with incomplete documentation
  • with misleading information
  • after the closing date.
• Organisations that receive revenue from electronic gaming are ineligible to apply.
  

Eligibility overview

To be eligible to apply for funding through Victoria Remembers:

• Your application must be submitted by an eligible organisation.
• Your organisation must not have outstanding reports from previous or current grants funded via the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (the department)
• you must be seeking funding for an eligible activity.

Organisation eligibility

To be eligible to apply for a grant, your organisation must be an incorporated not-for-profit community organisation (or other form of legal entity) and have:

• a current Australian Business Number (ABN)
• no outstanding final reports from previous state government funded grants.

Organisations that do not meet these criteria are not eligible to apply for funding but might consider partnering with an eligible organisation under an auspice arrangement. Information on auspice arrangements is provided in the next section.

If you do not have an ABN, you must provide written advice from the Australian Taxation Office that no withholding tax is required from the grant payment.

Your organisation must also be:

• a company incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 and registered as not-for-profit through the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), or
• an organisation incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012, Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) or equivalent state legislation.

If your organisation is unincorporated, you can arrange for an incorporated organisation to act as an auspice on your behalf.

Or, unincorporated organisations are eligible if they are:

• a government entity, for example a local council
• a social enterprise with a clearly stated purpose or mission that specifically relates to the welfare and wellbeing of veterans. Social enterprises must attach their constitution with their application.

A social enterprise is an organisation that has an economic, social, cultural or environmental mission consistent with a public or community benefit; and operates by one of the following impact models:

• employment-generating: creates employment and training opportunities for marginalised people
• community need: delivers accessible products and services to meet community needs that are not met by the market
• profit redistribution: donates at least 50% of profits or revenue to charity.

Social enterprises must submit their constitution and proof of their social enterprise impact model.

Besides all the above, to be eligible, your organisation must:

• show that your main activity is providing welfare or wellbeing services or supports to the ex-service community in Victoria
• be financially solvent
• be based in Australia. Note: funded projects must be delivered in Victoria.

Check your Australian Business Number (ABN)

To check your ABN, visit the Australian Business Register (ABR).

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 Online
• For registered charities go to Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
• For Aboriginal corporations go to Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC).

To check if your organisation is up to date on reporting requirements, please view your current grants in the Grants Gateway.

Any report which is showing as red is overdue. These reports must be completed before you submit your application to this grant program to avoid disappointment.

Alternatively, email veteransgrants@dffh.vic.gov.au to check whether your organisation is up to date with grant reporting requirements.

Ineligible organisations

Organisations that cannot apply include:

• state and federal government departments
• individuals and sole traders
• public companies limited by shares – unless the foundational document can prove not-for-profit status
• commercial enterprises
• organisations that have failed to comply with the terms and conditions of previously awarded grants from any Department of Families, Fairness and Housing grant program
• groups whose projects are the responsibility of another Victorian government department
• hospitals and health service organisations.

Funding for this grant comes from the Community Support Fund. This means organisations that receive revenue from electronic gaming are ineligible to apply.

Auspice arrangements

If your organisation is not incorporated or does not have an ABN, you may consider partnering with another organisation that meets these eligibility criteria who 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, the application must include:

• a letter of support from the auspice organisation (a mandatory document for all applications with auspice arrangements).
• a memorandum of understanding outlining roles and responsibilities between the two organisations.

More information on auspice arrangements is available from the Grants Gateway.

From 1 January 2025, organisations that are not registered for GST can use grant funds to cover the cost of GST from goods and services bought with the department’s grant funds. These organisations should provide GST inclusive costs in their grant application and acquittal report. GST registered organisations should continue to show GST exclusive costs in their application and all reporting.

More information, including what this means for your grant application, is available from the Grants Gateway.

What can be funded?

Examples of projects we might fund include:

New war memorials:

• for districts without an adequate existing memorial
• that commemorate the service or sacrifice of veterans in a specific battle or campaign relevant to a local area, and which does not already exist in Victoria
• in honour of individuals awarded the Victoria Cross
• creative or modern interpretation of a memorial.

