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                    Aboriginal Community Grants

                    City of Melbourne is committed to enabling positive outcomes and promoting self-determination for community by building shared knowledge, respect and understanding of Aboriginal culture.

                    We provide Aboriginal community grants of up to $10,000 for community-led projects that promote community connection, cultural and social inclusion, access and participation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.​

                    Grants are available to schools, not-for-profit community organisations and volunteer-run community groups to work in partnership with the City of Melbourne to support the following actions:

                    • Provide opportunities which support cultural, social and economic development for Aboriginal Victorians
                    • Provide​ education to the broader community about Victorian Aboriginal heritage and culture
                    • Promote community understanding of reconciliation as part of National Reconciliation Week 
                    • Explore and deliver opportunities for truth-telling to facilitate learning, healing, and change within the City of Melbourne municipality.
                    • Engage with Aboriginal cultures and histories by celebrating NAIDOC Week/Sorry Day/Invasion Day.

                    Dates

                    • ​Monday 4 March 2024: Applications open
                    • Sunday 31 March 2024: Applications close
                    • April/May 2024: Applicants notified of outcome

                    Eligibility criteria

                    To be eligible to apply for funding through Aboriginal Community Grants, applications must meet the following criteria:

                    • Applicants must be a not-for-profit constituted body or a school. Auspiced applications are permitted in this program.
                    • Applicants must be located within, or be running the project within, the City of Melbourne municipality. You can view or download the City of Melbourne boundary map
                    • Applications must have a focus on City​ of Melbourne’s local communities and/or communities that are considered vulnerable. 
                    • Activities must take place by 31 December 2024.
                    • Projects funded through Aboriginal Community Grants are eligible for a maximum of two consecutive years funding.

                    For detailed eligibility criteria, please refer to the guidelines.

                    Guidelines

                    For full details about the 2024 grants, including the assessment criteria and other necessary information, read the guidelines.

                    Applications

                    Applications will be submitted and managed online via SmartyGrants.

                    Applications open at 9am Monday 4 March 2024 and close 11.59pm Sunday 31 March 2024.

                    ​Application assistance

                    If you have any questions about the program or would like advice regarding your application please email aboriginalmelbourne@melbourne.vic.gov.au​ .

                    If you are unable to complete the application form online due to access issues or difficulty using technology please contact us via email: aboriginalmelbourne@melbourne.vic.gov.au​ or phone: 03 9658 9658 and we will discuss how we can help you to complete the forms.

                    Contact us

                    Contact name
                    Aboriginal Melbourne
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