Victorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Nicholas Kotsiras recently announced the Community Grants Program for 2012, which will be open to applications until December.
The grants program intends to serve the needs of ethnic communities and applicants based in Victoria and strengthen the capacity of culturally and linguistically diverse groups to manage their personal affairs and to participate and influence their local communities.
Grants funding is available through five categories: Organisational Support Grants, Strengthening Multicultural Communities, Buildings and Facilities Improvement Grants, Educational Program Grants and Promoting Multicultural and Multifaith Harmony.
Any Victorian community association, school or council is eligible to apply. Applicants should be non-profit and non-political, must have an Australian Business Number (ABN) and provide written advice from the Australian Tax Office that no withholding tax is required from the fund payment.
Organisations may apply provided the applicant is a legal entity, such as an incorporated body or association and able to enter into legal agreements with the Victorian government represented by the office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship.
For more information and to apply for a grant go to www.multicultural.vic.gov.au/grants or call (03) 9651 0629 to obtain an application form. Applications close on 16 December 2011.