Proceeds of Crime Act 2002
Section 298 Programmes of Expenditure
Safer Streets Programme
2015-16 to 2017-18
GUIDELINES FOR FUNDING
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH AUSTRALASIA &
YOUTH OFF THE STREETS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
....................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 ................................................................................................................................... 1
Section 298 Programmes of Expenditure .............................................................................................................. 1
Safer Streets Programme 2015-16 to 2017-18 ...................................................................................................... 1
GUIDELINES FOR FUNDING .................................................................................................................................... 1
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH AUSTRALASIA & YOUTH OFF THE STREETS ............................................................... 1
INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................................... 4
GRANT PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES AND KEY PRINCIPLES ...................................................................................... 4
Neighbourhood Watch Australasia (NHWA) ...................................................................................................... 4
Youth Off the Streets Incorporated (YOTS) ........................................................................................................ 4
GRANT LIMITS AND FUNDING PERIOD .................................................................................................................. 5
ELIGIBILITY .............................................................................................................................................................. 5
What organisations are eligible to apply? ......................................................................................................... 5
What is eligible for funding? .............................................................................................................................. 6
What is not eligible for funding? ........................................................................................................................ 6
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS ........................................................................................................................ 6
APPLICATION AND ASSESSMENT PROCESS ............................................................................................................ 6
SELECTION CRITERIA .............................................................................................................................................. 7
Eligibility criteria ................................................................................................................................................. 7
Assessment criteria ............................................................................................................................................ 7
FUNDING AGREEMENT (Managing the project) .................................................................................................... 8
CONFLICT OF INTEREST .......................................................................................................................................... 9
PRIVACY ................................................................................................................................................................ 10
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ............................................................................................................................... 10
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TAXATION ............................................................................................................................................................. 10
COMPLAINTS MECHANISM .................................................................................................................................. 11
CONTACT DETAILS ................................................................................................................................................ 12
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INTRODUCTION
The Safer Streets Programme implements the Government’s $50 million commitment to deliver effective
solutions to areas experiencing problems with criminal or anti-social behaviour through a grants programme
focused on improving community safety through crime prevention. The programme will deliver initiatives in
areas identified as having a crime or anti-social behaviour problem, to prevent, deter and detect crime.
The Safer Streets Programme is being conducted as a crime prevention measure under section 298 of the
Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA).
GRANT PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES AND KEY PRINCIPLES
The Safer Streets Programme aims to enhance community safety and security, both in real terms by reducing
street crime, violence and anti-social behaviour and through increased perception of safety in the
community. This will reduce fear of crime and increase feelings of safety in the Australian community,
contributing to greater community resilience.
The Safer Streets Programme provides non-recurrent funding for time-limited crime prevention projects.
Information about projects previously funded under the POCA is available at www.crimeprevention.gov.au.
Under these guidelines, the Safer Streets Programme will make funding available to two organisations to
support community-based crime prevention initiatives - Neighbourhood Watch Australasia (NHWA) and
Youth Off the Streets Incorporated (YOTS).
Neighbourhood Watch Australasia (NHWA)
Funding is available for NHWA to support community-based crime prevention initiatives, delivered either
directly or through increasing the capacity of the state and territory Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) groups.
NHWA is a unique organisation that supports the crime prevention efforts of state and territory-based NHW
groups. NHWA is the overarching organisational body, coordinating and supporting state and territory NHW
programs across Australia. As no other organisations are positioned to provide this role a non-competitive
selection process is being used for this granting activity.
NHWA’s national office was formally established in 2012 using funding from a previous grant under
section 298 of POCA.
Youth Off the Streets Incorporated (YOTS)
Funding is available for youth outreach initiatives of YOTS, a non-denominational organisation working with
young people aged 12-25 facing challenges including homelessness, drug dependency, mental illness and
isolation which can lead to disengagement and criminal offending. The organisation delivers outreach
programmes that focus on early intervention and prevention for young people who are at-risk of engaging in
criminal activity or anti-social behaviour.
A non-competitive selection process is being used for this granting activity in order to capitalise on the
previous Commonwealth government investment which expanded the outreach programmes undertaken by
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YOTS. Further, YOTS has shown that its outreach programmes provide early intervention in critical transition
points in a young person’s development to address factors that may lead them on a pathway to future
involvement in crime.
YOTS is well-placed to target young people with developmental crime prevention or outreach programmes
and has excellent access to the target cohort. It is well-established within the community, with established
connections and partnerships in New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania including with local police and
other non-government organisations.
GRANT LIMITS AND FUNDING PERIOD
Round Two of the Safer Streets Programme will provide up to $29.4 million for projects that address the
objectives of the programme, including under these guidelines. 1
Grant funding under these guidelines is:

