Bushfire Recovery Grants for Local Government Authorities and Community Service Organisations

This program aims to help Councils, charities and community organisations support recovery, redevelopment and resilience after the 2019-20 Victorian Bushfires, and to build capacity and preparedness for the future. It is within the $35 million Community Recovery and Resilience Grants Initiative which aims to provide financial support to locally-led and responsive programs that support the recovery of communities in Victoria's bushfire affected regions.

The initiative forms part of the $86 million Victorian Bushfires Community Recovery Package, jointly funded through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), which are the Commonwealth-State cost-sharing arrangements for providing financial support for relief and recovery activities resulting from natural disasters and terrorist acts.

The objectives of the Community Recovery and Resilience Grants Initiative are to:
- Improve community connectedness and cohesion.
- Support community development.
- Strengthen communities’ resilience against natural disaster.
- Build community capability and capacity for recovery.
- Empower communities to lead and direct their recovery process.

Grants of up to $500,000 are available.

A total funding pool of $7.5 million is available.

Eligible applicants must:
- Be either:
a) A Local Government Authority (LGAs), including LGA managed, operated, administered and regulated trusts.
b) A community service organisation (association, cooperative or not-for-profit) operating in Victoria that is an incorporated legal entity under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), or the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2001 (Vic) or the Corporation (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth).
- Have a current Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Have no outstanding final reports or final reports required for any previous Government grant programs.

Applications are strongly encouraged from the following:
- New and emerging social enterprises
- Aboriginal community-controlled organisations

Please refer to the Guidelines for the complete eligibility requirements.

Eligible projects must support the objectives of the Community Recovery and Resilience Grants initiative including (but are not limited to):
- Employment of a community recovery or development officer to enhance direct service delivery to bushfire affected communities.
- Delivery of recovery activities and services, such as those for affected young people, the elderly or multicultural communities.
- Activities and measures that build community resilience in future disasters.
- Economic development initiatives, such as local business capacity building.

The main assessment criteria include:
- Number of objectives of the Community Recovery and Resilience Grants Initiative the event meets and the extent to which those objectives are met. (30%)
- The direct benefits to bushfire affected communities, including community participation and accessibility. (25%)
- The extent to which the project: (25%)
a) Is delivery ready, supported by a clear approach and realistic timeframes.
b) Is financially viable, based on sound cost estimates and represents value for money.
c) Sources materials and resources to deliver the project which strengthens and delivers economic benefits for bushfire affected communities.    
- The direct impacts of the 2019-20 Victorian Bushfires on the community. (20%)

The following are ineligible for funding:
- State and Federal Government departments and agencies.
- Individuals and sole traders.
- Unincorporated community organisations.
- Commercial enterprises.
- Fixed trusts.
- Registered primary and secondary schools, preschools, TAFE institutes and universities (can act as an auspice).
- Commercial enterprises are not eligible to apply for a grant alone (they can partner with an organisation as a sponsor and only provide contributions).
- Offsetting of salaries, operating costs for existing staff or contractors.
- Feasibility studies, business plans, cost benefit analysis and economic impact studies.
- Projects that may have a negative impact on existing businesses/services.
- Passing on funding to a third party in the form of a sponsorship or grant.
- Retrospective funding for projects that have commenced activity or construction or are completed before the funding is approved.
- The purchase or land or buildings.
- The cost of works or activities covered by insurance.