The Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) has opened applications for the Coronavirus Support for Multicultural Seniors (CSMS) 2020-21 grants program to provide grants worth up to $2,000 to multicultural senior groups during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (ECCV) said in a statement that the  grants were designed to help multicultural seniors’ groups provide immediate support for their members and to build stronger links with their communities during the pandemic.

Grant applicants need to be multicultural senior’s groups whose main focus is to support seniors from culturally, linguistically and religious diverse backgrounds. Each group must have at least 20 members with at least half their members being over the age of 60.

The CSMS grants can be used to cover a range of cost including: the distribution of accurate COVID-19 information; establishing digital or remote support networks to keep their members connected; delivering support to multicultural seniors; buying equipment; and to cover running costs.

READ MORE: Victoria’s $69m package for multicultural communities

There will two funding rounds for the CSMS 2020-21 grant program.

The DPC would send offers of funding directly to existing multicultural seniors’ groups that had recently received funding and established eligibility under Multicultural Affairs seniors funding programs and these groups would be required to apply through the online applications process.

Newly formed groups that had not received funding from the DPC could apply online. Applications are set to close on 10 February.

Funding worth up to $2,000 per senior group will be available until 30 June and successful applicants would also receive Public Liability (PLI) and Group Personal Accident (GPA) insurance as well as the grant.

Multicultural seniors’ groups could submit their application online or receive a first-round Direct Funding Order Applications close 5pm Wednesday, 10 February.

♦ For more information visit the Victoria government’s Coronavirus support for Multicultural Pensioners webpage.