Victoria Remembers Grant Program

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

Download the program guidelines before you apply:

We will prioritise projects that:

• honour, commemorate and/or educate about veterans’ service in effective ways
• target veterans who are women, First Nations, LGBTIQA+ and/or from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD) and 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.

Projects should be able to:

• be completed within 12 months of the signed agreement date.
• include in-kind contributions, particularly from organisations with multiple or commercial revenue streams. Higher contributions may be looked at more favourably.

Be aware that:

• you cannot apply for funding if your project has already commenced or will commence before the anticipated announcement date of November 2024.
• success of previous funding is not indicative of future funding through this program.
• incomplete or incorrect applications will not be considered.

To be eligible to apply for funding through Victoria Remembers:

• your application must be submitted by an eligible organisation (refer to the ‘Who is eligible to apply for a grant?’ section)
• your organisation must have no 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 (refer to ‘What can the grant money be used for?’ section)

Who is eligible to apply for a grant?

To be eligible for this program, your organisation must have a valid Australian Business Number (ABN).

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, 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 (refer to the ‘Auspice applications’ section).

Alternatively, unincorporated organisations are eligible if they are:

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

Social enterprises are defined as:

• having an economic, social, cultural or environmental mission consistent with a public or community benefit
• deriving a substantial portion of their income from trade
• reinvesting the majority of their profit/surplus in the fulfilment of their mission (at least 50 per cent).

In addition to all of 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 (funded projects must be delivered in Victoria).

Who is not eligible to apply for a grant?

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 organisation

Funding for this grant comes from the Community Support Fund. This means organisations that receive revenue from electronic gaming are not eligible to apply.

Examples of projects we might fund include the following:

• 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.
• 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/children to attend.
• Public education projects
  • applications for digital publications that include evidence of diverse and broad distribution channels.
  • 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.
• 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.

Please note:

• Memorabilia displays should be publicly accessible.

Ineligible projects include:

• repair and restoration of existing war memorials – the Restoring Community Memorials and Avenues of Honour Program is for these projects
• capital works, maintenance or repairs to buildings and office equipment – the Capital Works Grants Program is for these projects
• projects located outside Victoria or on Defence land
• purchase or restoration of weapons or decommissioned military assets and armoured vehicles
• ongoing staffing, administrative, office or equipment costs (for example, IT equipment, musical instruments, sporting equipment, white goods and coffee machines)
• landscape beautification and cosmetic improvements
• university research projects
• administrative, advertising or office equipment purchasing costs (for example, computers, printers, white goods)
• purchase of vehicles (for example, cars, buses)
• veterans’ reunions and conferences
• personal memoirs, unit/ship histories
• functions and event catering
• interstate and overseas travel
• printing costs
• publishing of books.

In addition, Victoria Remembers does not support activities that:

• are funded primarily under another state, federal or local government program
• are within the responsibility of another state, federal or local government program
• have already started or have been completed (including any activities undertaken prior to the notification of the application outcome)
• are private sector projects undertaken because of a Victorian Government contract.

Please note:

• If you are unsure about whether a cost can be supported under Victoria Remembers, please contact the Veterans Grants team (refer to the ‘For more information and assistance’ section) 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.

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
• annual statement
  • evidence of your organisation’s financial information over a 12-month period. We need this to make sure your organisation is viable and financially responsible.
• evidence that any project income from other sources is approved and available prior to submitting your application
• auspice applications must provide the signed Accepting an Auspice Arrangement form from the auspice organisation

• letters of support from other organisations, agencies or partners involved in your project.

Please note that:

• You can attach documents to your online application. Check carefully to make sure all attachments have been uploaded before you submit your application.
• If you have trouble uploading documents online, you can send them by email to veteransgrants@dffh.vic.gov.au. Make sure you include your application number with the email. You must submit all documents before the due 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 will not consider these in the assessment process.

We will look at how your project will benefit the ex-service and wider Victorian community.

This includes:

• how it provides an opportunity to honour and commemorate the service and sacrifice of veterans
• how it educates Victorians about the contribution made by veterans in their service to the nation and state
• how the project will be delivered, the budget and who will be involved
• who will benefit from your project.

Your application will be assessed competitively against other applications. Please note the following:

• Applications will be assessed during the two months after the closing date.
• We may contact you if we need more information.
• We will notify successful and unsuccessful grant applicants in writing.
• Successful grant applicants will be required to enter into a common funding agreement (CFA) with the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.
• Project deliverables, milestone dates and payments will be included in the CFA.

