19 June 2014

Open Selection Funding Round Summary
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These grants are aimed at building socially cohesive Australian communities. They do so by supporting projects that build the long-term capacities of higher need and at-risk communities, including through the promotion of stronger community relations and the development of sustainable community partnerships.
Applications for funding for Service Providers are now open.
This selection is an open competitive process.
The following entity types meet the eligibility requirements to be invited to apply for a grant for this
Activity: a. Incorporated Associations (incorporated under state/territory legislation, commonly have
'Association' or 'Incorporated' or 'Inc.' in their legal name) b. Incorporated Cooperatives (also incorporated under state/territory legislation, commonly have
‘Cooperative' in their legal name) c. Companies (incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 – may be a proprietary company
(limited by shares or by guarantee) or public companies) d. Aboriginal Corporations (incorporated under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander) Act 2006) e. Organisations established through a specific piece of Commonwealth or state/territory legislation (public benevolent institutions, churches, universities, unions etc f. Partnerships, and g. Trustees on behalf of a Trust
Not-for-profit entity types specified above meet the eligibility requirements.
Service clubs, faith groups, art organisations, sporting bodies, community organisations and youth organisations, as well as local government authorities, government schools and universities and colleges of higher education.
Up to $100,000 is available annually for up to three years.
Funding of up to $7.729 million is available from 1 January 2015 to 30 June 2018.
Applications should be submitted by 2.00pm 23 July 2014.
Please email your enquiries to: grants@dss.gov.au
The grants aim to build socially cohesive Australian communities. They do so by supporting projects that build the long-term capacities of higher need and at-risk communities, particularly through the promotion of stronger community relations and the development of sustainable community partnerships.
Higher need communities include communities with high levels of cultural diversity and low levels of social cohesion. At-risk communities include communities at risk of negative outcomes, such as those experiencing high levels of unemployment, low education outcomes and low English language proficiency.

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Consideration will also be given to factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, disability and inter-cultural relations when identifying at-risk communities, in line with broader DSS and Australian Government social policy objectives.
NB: Specific issues that impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are funded through other agencies, including the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. However,
Multicultural Affairs grants will consider applications responding to Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander communities that address inter-community issues with other culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Funding will be available for projects that are consistent with the objectives of the programme, such as projects that:
 seek to educate a group (or groups) about another cultur e, including the Australian ‘way of life’ through information sharing
 seek to develop ongoing knowledge about prejudice for ‘grass roots’ groups and others - for example, provide training to community leaders to develop their capacity to successfully plan and manage their own prejudice reduction projects
 address tensions between groups in the wider community directly, for example, engage group members to discuss stereotypes, sources of conflict, and ways to have more co-operative relations
 provide support through developing practical skills for a particular group and increase their ability to participate meaningfully in society more broadly
 seek to engage a cultural group in mainstream activities including sport and choirs
Funding will not be available for:
 retrospective funding for projects already under way or completed
 subsidy of general ongoing administrative costs such as electricity, phone, and rent of an organisation
 cultural activities and one-off or annual festivals such as funds for concert performance, instruments, costumes, and dance performances*
 major capital expenditure, for example towards buildings, gardens, motor vehicles, computers and sound systems although equipment can be hired for project work
 projects that are the responsibility of other grant programmes and agencies, such as those which address anti-social behaviour, family issues and crime
 the delivery of settlement services – for example, casework and assistance to access mainstream services**
 projects focused on accessing services – for example, raising cross-cultural awareness amongst service providers

English language lessons
 projects that address employer discrimination, as this issue falls under the purview of other
Australian Government agencies
 projects which are primarily focused on curriculum development, academic research or teacher development
 translations and reprinting of existing materials or publication of existing manuscripts;
 travel to conferences and short training programs
*Organisations seeking funding to host a cultural festival to showcase their culture should apply for funding under Multicultural Arts and Festivals grants.
**Applicants should consider seeking funding under the Settlement Services Activity. The aim of the
Settlement Services Activity is to deliver services which assist eligible clients under to become self-reliant and participate equitably in Australian society as soon as possible after their arrival.
For more information on visit the Settlement Services .