provided through a non-competitive funding round

non-recurrent, and

conditional upon all activities or projects being completed by 30 June 2018.
The final amount of any grant awarded will be at the discretion of the Minister after consideration of advice
from the Attorney-General’s Department. An invitation from the department to submit a proposal should not
be taken as an assurance that funding will be provided. The funding allocated to each organisation is subject
to the Minister’s discretion and allowing funds to be allocated in the most effective, efficient, economical and
ethical way based on the quality of applications. Funds which are not awarded may be reallocated to
projects under the broader Safer Streets Programme.
The application should provide a clear exit strategy/succession plan for the proposed project as funding is
non-recurrent. The project must conclude by June 2018. The exit strategy should set out what will happen to
the project activity at the end of the funding period including details of how any assets purchased with grant
funding will be maintained and how programme participants will be transferred to other services.
Organisations will need to secure alternative sources of funding if they wish projects to continue beyond
the duration of the grant.
ELIGIBILITY
What organisations are eligible to apply?
Funding under these guidelines is open to applications from NHWA and YOTS.
Applications must be received on or before the closing date.
1
The Safer Streets Programme funding will also be made available to support Crime Prevention Through Environmental
Design initiatives and Developmental Crime Prevention initiatives under separate guidelines.
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What is eligible for funding?
NHWA and YOTS may apply for funding for activities which support the objectives of the Safer Streets
Programme. If applications contain elements which do not clearly support the objectives of the programme,
the department may recommend that any award of funding be for only those activities which are assessed as
contributing to the objectives of the programme.
All granting activities or projects must also be completed by 30 June 2018.
What is not eligible for funding?
Funding will not be provided for the following purposes:

retrospective or deficit funding (that is, there will be no reimbursement of expenses incurred by an
organisation prior to the funding agreement being executed, or meeting existing debts)

projects that have already commenced under other funding arrangements or programmes (however,
funding will be considered for a new direction or enhancement of an existing project). Please note
that previous funding from the department for similar activities does not render the project ineligible

large-scale capital equipment and capital works, including the purchase or lease of land and/or
purchase, construction or maintenance of buildings and vehicles (but assistance may be granted at
the discretion of the Minister based on the size/capacity of the organisation and the size/impact of
the project)

any costs associated with the development of an application (for example, preparation of applications
or the cost of a survey to establish the need for a project)

maintenance of equipment or infrastructure

contingency funds

travel to conferences, fundraising or sponsorship

individual scholarships

projects that provide protection or security for specific individuals or specific organisations, or

activities that do not comply with Australian Government policy.
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS
The closing date for applications is 2.00pm (Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time) on a date agreed by the
department. Early submission of applications is encouraged.
APPLICATION AND ASSESSMENT PROCESS
Applicants should ensure applications and supporting documentation contain sufficient information to
demonstrate that the proposal satisfies the assessment criteria. This can include information previously
provided to the department.
Applications should be completed on the template provided by the department. Completed application forms
and supporting documentation should be emailed to crimeprevention@ag.gov.au before the closing date.
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Once received, the department will review applications against the selection criteria. The department may
contact applicants for clarification and further information.
Successful applicants will normally be announced by the Minister and will be notified in writing. The
department will then negotiate a Funding Agreement. Successful organisations will be listed on the
departmental website, www.crimeprevention.gov.au, and listed in the department’s grants register.
SELECTION CRITERIA
The assessment of proposals will be based on the following assessment criteria and weighting of assessment
scores.
Eligibility criteria
Weighting
Eligibility Criteria
Pass/Fail
Eligibility of the applicant organisation
Pass/Fail/Partial
project
considered
Eligibility of the proposed project activities
Assessment criteria
Criterion
Number
Weighting Selection Criteria
1
30%
Demonstrated need for funding to:


