Carers Investment Program 2023-25

Applications open 28 February 2023

Who are Carers?

Carers are people who provide ongoing, unpaid support to people who need it because of disability, chronic or life-limiting illness, mental illness, frail age, dementia or drug or alcohol dependency.

$3.1 million is available in the Carers Investment Program 2023-25 Grant round. One off time limited funding will be available ranging from $250,000 up to $500,000 (excl GST) in total; for two year projects to be delivered within the period June 2023 –June 2025.

Projects should support the delivery of outcomes for carers.

• Have a broader systemic education approach that will enable key service providers to better identify and support carers, and to reach more carers across NSW.
• Have a focus on at least one of the four Carers Strategy priority areas: improve carers access to services and supports; ensure that carers are better respected and empowered; have improved economic opportunities and better health and wellbeing.
• Consider the needs and diversity of carers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; Aboriginal carers; young carers; carers living in rural/remote areas; working carers.
• The grant round focuses on training for service providers and professionals (particularly GPs, psychiatrists, hospitals, neurologists, allied health, dentists, pharmacists, teachers and principals, and government agencies that carers come into contact with), to be educated about the role of carers and how to identify them, carer rights, referral to support available, and the benefits of including carers as partners in care.

Grant applications are open from 9am 28 February 2023 until 5pm 27 March 2023.

This grant will have a two-stage application process. Organisations can complete an Expression of Interest in stage one and have their eligibility for a grant assessed. Eligible applicants will be invited to submit a more detailed application for funding in stage two.

Successful applicants will be advised of final decisions May 2023 for program commencement in June 2023.

Expression of Interest and Eligibility Criteria for Stage 1

This grant program round will be open to

1. Government human service agencies
2. Incorporated not-for-profit community organisations.
3. NSW local councils operating under the Local Government Act 1993.
4. Peak organisation representing Carers; GPs; other medical practitioners; pharmacists;
5. other representative organisations

Stage One project proposal should include:

• A broad sketch of your idea
• Address Carers Investment Program objectives
• Outline who will participate in the project
• Your track record in similar projects
• Grant funding amount requested to deliver the project

If invited to submit a proposal Stage Two application needs to demonstrate how they will provide specific outcomes to carers.

• More detail about your proposed project, particularly around the evidence supporting your idea, the proposed outcomes and how will you measure success.
• Budget – total and detailed breakdown
• Project plan – detailed plan and key milestones
• Governance arrangements for the project
• Detailed risk plan – key risks and mitigations and process for managing project risk

How to apply

Before applying, please read the following documents:

CIP Grant Guidelines (link)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (link)

Submit your application for the Carers Investment Program 2023 -25 grant round using the online Smarty Grants portal.

Applications are only accepted through the online application form. All required fields marked with an * must be completed.

Through the portal, applicants are required to log in via Smarty Grants to access the online application form. If the applicant organisation has previously used Smarty Grants to apply for a grant, then they will already be registered and can use existing usernames and log in details, and do not need to set up a new registration/account.

All required attachments must be uploaded through the online application form in Smarty Grants. Please do not upload documents that have not been requested or email additional attachments such as support letters or references – only your response to the application form will be used to assess your application.

Applications will not be accepted unless they are submitted online through the Smarty Grants portal. Incomplete, late and/or non-compliant applications will not be progressed for assessment.

Support

Please refer to the Grants Administration Guide and Frequently Asked Questions for further details:

• Carers Investment Program 2023-25 Grant - Grant Guidelines (PDF, 342.2 KB)
• Carers Investment Program 2023-25 Grant FAQs (PDF, 353.4 KB)

The Carers team may also be able to answer your queries. Please contact the Carers Team at carerstr@facs.nsw.gov.au