GRANTS TO AUSTRALIAN ORGANISATIONS PROGRAM
PROGRAM GUIDELINES
2013 - 2016
Pursuing an equitable and accessible system
of federal civil justice.
Contents
1. Program Objective ................................................................................................................................. 3
2. Funding ................................................................................................................................................. 3
3. Commissioned Proposals ........................................................................................................................ 3
4. Eligibility Criteria .................................................................................................................................... 3
5. Selection Criteria.................................................................................................................................... 4
6. Assessment Process and Awarding of Funding ........................................................................................ 5
7. Recipient Responsibilities and Accountabilities ....................................................................................... 5
8. Conflict of Interest ................................................................................................................................. 6
9. Grant Publication Requirements ............................................................................................................. 6
10. Privacy ................................................................................................................................................. 6
11. Taxation............................................................................................................................................... 6
12. Complaints ........................................................................................................................................... 6
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1. Program Objective
The Grants to Australian Organisations Program (GAOP) provides the Commonwealth’s contribution to the
Standing Council of Law and Justice (SCLJ) and with remaining funds offers grants to organisations for projects
relating to the pursuit of an equitable and accessible system of federal civil justice.
The main objective of GAOP is to fund suitable activities that relate to, or assist with, the pursuit of an equitable
and accessible system of federal civil justice.
2. Funding
Funding for 2013-14 is reduced with SCLJ funding secured and approximately $250,000 available for non-SCLJ
activities.
From 2014-15 the annual appropriation will be reduced by $1 million per annum, with the majority of available
funding reserved for SCLJ commitments.
Due to the small quantum of available funding from 2014 onwards, a closed, non-competitive process will apply
to the non-SCLJ component of GAOP. Proposals may be commissioned and assessed individually against the
program objective and selection criteria relative to priority areas of government.
Funding may be awarded for single or multi-year projects subject to the available appropriation. All projects must
commence in the financial year of the approved appropriation and not be applied retrospectively or begin in
future years. Single year projects must be completed within 18 months of project commencement.
3. Commissioned Proposals
The Department may commission proposals for non-SCLJ activities over the duration of the program subject to
the available appropriation.
Commissioned proposals must meet the program objective, the eligibility criteria and address the selection
criteria.
An invitation from the Department to submit a proposal should not be taken as an assurance that funding will be
provided.
4. Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for funding grant recipients should be a non-government ‘not for profit’ organisation, a community
organisation, or a local government association or agency and demonstrate that their project will contribute to an
equitable and accessible system of federal civil justice.
It is preferable that the applicant organisation be incorporated for greater accountability.
Applications will not be accepted from:
 Individuals
 Political organisations
 Australian Government and State and Territory government agencies, or
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
Commercial and for-profit organisations.
Organisations with outstanding acquittal reports for previously funded projects, or who have had projects
terminated by State/Territory or Australian Government agencies for performance or integrity reasons, will
generally not be considered for funding. Organisations should include information about previous funding history
in their proposal.
Grants will be paid to the successful organisation and not to any individual within an organisation.
5. Selection Criteria
Commissioned proposals need to describe their proposed project including its intended purpose, target group
and what community benefits will be realised.
Each proposal will be considered against the following specific program criteria, which have an equal weighting,
to determine value for money and to align projects against policy outcomes:
1) Program Objective—the organisation applying for funding should demonstrate how the proposed project
contributes to the program objective.
2) Value for Money—proposals need to demonstrate their project provides value for money. To assist the
Department to make an assessment applicants must provide a budget, management plan for the
proposed project and outline the intended benefits.
3) Government priorities—applicants should demonstrate that their proposed project is consistent with
broader government priorities and policies, for example, whether the project clearly supports a current
major government policy aligned to civil justice.
4) Capacity of the organisation—applicants should demonstrate that they have the capacity and expertise
to successfully manage and monitor outcomes of the project.
The following activities are generally not suitable for GAOP funding:
1) Ongoing administrative expenses— Funding will not usually be provided for an organisation’s ongoing
operation or running costs, for example, funding for general operation, secretariat expenses or support
for a research officer. However, administrative expenses directly and exclusively associated with the
proposed project may be considered.
