PARTNERSHIP GRANT PROGRAM
2015-2018
GUIDELINES
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Table of Contents
PARTNERSHIP GRANT PROGRAM ............................................................................................... 3
Overview of Partnership Grant Program .......................................................................................... 3
2014 Review of Partnership Grant Program .................................................................................... 3
Structure of the Partnership Grant Program .................................................................................... 4
Diagram 1 .......................................................................................................................................... 4
SELECTION CRITERIA - ALL STREAMS ....................................................................................... 5
Alignment with Council Strategies ................................................................................................. 5
Eligibility ............................................................................................................................................. 5
Applications that will not be Eligible .............................................................................................. 6
Acquittal ............................................................................................................................................. 6
Table 1 - Selection Criteria and Strategic Alignment by Stream and Category.......................... 7
COMPLETING YOUR APPLICATION ........................................................................................ 15
Budget ........................................................................................................................................... 15
Project Plan ................................................................................................................................... 15
Demonstrated Capacity to Deliver ................................................................................................ 15
RECOGNITION OF COUNCIL FUNDING ................................................................................. 15
Acknowledging Council’s Contribution ......................................................................................... 15
Use of Council Logo....................................................................................................................... 15
Speak to a Council Contact ........................................................................................................... 15
SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION .......................................................................................... 16
COUNCIL STRATEGIES AND POLICY ..................................................................................... 17
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YARRA RANGES COUNCIL
Partnership Grant Program
2015-2018 Guidelines
PARTNERSHIP GRANT PROGRAM
Council’s Partnership Grants are a significant investment in communities across the
municipality. These grants have historically funded a range of organisations offering
services, programs and activities that support healthy, engaged and active
communities. The Partnership Grant Program will open on 16 February 2015 and
close on 31 March 2015. Grants are for 3 years duration.
To be successful, applications need to be eligible and demonstrate a strong
alignment with Council’s adopted strategies and fulfil the selection criteria.
Overview of Partnership Grant Program
Grant making is a key way that Council supports community led responses to its
strategic priorities. The Partnership Grant Program promotes active and engaged
communities which is a Council Plan objective. These grants also support outcomes
in line with Council’s other adopted strategies. Partnerships between Council and
local organisations are a powerful way to meet local needs, delivering outcomes that
Council, on its own, may not be able to deliver.
Funding for three years through the Partnership Grant Program provides increased
surety to community organisations, while ensuring Council funds are directed
efficiently and effectively to meeting Council’s strategic objectives. The program has
a transparent process, builds partnerships between the Council and community, and
will support organisations that are capable of delivering outcomes that build
community wellbeing.
2014 Review of Partnership Grant Program
In 2014 Council reviewed its long standing Partnership Grants. The Council
endorsed the development of a new Partnership Grant Program following the
Review, including that an open and transparent funding round be held every three
years. The new Partnership Grant Program will be open and equitable and seeks to
achieve strong outcomes for Council and the community. Changes to the program
are intended to:
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Strengthen work between Council and community groups to achieve strategic
outcomes in communities;
Allow new organisations to apply;
Streamline the application and acquittal processes by using Smartygrants,
an online grant system;
Avoid duplication and increase equity of access to the program;
Fund applicants on an outcomes basis;
Review and evaluate recipients every three years through a funding round;
Review the budget allocation to the program every three years; and
Celebrate the value of the program to communities through better promotion
and recognition of Council’s contribution.
Structure of the Partnership Grant Program
The Partnership Grant Program has three streams, with distinct categories within
each stream. Diagram 1 outlines the structure of the program.
Community
Partnerships
Developmental
Partnerships
Strategic
Partnerships
Arts and Culture
Healthy and
Active Ageing
Arts, Culture,
Heritage
Projects
Community
Development
Economic
Development
Community
Volunteer Run
Major Festivals
Emergency
Relief
Neighbourhood
Houses
Diagram 1
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SELECTION CRITERIA - ALL STREAMS
Applications will be assessed on their ability to demonstrate the following criteria:
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alignment with Council strategies;
capacity of the applicant to deliver on outcomes;
clearly defined aims;
clearly defined project plan across three years;
clearly defined measures of success;
complete and realistic budget
evidence of community need;
expected community benefit;
community participation and consultation where appropriate; and
evidence of successful partnerships with Council in the past.
Alignment with Council Strategies
Council recognises that partnerships are a significant way to strengthen local
communities and drive the strategic outcomes identified by Council. Council’s
strategies and policies have been developed with the community and are informed
by evidence of local needs, including data analysis and community engagement.
Applications need to demonstrate alignment with Council’s strategic intent and be
able to demonstrate how they will support achieving Council’s strategic goals.
Each of the Partnership streams and categories have specific criteria linked to
Council’s endorsed strategies. The strategic criteria for each of the Partnership Grant
Program categories are outlined in Table 1. A list of relevant Council strategies and
plans is included at page 17.
