Eligible grant activities – what will be funded
Grant activities that are eligible for funding include:
- construction, trades and works to create a new Chinese community facility
- construction, trades and works on an existing Chinese community facility including:
- maintenance – painting, tiling or structural repairs such as roofing, plumbing or flooring works
- upgrades – kitchen or bathroom upgrades and energy-efficiency improvements such as solar power or double glazing
- renovations – alterations, extensions or internal remodelling to improve accessibility or create new rooms, kitchen or bathroom replacement, and heating and cooling systems
- security elements – CCTV installation, securing doors or windows, security lighting, facade works, fencing and perimeter security
- outdoor areas – staging, pergolas, playgrounds, fencing and garden beds (note: plants are ineligible)
- pre-construction activities for a new or existing Chinese community facility such as:
- feasibility studies
- business case development
- conceptual design
- architectural or planning-related works (excluding planning permit or building permit application fees or tribunal costs)
- project management costs paid to a professional contractor (using up to 10 per cent of the total grant amount requested) – these require a quote from a professional consultant and cannot be from a staff member.
Any fixed assets to be bought with the grant funding must be clearly listed in the application form and are subject to the department’s approval. It is important to note that:
- Assets must be closely related to the facility’s use.
- Acceptable assets are fixed, non-transferable and part of the fabric of the building.
- Assets cannot total more than 40 per cent of the overall grant amount requested (with the exception of energy sustainability or efficiency projects where the 40 per cent asset cap is not applied).
Possible Project Examples
Project example 2
Total Project Cost: $120,000 / Grant Amount Requested: $80,000 / Match funding: $40,000
Project summary 2
- An upgrade of the kitchen in the existing facility leased by the Chinese Victorian community in Springvale
- The kitchen was cramped and outdated, restricting the number of people who could use the facility at one time.
Project outcome 2
- The renovation has improved the kitchen’s layout to allow more access for community members and new larger hobs, oven, dishwasher and waste system support higher capacity cooking for larger events. It now offers greater capacity to support events and cultural festivals.
- Several local community groups have already expressed an interest in increasing their use of the upgraded kitchen.
Project example 3
Total Project Cost: $2,400,000 / Grant Amount Requested: $400,000 / Match funding: $2,000,000
Project summary 3
- Construction of a communal facility for women to create an environment for the women to socialise, seek support, access education and make new connections.
- The organisation has an existing facility on a large block of land but wants to construct an additional facility on that land to create a facility offering a range of programs and services for the women in the community including a drop-in service and advice on childcare.
- Thanks to a donation and their own fundraising, the organisation has most of the money needed to fund the construction and has also completed town planning.
Project outcome 3
- The newly constructed facility now runs weekly language lessons, offers a VCAL program and a homework club including a series of health education programs. It does this in partnership with the local medical practice.
- The organisation offers cooking lessons and workshops. It also provides food relief and is now exploring options to establish a women-run social enterprise.
- The organisation can now run daily mothers’ groups and talking circles.
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