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Open Selection Funding Round Summary
Applications must clearly identify social cohesion issues that are relevant to the aims and must be supported by appropriate evidence. Project applications must lead to real outcomes that can be linked to the objectives of the Activity.
Applicants seeking funding under DSC are expected to include a Harmony Day activity within their project, and should consider how they can use Harmony Day as a way of increasing exposure within the community of the issues being addressed by the project. Harmony Day activities should cost no more than five per cent of the total project budget. See Section below for further information on
Harmony Day.
Creating strong bonds within communities builds feelings of trust and belonging which is critical to addressing social cohesion issues. Preference will be given to projects that are managed by partnership organisations that avoid siloed approaches and instead create or strengthen whole-of-community issues, are strategic, productive and sustainable. Projects seeking funding should involve the broader community, bringing people together to explore issues and develop meaningful community relationships over a sustained period of time to build capacities. Activities that involve significant numbers from the local community will be favoured above projects involving small numbers of people.
Consideration will also be given to proposed projects where the applicant organisation is working with the target community and community leaders to involve them in the process of identifying issues which may be a priority and coming to a mutually agreed approach.
The department will prioritise projects that build the long term capacities of higher need and at-risk communities. Higher need communities include communities with high levels of cultural diversity and low levels of social cohesion. At-risk communities include communities at risk of negative outcomes, such as those experiencing high levels of unemployment, low education outcomes and low English language proficiency.
Consideration will be given to factors such as age, gender, ethnicity and disability and inter-cultural relations when identifying at-risk communities, in line with broader DSS and Australian Government social policy objectives.
The department monitors social cohesion through several mechanisms, including its Australia-wide network of Multicultural Community Liaison Officers, consultations with the community sector, research, media reports and information from the funding rounds. These sources of information and research are used to identify priority geographic locations, and to monitor the social impact of projects funded under the Multicultural Affairs grants.
Funding recommendations will take into account priority locations, including cross-jurisdictional locations, as well as the relative severity of issues in particular areas. Applications will be considered on an individual basis on their own merit.
The department reserves the right to approach organisations and invite applications at any time when issues requiring attention are identified. An invitation from the department to submit an application should not be taken as an assurance that funding is guaranteed. All applications will be considered on their individual merits.
Harmony Day 21 March is a day of celebration for everyone who calls Australia home – from the traditional owners of this land to those who have come from many countries around the world. By participating in Harmony Day activities, we can learn and understand how all Australians from diverse backgrounds equally belong to this nation and enrich it.

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Harmony Day is an integral part of DSC grants. Harmony Day is celebrated on 21 March each year.
Harmony Day highlights the cohesive and inclusive nature of our nation and promotes the benefits of cultural diversity.
Further information about Harmony Day can be found on the Harmony website .
Grant recipients will be expected to manage the project through a management or steering committee made up of members of the funded organisation and members from identified stakeholders in the project (organisations and community groups that support or have an interest in a project). The department expects your steering committee to meet once every month, or more often, depending on your project.
1. Demonstrate your understanding of the need for the funded Activity in the chosen community/communities and/or target group/s.
What is the social cohesion issue that your project will address?
Applications must clearly identify social cohesion issues that are relevant to the aims and must be supported by appropriate evidence. Describe why your project wants to develop the social cohesion capacity of a particular group/s. A key aim of the Multicultural Affairs grants is to ensure there are connections between members of different communities and opportunities for all people to participate in Australian social and cultural life.
Who is directly impacted by the issue?
Who is affected by the issue you have identified?
How will this group be involved in your project?
What cultural backgrounds do the intended participants come from and what methods will be used to recruit the participants to join in the project’s activities?
How is this issue affecting the wider community?
Describe how the wider community is responding to the issue and describe community attitudes toward the groups involved.
Describe how the project will reach the wider community and the proposed project plans to change perceptions and attitudes toward the issues and the target group/s.
What is contributing to the issue?
Are there particular issues in your community that are contributing to the situation? Most communities are represented by diverse and often strong opinions. What do you believe is reinforcing negative perceptions and opinions in the community?
What evidence of the issue can you provide? Proposals must be supported by appropriate evidence of the social cohesion issue or potential issue. Evidence may be in the form of press articles, formal research, minutes of community meetings expressing need or concern, letters to relevant authorities or documented informal contact with community leaders/elders.
2. Describe how the implementation of your proposal will achieve the Activity objectives for all stakeholders, including value for money within the Grant funding.
What is your proposed project?
Write a brief outline of what you want to do to foster and promote social cohesion and the issue you have identified and who will participate. Project proposals must focus on how you plan to actively engage the target group/s and how you propose to involve the wider community in these activities. In addition, you will need to explain how the target group or community has been involved in developing the project proposal. The proposed activities must involve connecting people across cultures, racial backgrounds and religions.
Projects may include activities focusing on sport, art, education, or activities that provide opportunities for interaction on an ongoing basis between people from different cultural, racial or religious backgrounds.

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Activities seeking to build capacity in a particular community can involve leadership training, education and training opportunities, mentoring and positive community actions.
In your response, tell us how each activity will connect people from different cultural or religious backgrounds on a long term basis.
What are your overall goals for this project? What will success look like? What are you hoping to achieve by the end of the project?. The department is interested in learning about the expected outputs and outcomes for your project:

Outputs — the activities that will occur throughout the life of the project

Outcomes — what impact the project will have on the community and how it will bring about change. Who will have benefited from the project? What will the participants gain from being involved in the activities?
In assessing the application, the department will also consider whether the applicant has demonstrated that the project’s aims and objectives match and achieve those of the
Multicultural Affairs grants.
3. Demonstrate your experience in effectively developing, delivering, managing and monitoring activities to achieve the Activity objectives for all stakeholders.
Briefly outline your organisation’s ability to administer and account for grant funds, meet performance reporting and accountability arrangements and understand and can implement quality and risk management practices.
If you have previously received government funding, please confirm that all reports, including audited financial statements, have been provided within the required timeframes. If your organisation has not received government funding in the past, please outline your organisation’s financial management and accountability policies and procedures that demonstrate that you have the capacity to adequately administer government funding.
4. Demonstrate your organisation’s capacity and your staff capability (experience and qualifications) to deliver the Activity objectives in the chosen community/communities and/or target group/s.
Briefly tell us about the relevant experience and skills of the members of your organisation who will be involved in the project.
You need to demonstrate that your organisation has strong links with relevant stakeholders.
Australia’s Multicultural Access and Equity Policy. Respecting diversity. Improving responsiveness obliges Australian government agencies to ensure that cultural and linguistic diversity is not a barrier for people engaging with government and accessing services to which they are entitled, for example, by providing access to language services where appropriate. Grant applicants should consider whether services, projects, activities or events may require the use of professional translating or interpreting services in order to communicate with non-English speakers. If your Application Form states that a budget is required, costs for translating and interpreting services should be included in your application.
One of the key objectives of the Multicultural Affairs grants is to address racism and prejudice in the community. For funded projects which have an anti-racism focus, you are encouraged to link to the
National Racism Strategy.
The aim of the National Anti-Racism Strategy is to promote a clear understanding in the Australian community of what racism is, and how it can be prevented and reduced. It aims to:

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 create awareness of racism and how it affects individuals and the broader community identify;
 promote and build on good practice initiatives to prevent and reduce racism; and
 empower communities and individuals to take action to prevent and reduce racism and to seek to redress when it occurs.
The primary awareness raising and engagement activity within the Strategy is the RACISM. IT
STOPS WITH ME campaign.
DSS funded organisations can access information on the National Anti-Racism Strategy, including how to get involved, and how to register their support for the anti-racism campaign, Racism. It stops with me .
The Assessment Team may be comprised of Department of Social Services (DSS) officers from each state/territory and national offices. Teams will undertake training to ensure consistent assessment for all applications received. The Assessment Team will be bound by the APS Code of Conduct and the
Department’s Chief Executive Instructions.
The selection of funding recipients for the Activity must be fair, open and demonstrate the highest level of integrity, consistent with the public interest.
The following probity principles will be applied through all stages of the selection process.
a. fairness and impartiality b. consistency, accountability and transparency of process c. security and confidentiality of information d. identification and resolution of conflicts of interest e. compliance with legislative obligations and government policy
These principles are intended to achieve an equitable, justifiable and sound process.
Adherence to the probity principles means that everyone involved with the selection process will act: f. impartially g. with integrity, including avoiding actual or perceived conflicts of interest
A Probity Advisor has been appointed for the Activity. The role of the Probity Adviser is to assist DSS meet its probity obligations in relation to the Activity by ensuring that the selection processes are defensible and will withstand external and internal scrutiny.
The role of the Probity Adviser is to independently monitor procedural aspects of the selection process to ensure compliance with the published relevant Programme Guidelines Overview and to advise DSS in relation to such matters. The Probity Adviser plays no part in the assessment of applications.
The Programme Guidelines Overview provides the key starting point for parties considering whether to participate in the activity and form the basis for the business relationship between the Department and the funding recipient. Applicants are strongly advised to read the Programme Guidelines
Overview prior to completing an Application Form. The Programme Guidelines suite comprise of the following documents:
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Programme Guidelines Overview
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Funding Round Summary

Application Form
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DSS Streamlined Grant Agreement template and General Grant Conditions
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Questions and Answers

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Open Selection Funding Round Summary
Please read and complete the declaration part of the Application Form carefully. Ensure all responses are true and accurate. Click the Submit Application button and follow the instructions provided. All questions will be verified. Any incorrect or unanswered responses will be displayed for your correction. The Application Form will not submit until all responses have been verified.
Upon successful submission you will be issued with a confirmation receipt and email. Submission may take several minutes. Please be patient and do not close the Application Form before receiving confirmation. Do not attempt to submit the application more than once. If you do not receive confirmation or you experience difficulties submitting the application Form, please call 1800 020 283.
The type of grant agreement you are asked to enter into will be influenced by the nature of the
Activity, the assessed Activity risk level, the length of the Activity and the value of the Activity.
In your Application Pack you will receive a draft copy of a grant agreement for information. The grant agreement is a performance based, legally enforceable agreement between the Commonwealth
(represented by DSS) and the successful applicant that sets out the terms and conditions governing the funding to be provided.
Your e xecuted grant agreement represents the Department’s and your entire agreement in relation to each grant provided within it and the relevant Activity and supersedes all prior representations, communications, agreements, statements and understandings, whether oral or in writing.
Q&As can be submitted via email to grants@dss.gov.au
DSS will respond to emailed questions within five working days.
DSS will not accept or respond to any applicant’s questions, requests for information or correspondence about the status or progress of their application five days prior to the closure of the application period and during the assessment phase.