address and prevent criminal and anti-social behaviour engaged in by
disengaged youth, or
promote increased information and knowledge sharing to improve community
safety and reduce crime.
2
30%
Anticipated crime prevention benefits of the funding, with demonstrated
effectiveness and impact to the community based on previous experience and
available evidence.
3
20%
Overall value for money of the proposed funding, including whether it will:

build on existing structures, strategies and initiatives to maximise project
outcomes, and

provide long-term benefits beyond the funding period.
4
10%
Capacity of the applicant organisation to successfully manage the proposed
project(s) and to administer grant funds, including the capacity to manage the
risks associated with the proposed activity.
5
10%
Capacity of the applicant organisation to measure the impact and success of the
proposed project(s) from a crime prevention perspective.
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Applications will receive a score between 1 and 10 against each selection criterion. Score descriptors will be
applied as follows:
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Exceptional
Outstanding
Excellent
Very Good
Good
Satisfactory
Marginal
Poor
Very Poor
Extremely Poor
A minimum threshold score of 5 (Satisfactory) will be applied to all criteria. Applications that score below 5
for any of those criteria will not be recommended for funding.
FUNDING AGREEMENT (Managing the project)
The Funding Agreement is an enforceable agreement between a successful organisation and the department,
acting on behalf of the Australian Government. It will outline the terms, conditions and obligations of
funding, service delivery, accountability and reporting requirements for both the department and successful
organisations.
The Funding Agreement is a legally enforceable document that sets out the terms and conditions of funding,
including:

a description of the project

reporting requirements

milestones in the progress of the project

a schedule for payment of grant instalments (including consideration of GST)
Note: the final grant instalment payment will not be made until the project has been completed and
all reporting obligations fulfilled

agreed project outputs and performance measures, and

requirements for acquittal of the grant and project.
A binding agreement does not exist until a Funding Agreement has been signed by both parties. Organisations
must not make financial commitments in expectation of receiving funding until the Funding Agreement has
been executed. Organisations will not be reimbursed for such commitments if they are made.
Grant recipients must provide regular reports on their progress against the achievement of agreed
milestones. The requirement to acquit expenditure will also be covered in these reports. The timing of
reports will be negotiated as part of the Funding Agreement and will be directly linked to the agreed
milestones.
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Where progress payments are linked to the achievement of specific activities, these payments will only be
made after the relevant progress report is accepted and it is agreed that the requirements for payment
stated in the Funding Agreement have been met, including appropriate expenditure of previous payments.
Grant recipients are required to provide the Government with financial acquittals that demonstrate that they
have spent the Australian Government funding for the agreed purposes.
Grant recipients will be required to maintain adequate insurance for the duration of the project and provide
the Commonwealth with evidence of their insurance, if requested.
Grant recipients must comply with all relevant statutes, regulations, by-laws and requirements of any
Commonwealth, state, territory or local authority. For example, if a grant recipient is required to work with
youth under 18, staff must apply for, and have approved, a Working With Children check from its respective
state or territory.
When the project has been completed, recipients must provide:

a final report to demonstrate that they have achieved all the agreed milestones

a project evaluation based on the benefits anticipated in the project proposal, and