Commemorative events:

• that commemorate major or significant anniversaries, for example every 5th or 10th year anniversary. Lower priority may be given to other anniversaries.
• that honour or commemorate service and sacrifice of Victorian veterans
• that are of local or regional significance
• encourage school students or children to attend.

Public education projects:

• that educate Victorians about the service and sacrifice of veterans
• that use digital forms of storytelling, for example websites, podcasts, short films. These may be given a higher priority.
  • note: applications for digital publications that include evidence of diverse and broad distribution channels

Preservation of wartime heritage:

• that preserves war heritage for future generations
• for expert assessment or materials to conserve objects of demonstrated historical significance
• that increase public access to heritage by creating displays.

Note: Memorabilia displays should be publicly accessible.

Please note:

• If you are unsure about whether a cost could be supported under Victoria Remembers, please contact the Veterans Grants team before submitting your application.
• You may be offered a smaller funding amount than you applied for. We may ask for a revised project plan and budget.

Components that require additional information

Catering

Catering may only be funded if you meet all of the following criteria:

• it is required to facilitate attendance or participation of veterans, their families or other groups targeted by this grant program
• not providing catering would prevent veterans, their families or other groups targeted by this grant program from participating
• it would be reasonably expected. For example:
  • for multi-day or overnight activities
  • activities that run for multiple hours over mealtimes.
• it is at a reasonable cost
• no alcohol is provided
• it forms a small part of your overall project budget.

Catering will not be funded for:

• launch or promotional events
• events of less than three hours
• staff
• gatherings or events that would otherwise already take place. For example, a commemorative event guests attend regularly, or a meal served after a commemorative service
• events or activities that would otherwise be ineligible for funding under the guidelines. For example, conferences, reunions, or general social gatherings.

If you seek funding for catering, your application must include:

• how the components will support participation of veterans, their families or other groups targeted by this grant program
• why catering is necessary. For example, if the event has been run before, include why catering is required and the outcome it will have
• how many people the catering will serve, and how many are veterans
• the cost of catering per person
• itemised quotes.
  

Ineligible projects include:

• projects located outside Victoria or on Defence land
• buying or restoring:
  • weapons
  • decommissioned military assets and armoured vehicles
• landscape beautification and cosmetic improvements
• university research projects
• buying vehicles, for example:
  • cars
  • buses
• administrative costs
• printing, publishing, postage or advertising
• equipment that will not be primarily used by veterans (for example, office equipment for administrative purposes, or a coffee machine that will be used by employees). This includes:
  • IT equipment. For example, laptops, computers, peripheral devices
  • white goods and small appliances. For example, fridges, ovens, dishwashers or coffee machines
• salary costs of existing staff or staff who do not deliver the funded activity
• utilities, ongoing routine operating and maintenance costs
• veterans’ reunions and conferences
• personal memoirs, unit or ship histories
• functions and event catering in most instances
• interstate and overseas travel.

Also, Victoria Remembers does not support activities that:

• are within the responsibility of another state, federal, local government program
• have already started or been completed, including:
  • any activities undertaken before notification of the application outcome (initial concept planning is expected for major projects)
• are private sector projects undertaken because of a Victorian Government contract
• are delivered outside Victoria
• applications that do not include all required documents
• projects that are eligible under other Victorian Government veterans grant programs, for details see Grants to support and commemorate veterans on the Victorian Government website. This includes:
  • repair and restoration of existing war memorials (for these projects see Restoring Community Memorials and Avenues of Honour Program)
  • capital works projects (for these projects see Veterans Capital Works Grant Program).

You need to submit the following mandatory documents with your application:

• evidence that your organisation is one of the following:
  • ex-service organisation
  • local government authority
  • not-for-profit organisation
  • educational institute.
• a detailed budget and quotes for your activity. Your budget must be itemised and specify how funding will be used.
• annual statement:
  • provide your organisation’s financial information over a 12-month period. We need this to make sure your organisation is viable and financially responsible.
  • if you are an incorporated association, submit your most recent Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) annual statement
  • if you are registered charity, submit your most recent Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) annual information statement
  • if you are a social enterprise, submit your organisation’s profit and loss figures for the previous financial or calendar year. This must have been sighted and reviewed by 2 committee members or audited by an accountant.