2) Similarity to projects already funded by the Commonwealth—Prospective applicants are required to
declare any other Commonwealth funding they have received or have applied for. Funding will not
usually be provided for projects or activities which are already funded by the Commonwealth. Other
funding sources for the same project need to be identified in their application.
3) Capital equipment and capital works— Funding will not be provided for the purchase of large scale
capital equipment or capital works, including the purchase or lease of land and the purchase, construction
or maintenance of buildings and vehicles.
4) Other activities—Funding will not usually be provided for individual scholarships, projects that provide
personal protection for specific individuals or projects that duplicate existing projects in the same
community.
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6. Assessment Process and Awarding of Funding
6.1 SCLJ Funding
Funding for Commonwealth contributions to SCLJ are recommended by the National Justice CEO Group (NJCEO)
recorded in the minutes of their official meetings.
The Attorney-General has delegated Senior Executive Staff in areas with policy responsibility in relation to an
entity to sign funding agreements and minor variations in relation to that entity, in consultation with the
Departmental Grant Performance Unit.
6.2 Non SCLJ Funding
Proposals may be commissioned for separate projects with an indicative funding range of between $10 000 and
$250 000 per annum (ex GST). Grants awarded under this stream are for single or multi-year projects (to a
maximum of three years) subject to the available appropriation.
Organisations funded under SCLJ are eligible for funding under the non-SCLJ funding stream provided proposals
they submit address the program objective and selection criteria.
All of the selection criteria outlined in section 5 should be addressed. Commissioned proposals will be assessed by
the Department on their individual merits, based on the selection criteria above, to determine whether an
application will allow the Australian Government to achieve value with public money.
The Attorney-General makes the final decision about which non-SCLJ projects will receive funding, the level of
funding and any conditions of offer. The Attorney-General has delegated Senior Executive Staff with program
responsibility to sign funding agreements and any minor variations, in consultation with the Departmental Grant
Performance Unit, once the funding has been approved by the delegate.
Once the assessment process is complete successful projects will receive an invitation to enter into a funding
agreement with the Commonwealth (represented by the Attorney-General’s Department) which will cover the
amount of funding, timeframes, activity to be completed, reporting requirements and any specific conditions of
offer. The frequency of reporting i.e. quarterly, biannual or annual will be determined by the risk assessment of
the organization and nature of the activity.
The funding agreement will contain the entire agreement between the two parties. There is no binding
agreement on any party until the funding agreement is agreed to and signed by the departmental delegate and
the applicant’s authorised representative. It is recommended that the Low Risk Funding Agreement template be
used unless the applicant is rated as high risk.
All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome at the conclusion of the assessment and approval process.
7. Recipient Responsibilities and Accountabilities
Reliable, timely and adequate evidence is required to demonstrate that grant funds have been expended in
accordance with the terms of the funding agreement. The funding agreement will include details about what
reporting and evidence of acquittal is required from an organisation, including any evaluation against the
objective of the program.
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8. Conflict of Interest
Commissioned applicants must identify any potential conflicts of interest that are likely to arise during the
implementation of their projects as well as mitigation strategies. Should a conflict of interest situation arise at a
later date, applicants must advise the Department in accordance with their funding agreements.
A conflict of interest may exist, for example, if an applicant or any of its staff has a relationship (professional,
commercial or personal) with a party who is able to influence the implementation or operation of the project.
Departmental officers involved in the assessment of applications are required to declare whether they have a
conflict of interest. Where a conflict of interest does arise they are to be managed according the Departmental
policy document, Guidelines for Managing Conflicts of Interest in the Attorney-General’s Department.
9. Grant Publication Requirements
The Department is required to publish information about a successful grant on its website. If an organisation has
concerns about grant information being published, they should raise these concerns with the Department as part
of their proposal. If the organisation is successful in obtaining a grant, the Department will discuss these concerns
with them.
10. Privacy
Any personal information collected by the Department is protected by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). Generally, the
Department collects personal information to carry out its functions properly and efficiently, and only uses
personal information for the purposes for which it was given to the Department and for directly related purposes
(unless otherwise required by, or authorised under, law).
11. 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).
12. Complaints
Applicants should direct any enquiries or complaints to:
Assistant Secretary
Indigenous Justice and Community Safety Branch
Attorney-General’s Department
3-5 National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600
Or via email to gaop@ag.gov.au
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