COVID-19 Grant - Tranche 3 funding guidelines

Objectives

The provision of assistance to services that provide support to victim survivors of sexual, domestic and family violence is more important than ever. Sexual, domestic and family violence can have wide-ranging and long-term effects, which is why support for sexual, domestic and family violence services is a priority for the NSW Government.

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a rise in demand for sexual, domestic and family violence services and an increase in the complexity of client needs. This makes ensuring the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable, children, young people and families, and protecting them from the risk of harm, abuse and neglect an even bigger challenge for frontline service providers.

The $8 million COVID-19 Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Infrastructure Grant Program (the SDFV Infrastructure Grants Program) aims to support sexual, domestic and family violence services, including organisations working with perpetrators of domestic and family violence (DFV) to respond to the challenges posed by COVID-19.

This Grant program supports the NSW Premier’s Priority to reduce domestic violence reoffending, including working with perpetrators and/or victim-survivors and the State Outcome of Children and Families Thrive - Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable, children, young people and families, and protecting them from the risk of harm, abuse and neglect.

This one-off capital infrastructure grant funding is available for projects valued over $25,000 that fall within the following categories:

Acquisition of land or buildings suitable for the provision of frontline services.
Construction of new accommodation suitable for the provision of frontline services.
Refurbishment, repurposing and improvement of buildings from which frontline services are delivered. This may include projects such as:
- improving access for people with disability
- creating spaces for children such as outdoor areas, playgrounds, games rooms or healing and wellness rooms
- upgrading existing kitchens, bathrooms, living areas/ bedrooms, office
- constructing or installing new spaces or demolishing existing buildings
- building additions or upgrades at women’s shelters or other frontline services
- expansion of existing dwellings, including refurbishments and repurposing buildings, and land clearance and site works
- construction of ramps or parking spots/spaces etc.
- painting, plumbing, roofing or electrical services
Acquisition of equipment required for the delivery of frontline services. This may include items such as:
- laundry or kitchen upgrades/refurbishments, and
- installation of security upgrades.

Exclusions

The funds cannot be used for non-infrastructure initiatives, staffing (except as part of the delivery of the infrastructure e.g. for trades persons) or ongoing operational costs.

Grants available

Grants are available to eligible organisations to meet those objectives, seeking funding of over $25,000.

This grant is one off funding provided as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The $8 million COVID-19 Domestic and Family Violence Infrastructure Grant Program is supported by funding from the Commonwealth Government.

Who can apply?

To be eligible for funding, applicants must currently:

Provide a direct and frontline service to people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, sexual, domestic and family violence; or provide services or programs for perpetrators, as part of their overall service delivery model; and
Be established in NSW and operational.

Eligible applicants may include not-for-profit organisations including community organisations and/or faith-based organisations.

Applicants may be prioritised for funding with consideration to the following:

Services that assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, people with disability, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) people, male victims or people living in regional or remote parts of NSW.
Services that aim to reduce domestic violence reoffending, including working with perpetrators.

Applicants that received funding under the recent Commonwealth Government and NSW Government stimulus packages are eligible to apply, as are applicants who received funding through the 2020 COVID-19 Domestic and Family Violence Grant Program.

Who cannot apply?

Sole Traders
Private companies
Individuals
Local Government/Councils
NSW Government departments and agencies

Organisations based outside NSW are not eligible to apply unless they can demonstrate the capital infrastructure will be delivered in NSW.