If you are unable to attach your financial statement as submitted to either ACNC or CAV, you must attach:

• the financial report that was tabled at your organisation’s most recent annual general meeting. This document must show that the financial report was sighted and reviewed by 2 committee members.

Other mandatory documents (if relevant to your project) include:

• evidence that any project income from other sources is approved and available before submitting your application
• auspice applications must provide a letter of support from the auspice organisation
• letters of support from other organisations, agencies or partners involved in your project.

Please note:

• You can attach documents to your online application. Check carefully to make sure all attachments are uploaded before you submit your application.
• Uploaded attachments must be renamed to reflect the question or required filed. For example:
  • 12 month financial statement.doc
  • Budget item 1_Memorabilia displays.pdf
  • Auspice Arrangement.pdf
• If you have trouble uploading documents online, you can email them to the Veterans Grants team veteransgrants@dffh.vic.gov.au. Make sure you include your application number with the email. You must submit all documents before the closing date.
• You do not need to provide letters of support from government officials or representatives. For example, your local Member of Parliament or councillor. We do not consider these in the assessment process.

All applications to the Victoria Remembers Grant Program undergo the following assessment process:

• Eligibility assessment – all applications undergo an eligibility assessment against the eligibility criteria. The eligibility assessment determines whether the application should proceed to the merit assessment stage.
• Merit assessment – eligible applications are assessed against the assessment criteria, based on responses you provide on the application form.
• Assessment panel – all applications are reviewed by a panel, which includes representatives from the Victorian Veterans Council.
• Ministerial approval – the Minister for Veterans makes the final decision based on the recommendations from the assessment panel.
• Application outcome – all applicants are notified of the outcome of their application by email.

All decisions are final. This includes decisions about any aspect of the:

• funding application
• eligibility or assessment process, including:
  • any decision to offer or award a grant under Victoria remembers
  • any decision to withdraw the offer or cancel the grant funding agreement.

Merit assessment

Eligible applications are assessed on merit. We use the following assessment criteria.

We will ask ‘what, why, how and who’ to determine the benefits the project provides to veterans and the wider Victorian community.

• What is the project?
  • Describe the project and how it will educate Victorians or commemorate veterans’ service.
  • How is your organisation making a difference for veterans and their families?
• Why is there a need for the project?
  • Who will benefit from your project?
  • How many unique veterans will be supported by your project?
  • Is your project addressing a priority cohort? If so, which one(s)?
  • How many unique veterans in priority cohorts will be supported by your project?
  • Why is your project necessary?
  • What will happen if the project is not funded?
  • If your project is education based, who and how many people will it reach?
  • If your project is to honour and commemorate veterans’ service, how will it achieve this?
• How have you planned for the project and what steps will you take to deliver it?
  • When do you expect the project to start?
  • How will the project be delivered?
  • How will you promote the project? For example, how will you promote your new memorial or education program?
  • Does the project require any approvals permits or other permissions?
• How will you manage the project?
  • Will staff or volunteers manage the project?
  • Do you have the capacity to complete the project in 12 months?
  • Do you need to consult with others to deliver this project?
• How much will the project cost?
  • Have you provided an accurate budget and quotes for your project?
  • Does your budget match the amounts in the quotes?
  • Have you shown your project can be delivered with the amount of funding you have asked for?

19 June 2026

Guidelines released: start preparing your application

• Download and read the program guidelines
• Make sure you meet the eligibility criteria
• Access and read our online grant resources
• Seek an auspice arrangement if required
• Start early to allow time to get necessary:
  • information
  • agreements
  • documents.
• Download a PDF copy of your application to review and prepare your responses.
• Contact us if you have any questions.
• Email the Veterans Grants team: veteransgrants@dffh.vic.gov.au

19 June 2026 to 28 July 2026

Application submission period

• Register or log in to the Grants Gateway.
• You must be authorised by the organisation to submit the application.
• Upload and submit all mandatory and supporting documents with your application.
• Submit the application by the due date and time.
• You will receive acknowledgement of submission via email.
• Note the application number for reference when contacting us about your application.