Contact a Council Officer to discuss the strategic alignment of your project or
service, see page 16 for contact details.
Eligibility
Applicants for the Partnership Grants Program must meet the following eligibility
requirements. Please note that ineligible applications will not be assessed.
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Applicant organisations must be an incorporated and Not-For-Profit community
group and have an ABN;
Applicants must be based in Yarra Ranges and apply for a program, service or
activity that is of benefit to the Yarra Ranges community;
Have an outcome/s within the Yarra Ranges boundaries;
Applicants must have acquitted any previous Yarra Ranges Council grants, and
have no outstanding debts to the Yarra Ranges Council;
Adequate insurance, working with children checks, Workcover and
superannuation coverage are required to be held by recipients of funding;
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Commitment to obtain all necessary permits related to funding, particularly for
festivals;
All applications must be submitted using the current application form;
The grant activity must take place throughout 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2018; and
All supporting material required must be submitted when applying.
Applications that will not be Eligible
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A program, service or activity that is primarily considered the responsibility of
State or Federal Government for example, schools, hospitals;
Activities that take place outside the Yarra Ranges (including touring costs),
unless a component of an ongoing project has a proven and direct benefit to
the Yarra Ranges community;
A new building, capital works or facility maintenance works;
Ongoing staff salaries or administration costs not specific to the proposal;
Purchase of equipment only;
 equipment may be purchased as part of a broader project;
Activities that are sponsored by gambling businesses;
Activities which take place at inappropriate venues e.g. gambling venues, adult
clubs;
Core school curriculum activities;
Applications with the singular purpose of promoting religion;
Training, study or academic research in Australia or overseas;
 assessment in any of the above training courses;
Applications that are solely for attending forums, workshops and conferences,
or for organising conferences;
Competitions, prizes, award exhibitions or exclusively fundraising events; and
Retrospective funding.
Acquittal
If your organisation has previously received funding from Council you will need to
submit an Acquittal Report.
To be eligible for a Partnership Grant in this round, recipients of previous grants
must have acquitted previous grants. Acquittal reports can be submitted online in
Smartygrants.
Acquittals for Partnership Grants will reflect the level of investment by Council in a
project or service. Successful applicants will need to keep data such as receipts for
expenditure, evaluation and feedback, about the funded activities and be able to
demonstrate outcomes and value.
An evaluation template will be available on Smartygrants.
Table 1 - Selection Criteria and Strategic Alignment by Stream and Category
Grant Stream
Categories
Related
Strategic Criteria
Council
Strategy
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Healthy and Active
Ageing
Support for organisations and
groups that are voluntary and notfor-profit and aligned with
Council’s strategic direction.
Equity, Access
and Inclusion
Strategy
Goal 3
Criteria
 Capacity of the applicant to deliver
outcomes.
 Clearly defined aims.
 Clearly defined project plan across
three years.
 Clearly defined measures of
success.
 Evidence of community need.
 Expected community benefit.
 Alignment with Council strategies.
 Community participation and
consultation where appropriate.
 A complete and realistic budget.
 Evidence of successful
partnerships with Council in the
past.
Total Annual Pool $35,000
Health and
Wellbeing
Strategy
Goals 5 and 12
Community,
Volunteer Run
Health and
Wellbeing
Strategy
Goal 5 and 6
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Support active and healthy ageing.
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Deliver accessible and well funded
residential services for older people
with dementia.
Funding
Allocation
Up to $7,000
per year for three
years.
The majority of grants
will be between $2,000
and $5,000.
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Foster life long learning for older
adults.
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Demonstrated capacity to deliver
services or projects in partnership
with Council.
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Evidence of strong governance and
accountability and sound financial
management.
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Provides a unique voice for local
community groups and organisations
through volunteer effort.
Up to $5,000
per year, for three
years.
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Address isolation by delivering a
range of communications to
residents, promotes local
communities and businesses.
The majority of grants
will be between $2,000
and $5,000 per year for
three years.
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Grant Stream
Categories
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Community,
Volunteer Run
cont...
Related
Council
Strategy
Strategic Criteria
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Provide support to networks that
coordinate the volunteer effort of
township groups, related directly to
local community plans and
community identified priorities.
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Demonstrated capacity to deliver
services or projects in partnership
with Council.
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Evidence of strong governance and
accountability and sound financial
management.
Funding
Allocation
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Grant Stream
Categories
Related
Council
Strategy
Strategic Criteria
Funding
Allocation
DEVELOPMENTAL
PARTNERSHIPS
Arts, Culture and
Heritage Initiatives
Cultural Policy
and Action Plan
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Innovative initiatives that positively
shape our places.
Up to $15,000
per year for three
years.
Supports the development of an
emerging project or group to
deliver outcomes aligned with
specific strategic priorities of
Council over three years.
