2. Eligibility for Emerging Issues Funding
2.1 Meeting the Criteria
Funding applications will be assessed against the following criteria and the organisation's ability to comply with the project management requirements set out in the Department's standard Funding Agreement (refer section 4.2).
See: Section 4.2
2.2 Eligible Organisations
Emerging Issues Funding usually will be allocated to incorporated, not–for–profit organisations or local government authorities. For the purposes of the Diversity and Social Cohesion Program, a not–for–profit organisation is an organisation which is not operated for profit or for the individual gain of its members or promoters. Incorporated organisations must be incorporated under the relevant Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation in the legislative jurisdiction in which the organisation has been established.
Not–for–profit organisations may apply for funding in partnership with for–profit organisations. However, funding only will be allocated for the activities of the not–for–profit organisation.
Groups such as schools, vocational and tertiary institutions, non–profit foundations, religious organisations, service clubs, sporting bodies, Indigenous groups, ethnic communities and youth organisations and other sections of the general community may also be eligible for funding. These groups may also participate in projects by implementing project activities on behalf of a funded organisation through sub–contracting arrangements.
Where more than one organisation is involved in a project, the Department will usually enter into a contract (by way of a Funding Agreement) with one organisation as the lead agency for the project.
2.3 Ineligible Organisations
Emerging Issues Funding will not be provided to individuals, political organisations, unincorporated organisations (with the exception of government schools) or for–profit organisations. Auspiced organisations are not eligible for funding.
2.4 Eligible Projects and Priority Areas
Projects must respond to a significant issue likely to impact on social cohesion and harmony.
Such issues may be in a localised area, region or in a specific sector of the community. Any Expression of Interest that identifies an emerging issue, or potential emerging issue, must have the capacity to deliver tangible outcomes and must be supported by appropriate evidence of the issue or potential issue, for example, media reports and/or formal research.
Projects must only involve activities taking place entirely within Australia and will usually be funded for a period of up to 24 months.
Project proposals must directly address the Diversity and Social Cohesion Program's objectives set out in section 1.3 and at least one of the priority areas identified in section 1.5.
See:
Section 1.3
Section 1.5
For selected projects, focus group testing will be organised to assess the impact of Emerging Issues Funding activities on community attitudes. In addition, the Department will continue to monitor reports of community disharmony to help determine if Emerging Issues Funding projects are impacting on particular geographic locations.
2.5 Ineligible Projects
Projects may include some elements of the following activities, but funding will not be allocated for projects that comprise solely of:
- continuation of existing activities or current functions of an organisation
- retrospective or deficit funding for projects already under way or completed
- subsidy of general ongoing administrative costs of an organisation, for example electricity or rent
- capital expenditure, for example on buildings, motor vehicles, computers, office furniture
- projects which are essentially about health, welfare or the provision of settlement–services
- festivals or cultural activities of a single ethnic, religious or racial group
- academic research or teacher development projects
- translation or reprinting of existing materials or publication of manuscripts
- travel and other expenses for conferences or short training programs.