5 pm 28 July 2026

Applications close

• We do not consider late or incomplete applications.
• We will assess your application within 2 months of the closing date.

We will give you written notification of the outcome of your application.

If you are successful, we will tell you about any specific conditions attached to the grant. We will publish details about your project, including its name, description and grant amount, on this webpage.

If you are unsuccessful, you may ask us for feedback about your application.

Funding agreements

If successful, you must enter a legally binding Funding Agreement with the Department of Families Fairness and Housing within by the milestone date set in the Activity Deliverables and Payments Table of your VCFA. If a funding offer is not accepted during this period, it may be withdrawn.

The Funding Agreement will be based on the Victorian Common Funding Agreement (VCFA). The VCFA outlines:

• the grant’s terms and conditions, including use of funds
• key deliverables and due dates
• reporting requirements
• Acknowledgement and Publicity Guidelines.

You need to deliver the funded activity as set out in the Funding Agreement. You also need to meet all reporting and other requirements on time. For more information, visit the VCFA  webpage.

If your application is successful, your organisation’s name and key project details such as project name, description and grant amount will be published on this webpage and included in the department’s Annual Report.

Payment of grant funds and reporting requirements

The department pays successful organisations on completion of agreed project milestones and deliverables outlined in the Funding Agreement.

Milestone payments are made via electronic funds transfer (EFT) once deliverables are met, in line with the VCFA.

You must use all funds during the activity period, as outlined in the VCFA. You must notify the department of any unspent funds.

Goods and services tax (GST)

• GST is paid if the grant is funding a good or service, and if the recipient organisation is registered for GST.
• GST is not paid if the recipient organisation is not registered for GST.
• GST is not paid if the recipient organisation is a government entity (e.g., school, local council).
• GST is not paid if the grant is not funding a good and/or service.

Organisations that are not registered for GST can use grant funds to cover the cost of GST from goods and services purchased with the department’s grant funds. Further information, including what this means for your grant application is available from the Grants Gateway.

Funding acknowledgement

Successful applicants must acknowledge that funding for the project came from the Victorian Government and the Victorian Veterans Council (VVC) as detailed in the Acknowledgement and Publicity Guidelines.

You must include the appropriate logos on any activity-related publications and websites, media releases and promotional materials, project hardware and formal event invitations.

You must formally invite the Victorian Government and the VVC to attend any official events related to the project (for example, a project launch or exhibition). We will send you the acknowledgement requirements if your project is funded.

Legal responsibilities

If you apply for a grant, you must make sure the project activity follows relevant:

• legislation
• regulations
• by-laws
• codes.

It must also meet the requirements of any:

• Commonwealth
• state
• territory
• local authority.

It is your responsibility to know the laws and protocols that regulate your work.

Funded events

Events funded by the department must be respectful and open to all Victorian communities to attend.

Please make sure that your event is inclusive and consider an Acknowledgement of Country or Welcome to Country, the accessibility of your event and its environmental impact.

Email the Veterans Grants team at veteransgrants@dffh.vic.gov.au with your query. You can also request a call back (during business hours).

If you need an interpreter: Please email the Veterans Grants team at veteransgrants@dffh.vic.gov.au to request a call back, let us know your preferred language.

If you need help with communication, contact us through the National Relay Service (NRS). For more information:

• visit National Relay Service(opens in a new window) to choose your preferred access point, or
• call the NRS Helpdesk on 1800 555 660.

Online grant resources

Visit the Applying and reporting veterans grants website for resources on:

• how to write a grant application
• how to access the department’s Grants Gateway
• common grants words and terms
• in-kind contributions
• auspice arrangements and how to know if you need one.

Subscribe to our newsletter

For updates on upcoming grant rounds, subscribe to the Veterans Grants email newsletter.