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Foster and sustain arts, culture and
heritage development.
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Encourage active participation in arts
and cultural activities.
Criteria
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Provide opportunities for people in
Yarra Ranges to express their
creativity in diverse ways.
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Demonstrated capacity to deliver
services or projects in partnership
with Council.
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Evidence of strong governance and
accountability and sound financial
management.
 Capacity of the applicant to deliver
outcomes.
 Clearly defined aims.
 Clearly defined project plan across
three years.
 Clearly defined measures of
success.
 Evidence of community need.
 Expected community benefit.
 Alignment with Council strategies.
 Community participation and
consultation where appropriate.
 A complete and realistic budget.
 Evidence of successful
partnerships with Council in the
past.
Total Annual Pool $60,000
DEVELOPMENTAL
PARTNERSHIPS
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Grant Stream
Categories
Related
Council
Strategy
Strategic Criteria
Funding
Allocation
Major Festivals
Cultural Policy
and Action Plan
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Energise cultural facilities and public
places with high quality programming
that connects to local audiences &
increases participation in arts and
heritage activities.
Up to $10,000
per year for three
years.
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Supports large scale festivals which
build a sense of identity and place.
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Festivals engaging the local
community including artists,
business, community organisations
and residents in the planning and
implementation of the event.
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Festivals that attract visitors to an
area, generating additional prosperity
and branding for our places.
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Festivals that are innovative and
demonstrate a unique connection to
the local community and place.
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Festivals that have occurred for a
number of years, funded through the
Grants for Community Program.
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Demonstrated commitment, capacity
to deliver services/ projects in
partnership with Council to deliver
outcomes.
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Evidence of strong governance,
accountability, financial management.
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Grant Stream
Categories
Related
Council
Strategy
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Arts, Cultural and
Heritage
Cultural Policy
and Action Plan
Strategic Criteria
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Supports the delivery of a service
in line with Council’s strategic
objectives.
Criteria
 Capacity of the applicant to deliver
on outcomes.
 Clearly defined aims.
 Clearly defined project plan across
three years.
 Clearly defined measures of
success.
 Evidence of community need.
 Expected community benefit.
 Alignment with Council strategies.
 Community participation and
consultation where appropriate.
 A complete and realistic budget.
 Evidence of successful
partnerships with Council in the
past.
Total Annual Pool $653,000
Annual Pool
$68,500
Community
Development
Annual Pool
$50,000
Encourage greater understanding of
the value of arts and heritage
activities, increase awareness of arts
and heritage activities taking place in
our lives, and provide more
opportunities for participation.
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Protect, foster and celebrate our
cultural heritage.
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Demonstrated capacity to deliver
services or projects in partnership
with Council.
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Evidence of strong governance and
accountability, sound financial
management.
Health and
Wellbeing
Strategy
Goals 6 and 7
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Services that address disadvantage
through increasing access to the
service system in the outer areas of
Yarra Ranges
Community
Safety Plan
Priority 4 and 6
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Address a range of social and legal
issues including family violence
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Strong referral and coordination
across service system
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Demonstrated capacity to deliver
services or projects in partnership
with Council.
Funding
Allocation
Up to $38,000
per year for three
years.
Up to $20,000
per year for three
years.
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Grant Stream
Categories
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Community
Development cont...
Related
Council
Strategy
Environment
Strategy
Goals 4, 5 and 6
Health and
Wellbeing
Strategy
Goal 5
Reconciliation
Policy and
Framework for
Action
Strategic Criteria
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Evidence of strong governance and
accountability and sound financial
management.
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Innovative projects that address
Council’s strategic goals for active
and engaged communities that
protect and enhance our
environment.
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Demonstrated capacity to deliver
services or projects in partnership
with Council.
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Evidence of strong governance and
accountability and sound financial
management.
Indigenous community controlled
organisations.
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Responds to significant and
demonstrated local need outlined in
Council strategies, take a community
development approach, and
strengthen health and wellbeing
across the whole Indigenous
community.
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Projects that build capacity and
wellbeing of the Indigenous
community.
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Demonstrated capacity to deliver
services or projects in partnership
Health and
Wellbeing
Strategy
Goal 6
Funding
Allocation
Up to $15,000
per year for three
years.
Up to $15,000
per year for three
years.
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Grant Stream
Categories
Related
Council
Strategy
Strategic Criteria
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STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Economic
Development
Economic
Development
Strategy
Annual Pool
$52,000
Emergency Relief
Annual Pool
$119,000
Health and
Wellbeing
Strategy
Goals 2, 5 and 6
Equity, Access
and Inclusion
Strategy
Goal 3
Child and Youth
Strategy
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with Council.
Evidence of strong governance and
accountability, sound financial
management.
Supports the development of the
agri-business sector in Yarra
Ranges.