a financial acquittal of Commonwealth funding and any other funding as set out in the Funding Agreement.
Once the department accepts these reports, the final grant payment, covering project expenditure up to the
limit of the approved grant amount, will be made.
The department will use either the whole-of-government low-risk funding agreement developed by the
Department of Finance or the department’s long-form funding agreement. The choice of agreement will be
determined in accordance with the department’s grant management policy based on the funding amount
awarded and the project risk assessed during the application assessment process, with the preference being
for using the low-risk funding agreement where appropriate. Copies of the two funding agreement templates
are available at www.crimeprevention.gov.au.
Grant recipients may be required to participate in a programme evaluation at the conclusion of the
programme.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Applications must declare any real or perceived conflict of interests in the application form. Where the
department establishes that a conflict of interest exists, the department may decide not to consider the
application.
If there is the possibility of a perceived conflict of interest, applicants should include a statement addressing
this and demonstrate why a conflict of interest will not result from the award of funding for the project, or
how the conflict will be managed.
All employees of the department have a responsibility to consider whether their actions or decisions could
give rise to a conflict of interest and are bound by the department’s Conflict of Interest Policy. All employees
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of the department will identify and disclose any conflict of interest as soon as possible after the conflict
becomes apparent.
Departmental officers cannot be used as referees.
PRIVACY
If you are awarded a Safer Streets Programme grant, under the terms of the Funding Agreement you will be
obliged to meet the requirements of the Australian Privacy Principles contained in the Commonwealth
Privacy Act 1988.
These principles cover the collection, storage, use and disclosure of personal information. Under these
principles, you should ensure that any personal information you may collect and hold is accurate, relevant to
the purpose for which it was collected, up to date and not misleading. In most cases, personal information
should not be used or disclosed to another person, body of agency without the individual’s consent.
Individuals have the right to access their personal information and to complain if they think their personal
information has been mishandled.
Successful applicants must also comply with relevant state and territory privacy legislation. Applicants should
pay close attention to privacy legislation when developing project proposals.
Personal information, such as names and telephone numbers, collected in the application form will be used
for the purpose of contacting an applicant in relation to an application, for vendor creation, and to
pre-populate the Funding Agreement should the applicant be awarded funding.
Information about the Privacy Act is available at www.oaic.gov.au.
You should pay close attention to these principles in developing your project proposal. For example, if you
are presenting case studies or evaluation data, personal information should be de-identified. Personal
information about service participants should not be included without their explicit, informed and written
consent.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
All documents in the possession of the department, including those relating to this programme, are subject to
the Freedom of Information Act 1982. Information about freedom of information is available at
www.oaic.gov.au.
TAXATION
Other than the clauses in the funding agreement relating to taxes, duties and government charges, the
department does not provide advice on GST matters. All applicants are advised to seek advice from a
qualified professional or the Australian Taxation Office (www.ato.gov.au).
Grant payments will be exclusive of GST unless otherwise indicated. Payments to states, territories and local
government do not attract GST.
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Applicants should be aware that the department will report details of all grant payments to the Australian Tax
Office.
COMPLAINTS MECHANISM
The department regards complaints as a way of both assessing and improving our performance. The
department will endeavour, where possible, to ensure that complaints are resolved promptly, fairly,
confidentially and satisfactorily and that our procedures are improved as a result.
Complaints regarding an application under the Safer Streets Programme should first be made in writing to:
Assistant Secretary
Crime and Justice Policy Branch
Attorney-General’s Department
Robert Garran Offices
3-5 National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600
If you believe that the matter has not been resolved satisfactorily, you can direct your complaint to the
department’s Compliments and Complaints Officer:
Telephone:
Email:
(02) 6141 2525
complaints@ag.gov.au
or by mail:
Compliments and Complaints Officer
Attorney-General’s Department
Robert Garran Offices
3-5 National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600
All complaints referred to the department will be fully investigated and the complainant should receive a
written response within 28 calendar days.
Where a complainant is dissatisfied with the way the complaint has been handled by the department, they
can seek further review and investigation by the Commonwealth Ombudsman.
Telephone:
Website:
1300 362 072 (toll free)
www.ombudsman.gov.au
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CONTACT DETAILS
For further information, please contact:
Crime Prevention Section
Criminal Justice Division
Attorney-General’s Department
3-5 National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600
Telephone:
(02) 6141 2711
Email:
crimeprevention@ag.gov.au
Web:
www.crimeprevention.gov.au
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