Organisational Information
Criteria	Description and guidance to Applicants
Eligibility Criteria Organisation Information	Applicants must include: Organisation name and details Australian Business Number Details of the organisation, including current registrations and insurance Confirmation that the organisation delivers direct and frontline service to people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, sexual, domestic and family violence; or provide services or programs for perpetrators, as part of their overall service delivery model Confirmation that the organisation is located in NSW and that the proposed works will occur in NSW.
Prioritisation Criteria Organisational Information	Applicants must identify and detail whether: They provide services that: assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, People with disability, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) people, male victims or people living in regional or remote parts of NSW, and aim to reduce domestic violence reoffending, including working with perpetrators.
Eligibility Criteria Project Information	Applicants must include: The nature and scope of the proposed project including details of: The category that the project falls within A short description of the scope of the project to be funded The cost of the proposal The exact location (LGA) of the works Acknowledgement that this is a one-off capital request, as no further grant funding will be provided for changes in scope or budget overruns.
Assessment Criteria Project Information	Applicants are to respond to the following Assessment Criteria, with consideration to the guidance provided below: Criterion 1 – Demonstrate the benefits that your proposal is intended to provide and how improved or new infrastructure will support the provision of your services: Demonstrate and describe how the proposed works will benefit the recipients of your service. Describe how the proposed works will address any deficiencies with your current service or infrastructure and/or improve the service you provide. Criterion 2 – Demonstrate the value for money of your proposal: Describe the number of people that will be helped or supported by the project, including the number of additional people supported by the project. Describe the location of the cohort who will benefit from this project. Outline the cost of the project. Criterion 3 – Demonstrate the timing for delivery of the Project: Describe the high-level milestones for delivery of the project. Confirm whether the project would not occur at all, or not in the same time frame, without the grant funding.
Additional Assessment Criteria for Fund requests of $100,000 (Excl GST) or more	For Applicants seeking funding of $100,000 or more Applicants must also demonstrate the following: How the Applicant intends to manage development approvals, including consent from building owners where the Applicant does not own the building. How the Applicant intends to project manage the project, including relevant management expertise. Proof that the funding request is adequate for the works and describe how the Applicant intends to manage any budget overruns. How the Applicant will manage risks associated with the project, including impacts to services and risks during building works or activities.

Assessment process

Organisations will have five weeks to submit an Expression of Interest.

EOIs will be assessed through a three-stage process:

A review of EOIs against the Assessment Criteria, which will be undertaken by an Assessment Panel comprised of senior NSW Government and external subject matter representatives. A probity advisor will also be engaged to advise the panel.
EOI’s may be prioritised with reference to the Prioritisation Criteria, which will be undertaken by the Assessment Panel.

DCJ may seek clarification or further information from interested parties after applications have closed. Any clarification will be sought prior to the Assessment Panel being convened. DCJ may seek references before recommending successful grant applications. Both successful and unsuccessful grant applications will be notified in writing.

How to apply

EOIs are only to be submitted via the SmartyGrants portal.

Applicants are required to register with SmartyGrants in order to access the online application form.

Applications open at 10am (AEST) on 22 March 2021 and close at 5pm (AEST) on 23 April 2021. No extensions to the deadline will be permitted.

Further information

If you have any questions about the COVID-19 Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Grant Program, or would like any further information, please contact Women NSW at WomenNSWgrants@facs.nsw.gov.au

Terms and conditions

Disclaimer

Submission of an application does not guarantee funding.

The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) accepts no responsibility for your project, irrespective of the funding provided by the agency to support the project, and irrespective of its listing on the Women NSW website or other DCJ publications.

Organisations are responsible for meeting their duty of care and all other obligations to project participants and other stakeholders.

NSW Government Brand Guidelines

Grant recipients are required to acknowledge the contribution and support of the NSW Government in accordance with the NSW Government Brand Guidelines.

Media and disclosure of project information

Grant recipients agree to information about the project being used for evaluation, promotional and media purposes. Should your application be successful, DCJ may need to provide certain information to the media and Members of Parliament for promotional activities. Grant recipients should not make public announcements about their project without prior approval from DCJ.

Grant recipients agree to obtain consent from Project Participants (using the DCJ Still and moving images consent form (event)) for all still and moving images of participants captured by project organisers during the course of the Project and provided to DCJ.

Grant recipients acknowledge that the information provided in the application, and any images of the project provided to DCJ, may be used by DCJ in media and promotional activities such as publishing case studies, social media and website content, and/or media releases.

Reporting requirements

Grant recipients are required to enter into a funding agreement with DCJ. Organisations funded by DCJ must operate in accordance with their contract and with legislation, policies and guidelines relevant to their program funding.

Grant recipients will be required to submit a progress report within six months of project commencement and evaluate their project within 12 months of commencing, to include a project acquittal and report focused on program deliverables and acquittal of their finances.

Privacy Policy

The NSW Government will collect and store the information you voluntarily provide to enable implementation of this grant program. Any information provided by you will be stored on a database that will only be accessed by authorised personnel and is subject to privacy restrictions. The information will only be used for the purpose for which it was collected.

The NSW Government is required to comply with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998. The NSW Government collects the minimum personal information to enable it to contact an organisation and to assess the merits of an application.

Applicants must ensure that people whose personal details are supplied with applications are aware that the NSW Government is being supplied with this information and how this information will be used.

Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009

Information received in applications and in respect of applications is treated as confidential. However, documents in the possession of the Government are subject to the provisions of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. Under some circumstances a copy of the application form and other material supplied by the applicant may be released, subject to the deletion of exempt material, in response to a request made in accordance with the Act.

Last updated:

17 Oct 2022