You should not have any expectation of receiving ongoing annual funding.

All decisions are final. This includes decisions about any aspect of the funding application, eligibility and assessment process, including any decision to offer or award a grant under Victoria Remembers or to withdraw the offer or cancel the grant funding agreement.

Merit Assessment

Eligible applications will be assessed on merit. We will use the assessment criteria below.

How the project commemorates veterans and/or how it educates Victorians about veterans’ contributions

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, and/or commemorate veterans’ service.
• Why is there a need for the activity?
  • tell us who will benefit from your project.
  • if your project is education based, please provide details of who and how many people will be reached as an audience of the project.
  • if your project is to honour and commemorate veterans’ service, please explain how your project will achieve this.
  • explain why your project is necessary.
• How have you planned the project and what steps will you take?
  • when do you expect the project to commence?
  • how will the project be delivered?
  • what is the budget for your project?
• Who will manage the project?
  • will staff or volunteers manage the project?
  • where relevant, list any other organisations or agencies that will work with you on the project and attach support letters.
  • do you have the capacity to complete the project in 12 months?
  • do you need to consult with others for this project?

• Register or log in to the Grants Gateway to complete an application.
• Applications must be completed by a person authorised to submit on behalf of the applicant organisation.
• You can save your application as a draft and resume it later.
• Submit all mandatory and supporting documents with the 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.

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 the Victoria Remembers website.

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

Successful grant recipients

Funding agreement

If you are successful, your organisation must sign a Victorian common funding agreement (VCFA) with the department. You must enter into this agreement within 30 days of your funding offer. If you do not accept the agreement during this period, the grant may be withdrawn.

The funding agreement will outline:

• the grant terms and conditions, including use of funds
• key deliverables and due dates
• reporting requirements.

If you need to request a variation to the VCFA or ask for a reporting extension, email the veteransgrants@dffh.vic.gov.au.

Payment of grant funds and reporting requirement

If you are successful, we will pay your organisation when you complete the project milestones and deliverables you agreed to in the VCFA.

We make milestone payments via electronic funds transfer once you meet the deliverables set out in the VCFA.

You must use all funds during the activity period, as outlined in the VCFA. You must return any unspent funds to the Office for Veterans.

Goods and Services Tax (GST)

• We will pay GST if the grant is funding a good or service, and if the recipient organisation is registered for GST.
• We will not pay GST if the recipient organisation is not registered for GST.
• We will not pay GST if the recipient organisation is a government entity (for example, school, local council).
• We will not pay GST if the grant is not funding a good and/or service.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) considers grants and sponsorships as taxable income. The ATO can help with information on tax, including GST. Call 13 28 66 or visit the ATO for further information.

Funding agreements

If you are successful, you will be required to enter into a Common Funding Agreement with the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing that sets out the terms and conditions along with reporting requirements of the grant.

It may not be possible to fund all projects for which applications are submitted. You may however be offered a smaller funding amount than applied for in your application. In this instance, a revised project plan and budget may be requested.

The project must be completed within the time-frame specified in the funding agreement. Any variation or extension to an approved activity must be requested in writing and submitted to the Office for Veterans for approval prior to implementation.

Funds must be spent on the project as described in the application and Common Funding Agreement and any unspent funds must be returned to the Office for Veterans.

A Final Report is required to acquit the grant.

Reports

If you are successful in receiving funding, your organisation will need to submit a final report and financial acquittal. You may also need to provide progress reports for complex or high-value projects.

Funding acknowledgement

Successful applicants must acknowledge that funding for the project came from the Victorian Government and the Victorian Veterans Council (VVC).

The VCFA sets out guidelines around promotion. These include a requirement that all activities must acknowledge support from Victorian Government and VVC. 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 ensure the project activity follows relevant legislation, regulations, by-laws and codes. It must also meet the requirements of any Commonwealth, state, territory or local authority. It is your responsibility to know the laws and protocols that regulate your work.

Contact Us

• Phone the Grants information hotline on 1300 366 356.
• 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, advising us of your preferred language.

If you are deaf, hearing impaired or speech impaired: Please email the Veterans Grants team at veteransgrants@dffh.vic.gov.au to request a call back and tell us the National Relay Service you would like us to use to contact you.

Access 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.