The 2024-25 CCIF grant program is an open and competitive program assessed on eligibility and merit. The Multicultural Affairs Division of the Department of Premier and Cabinet (the department) runs the program.
The Victorian Government is committed to building a safe, inclusive, and accessible community that recognises, celebrates, and addresses people’s diverse and intersecting experiences, needs, and identities. The CCIF recognises the importance of upgrading community infrastructure for Victoria's Chinese communities, regardless of background or location.
The assessment process will prioritise applications that clearly show that the proposed project will specifically benefit - regional and/or rural Chinese communities
Priority applications from regional or rural Victorian Chinese communities will automatically receive extra points in the assessment of the application. They will not need to provide matched funding.
The program prioritises regional or rural located projects and organisations because they often:
- are smaller communities
- have more limited access to supporting resources and networks
- have less funds for infrastructure projects.
To claim regional or rural funding priority, applications must confirm the project will be located or delivered in a regional or rural area outside metropolitan Melbourne. Refer to the Regional Development Victoria's list of regional and rural councils for eligible local government areas.
Metropolitan based organisations applying to deliver projects in regional or rural Victoria are also eligible to claim priority and not required to provide matched funding.
Program funding also aims to support diversity among Victoria's Chinese communities and to encourage organisations to take an inclusive and intersectional approach in these projects. There is an expectation that all applicants consider the different needs and experiences of community members including, for example, Chinese Victorian women, seniors, LGBTIQA+ people, youth and children. Applications which clearly outline how their proposed project is inclusive and benefits marginalised groups within the whole community will also be considered positively in assessment.
Regional project example
Total Project Cost: $28,000 / Grant Amount Requested: $28,000
Matched funding: Not required as the project is located in southwest Victoria
Project summary 1
- The carpet in the auditorium of a Chinese community hall in Warrnambool is worn and in disrepair.
- The community hall is a central gathering place for the community where people come together for celebrations and events. The hall plays a pivotal role in sharing local and wider news and information. The hall is open seven days a week.
- The carpet needs replacing to prevent an OHS risk to visitors.
Project outcome 1
- The facility now safely hosts community events and activities for the local Chinese community. It also hosts events from the wider community including lectures, video screenings, public meetings, and live performances.
Not all applications will be successful. Only the most competitive will be offered funding. Successful applications may only be offered part of the funding amount requested.
Applicants can strengthen their applications by responding carefully to all questions in the application form and providing strong evidence of both the need for their project and the project’s expected impact. High scoring applications are likely to:
- Answer all questions, using data to strengthen their response.
- Provide all the mandatory documents and the additional documents (only applications providing all the mandatory documents will be assessed).
- Ensure the required Project Plan document clearly describes the activities for which funding is sought, confirms the selected contractor/s and timelines to do the work and that the Project Plan information matches all the attached mandatory quotes.
- Show strong, regular usage of the project facility by community members and groups (using the mandatory Timetable of Facility Use document).
Key dates and timelines
- Applications open Saturday 21 September 2024
- Submit your application between Saturday 21 September and Monday 2 December 2024
- Applications close at 3:00 pm on Monday 2 December 2024 (late applications will not be accepted).
- Projects receiving a grant of $75,000 or less must complete in under 6 months.
- Projects receiving a grant of over $75,000 must complete in under 12 months.
Information sessions
To support organisations to prepare their applications, the department will hold information sessions delivered as webinars.
All details, including webinar dates and times, are available at the CCIF webpage.
Funding available
- Up to $400,000 is available per project to upgrade, renovate, extend or build community infrastructure.
- Only one application per organisation.
Updated