Local Domestic and Family Violence Committee Grants funding guidelines

Overview

The NSW Government supports the prevention of domestic and family violence at the local level by providing annual grants to Local Domestic and Family Violence Committees across the state.  In this context, grants of up to $1,800 are available for Local Domestic and Family Violence Committees across NSW by application.

Local Domestic and Family Violence Committee Grants must deliver a project that assists committees to raise awareness about:

• the impact of violence against women
• local services and support available within their communities.

Funds can be used to:

• develop educational and awareness raising resources
• print information booklets and promotional brochures and posters about domestic and family violence and/or local services suitable for community members 
• provide childcare with an approved service provider to enable parents/carers to participate in activities.

Objectives

The Local Domestic and Family Violence Committee Grants 2022 program, has four key objectives:

1. Raise awareness in the community about the destructive impacts of domestic and family violence.
2. Reinforce messages about positive behaviours and social norms rejecting violence against women.
3. Engage local groups, organisations – including men's organisations – and schools in leading efforts for change. 
4. Increase awareness in the local community about services and assistance available, for those experiencing domestic and family violence, or those responsible for it.

Grant applications must demonstrate how the proposed project will contribute to raising awareness of domestic and family violence in your community by meeting at least one of the program objectives.

Funding Amount

One off funding up to $1,800 (excluding GST) is available for projects through an online application process.

Committees should, wherever possible, seek in-kind support and/or financial contributions from project partners. Committee contributions are encouraged and can include voluntary labour, use of existing facilities, equipment or other resources, and/or administration.

Eligibility Criteria

All projects are assessed on merit against the following criteria:

• how the project will effectively deliver at least one of the grants program objectives
• how the community will benefit from the initiative
• how the expected outcomes of the project provides significant benefit to girls and/or women
• how the success of the project will be measured
• how project partners outside of committee membership are engaged in the initiative, including their contributions to the project (financial and/or in-kind)
• projects must be completed within the 2022/23 financial year
• projects previously funded by the LDFVCG must be completed with project report and funding acquittals submitted
• how activities will align with current NSW Health advice about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, to qualify as a Local Domestic and Family Violence Committee under this funding program, the committee must:

• be a formally recognised forum with documented terms of reference, where organisations in a local area (government and non-government) providing services to women and children experiencing domestic and family violence, can discuss issues of concern, and enhance inter-agency responses
• be a body with membership from both government agencies and non-government organisations
• have members with demonstrated expertise in addressing domestic and family violence
• provide an up to date copy of agreed terms of reference (or other relevant operational information). 

Funding will not be directly granted to any person or organisation which does not meet the eligibility criteria of a Local Domestic and Family Violence Committee. These include but are not limited to:

• federal, state, and local government agencies (although they may be a member of a local committee)
• individuals
• private companies
• non-government organisations which do not represent a committee.

Sponsoring body

As Local Domestic and Family Violence Committees are not incorporated legal entities, Committees will need to nominate a sponsoring body to receive the grant funds on their behalf.

A sponsoring body must be an incorporated legal entity. The role of a sponsoring body is to:

• accept the grant monies on behalf of the funded committee
• pay grant monies to the funded committee in accordance with the grant conditions
• provide project management assistance to the funded committee
• for the purpose of this project the sponsoring organisation will cover the committee activities for adequate public liability and volunteer protection insurance
• ensure the required reports and financial acquittal information is provided to Strategy and Programs after the project is completed.

Only one application for funding per committee will be accepted, however, sponsoring bodies may sponsor more than one committee.

NSW National Redress Scheme sanctions

The NSW Government will not award a Grant Funding Arrangement to a non-government organisation with Redress Obligation (or to any of its Related Entities) if that non-government organisation:

• has declined to join the Scheme, or
• at the expiry of six months after the time it is notified to join the Scheme, has failed to do so.

For further information, visit the NSW National Redress Scheme sanctions website. 

COVID-19

Projects must adhere to current NSW Government public health orders and advice in regards to COVID-19. Up-to-date information is available on the NSW Government COVID-19 website. 

Grant funds expenditure

Funds can only be used for expenses/activities directly associated to the project.  The application must clearly outline your proposed expenditure in the budget you submit with your application.

Grant funds exclusions

The following will not be considered eligible for funding: 

• general operating and meeting expenses for the committee.
• any activity of a commercial nature which is for personal profit.
• capital works (i.e. building work).
• permanent salaries/wages (costs for temporary workers for your project can be included).
• reimbursement to committee members/organisations for time spent on preparation and administration of the project.
• permanent equipment purchases (i.e. tables, computers, buses).
• events which encourage gambling, such as bingo, or the consumption of alcohol.
• activities that breach current NSW Health COVID-19 guidelines.

Insurance

Grant recipients must maintain current and adequate insurance appropriate to the activities/services funded under this grant to cover any liability of the grant recipient that might arise in connection with the performance of its obligations under a Grant Funding Agreement. This must include, but is not limited to a minimum of $10 million Public Liability Insurance.

Applicants will be asked to provide a copy of all relevant insurance policies and certificates in the application form.

Banking details information

It is the applicants’ responsibility to provide correct banking details, including the authorised signature to verify the applicant’s bank details, in their application form. Funds transferred to an incorrect bank account may not be recoverable.

Application process

• All applications must be submitted online via Smarty Grants portal.  
• Applications will open at 10:00am on Monday 10 October 2022; and close at 11:59pm on Sunday 23 October 2022.
• Applications will initially be reviewed by Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) for general program compliance, and then assessed.
• Applicants will be formally notified on 4 November 2022 if their application has been successful or unsuccessful. Applicants must ensure their contact details are up to date.

Successful applicants obligations

• Any variations to the approved project scope, project location and completion time frames outlined in the original application form must be formally requested and approved in writing before any related work takes place. 
• To discuss a variation, please contact the SPC-Grants Hub team by email SPC-GrantsHub@facs.nsw.gov.au.  
• All projects must be completed by June 2023. You are required to submit a Final Report and Financial Acquittal in SmartyGrants no later than July 2023.  DCJ will send you the final acquittal form prior the required date that you will need to complete in the SmartyGrants portal
• Please note that any photographs or videos containing images of participants and/or staff submitted in the Final Completion Report must be accompanied by a signed DCJ still and moving images consent form (DOCX, 231.9 KB). 
• It is a program requirement that all financial records related to grant expenditure and acquittal be retained by the committee of the organisation for seven years. If the committee changes, these documents must be forwarded to the new incoming committee.

Download a print version of the guidelines for the 2022 Local Domestic and Family Violence Committee Grants.  (PDF, 298.1 KB)