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Supports employment and skills
development.
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Takes an innovative approach to
building economic prosperity in Yarra
Ranges.
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Demonstrated capacity to deliver
services or projects in partnership
with Council.
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Evidence of strong governance and
accountability, sound financial
management.
Provides emergency relief and
support to vulnerable and socially
isolated residents, including
information and referral, food security
and counselling.
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Engages volunteers to deliver
services and support local
community.
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Promotes healthy eating through
emergency relief.
Funding
Allocation
Up to $26,000
per year for three
years.
Grants of between
$10,000 - $40,000
per year for three years
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Grant Stream
Categories
Related
Council
Strategy
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Neighbourhood
Houses
Annual Pool
$382,000
Strategic Criteria
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Demonstrated capacity to deliver
services or projects in partnership
with Council.
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Evidence of strong governance and
accountability, sound financial
management.
Organisations that are registered
Neighbourhood Houses, responding
to community needs identified
through active and ongoing
engagement with community.
Health and
Wellbeing
Strategy
Goals 1, 5, 6, 12
and 13
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Equity, Access
and Inclusion
Strategy
Goal 3
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Make a demonstrated contribution to
community development including
support, education, recreation
activities across all ages and abilities.
Draft
Environment
Strategy
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Demonstrated ability to work in
partnership with other Houses and
across sectors.
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Innovative approach and commitment
to meeting emerging needs in the
community.
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Demonstrated capacity to deliver
services or projects in partnership
with Council.
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Evidence of strong governance and
accountability and sound financial
management.
Funding
Allocation
Grants of between
$10,000 - $80,000
per year for three years
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COMPLETING YOUR APPLICATION
Budget
Funding over three years is a significant investment by Council and the application
process requires detailed project planning for each of the three years of the
partnership.
Applicants are expected to provide a budget aligned with outcomes for each of the
three years. Budgets need to demonstrate realistic project planning and resource
allocation. A track record of delivering projects, services and activities will be taken
into account when assessing applications.
Project Plan
Applicants are required to outline a project plan for each year of the grant. The
project plan needs to articulate the activity and related outcomes in line with the
budget, for each year of funding.
Demonstrated Capacity to Deliver
Council has supported local organisations through Partnership Grants for many
years and additional consideration is given to organisations with a demonstrated
capacity to deliver over time and work with communities and Council to deliver
positive outcomes.
RECOGNITION OF COUNCIL FUNDING
Acknowledging Council’s Contribution
Funding through this grant program needs to be acknowledged through:
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Use of Council logo on key marketing and publications;
Inviting the Mayor and Councillors to speak at events related to the funded
service, project or festival; and
Recognition of Council at events, launches and other public activities.
Contact the Mayor and Councillors’ Office on Tel 9204 6106 or 1300 368 333 to
invite the Mayor and/or Ward Councillor to participate.
Use of Council Logo
Instructions for use of the Council Logo will be included in the Funding Agreement
for successful applications.
Speak to a Council Contact
Council Officers responsible for each Partnership Grant category are noted in the
table below. It is important you talk through your project ideas with the responsible
officer before applying. The Council contact can provide you with advice on your
application.
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If you would like a meeting with the Council Officer to discuss your application,
please contact them well before the closing date to arrange a time.
Category
Officer
Contact Details
Arts and Culture
Mark Morgan-Dethick
9294 6470
Community Development
Kym Murphy
9294 6464
Economic Development
Tania Asper
9294 6237
Environment
Rachel Murphy
9294 6392
Festivals and Events
Karen Meuleman
9294 6385
Neighbourhood Houses
Jess Adams, Kym Murphy
9294 6866
Healthy and Active Ageing
Caroline Perry
9294 6216
Community Grants
Officer
Jackie Elward
9294 6386
SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION
Applications to be received by 12am (midnight) on 31 March 2015
No late applications will be accepted.
You will be notified of the outcome after Council’s meeting of 26 May 2015
Applicants are required to submit their applications and supporting documentation
using the online Smartygrants form. Typed, emailed, faxed or hard copy applications
will not be accepted. During the application process, you can return to
http://yarraranges.smartygrants.com.au at any time to view your application, but once
it is submitted it cannot be changed.
When an application is submitted an automated email acknowledging that it has been
received with a copy of the application attached, will be sent to the email used to
register.
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COUNCIL STRATEGIES AND POLICY
This list of policies and strategies relate to the Partnership Grants round and can
inform your application.
Arts Policy and Action Plan
Child and Youth Strategy
Community Safety Plan
Council Plan
Economic Development Strategy
Equity Access and Inclusion Strategy
Environment Strategy
Health and Wellbeing Strategy
Reconciliation Policy and Framework for Action
These documents are available on Council’s website at:
http://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Systempages/Search?dlv_DLV%20Public%20Search%20Results=(keyword=strategies)