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Date:
17 Apr 2024

Message from the Minister for Multicultural Affairs

Having access to safe and secure community infrastructure is critical to ensuring Victoria’s multicultural and multifaith communities remain connected and have a strong sense of belonging in Victoria.

The Victorian Government is committed to strengthening multiculturalism in Victoria and ensuring all Victorians have a safe space to celebrate their culture.

Maintaining a fair and inclusive Victoria means investing in facilities for communities to share in their culture and traditions, so I’m pleased to announce the establishment of the Jewish Community Security Infrastructure Program (JCSIP).

This program will support our Jewish community to upgrade the security of facilities that celebrate traditions, honour history and encourage community connection.

Securing these meaningful spaces plays an important part in contributing to the broader safety and wellbeing of all Victorians and in promoting a stronger and more inclusive society. Access to safe and culturally appropriate spaces is important and we recognise the barriers that multicultural and multifaith communities may face when it comes to providing secure spaces to gather and connect.

To ensure funding can support organisations most in need, applications from smaller Jewish community organisations or to support facilities with minimal or outdated existing security infrastructure will be prioritised.

We’re proud to deliver this election commitment that will ensure Victoria’s Jewish community remains connected, united and safe to participate in all aspects of Victorian life.

Ingrid Stitt MP

Minister for Multicultural Affairs

Victorian Government values

Multiculturalism in Victoria is more than just diversity of cultures, languages, faiths and traditions. It is providing the systems and supports that make our shared community stronger. It is the knowledge that sharing cultures and understanding our cultural differences is a strength. It also provides a sense of belonging that contributes to the community harmony Victorians are so proud of.

The Victorian Government is committed to:

  • protecting the rights of all Victorians to be free from racism, vilification and discrimination of any kind
  • building community harmony
  • ensuring every Victorian feels safe and can participate in all aspects of Victorian life, irrespective of Aboriginality, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, faith, language, culture, migration or visa status, class, ability and age

The contractual relationship between funded organisations and the Department of Premier and Cabinet reflects this commitment. It sets out the expectation that in the delivery of projects and initiatives funded by the Victorian Government, organisations will promote and uphold the government’s stated values of:

  • one law for all
  • freedom to be yourself
  • discrimination is never acceptable
  • a fair go for all
  • it is up to all of us to contribute to a Victoria we can be proud of

Program aim

The aim of the Jewish Community Security Infrastructure Program (JCSIP) is to improve safety for Victorian Jewish community members by supporting the community to secure or upgrade the security of their community facilities.

JCSIP will offer funding of up to $200,000 per project to support the purchase, installation or upgrade of physical security infrastructure for Victoria’s Jewish community organisation facilities.

Improving the physical security measures at these community facilities will help provide community members with safer places in which to celebrate and share their history and traditions, access social and cultural opportunities, build connections and thrive.

Projects receiving a grant of $75,000 or less must complete in under 6 months.

Projects receiving a grant of over $75,000 must complete in under 9 months.

Key dates and timelines

  • Applications open

    Thursday 9 May 2024

  • Submit your application

    Between Thursday 9 May 2024 and Thursday 18 July 2024

  • Applications close

    3:00 pm on Thursday 18 July 2024

Funding priorities

The JCSIP grant program is an open and competitive program assessed on eligibility and merit. The Department of Premier and Cabinet (the Department) is delivering the program.

The program will prioritise providing funding support of smaller Jewish community groups and organisations which are operating with less secure facilities for the community.

Larger organisations and those seeking to upgrade significantly dated security infrastructure are not excluded and remain welcome to apply.

The program’s funding priorities and assessment process will prioritise applications when the proposed project specifically benefits:

  • smaller organisations and their facilities such as community halls, centres and hubs.
  • facilities which currently have no, outdated or very little security infrastructure in place.

Project locations must be in Victoria.

Merit-based assessment

The JCSIP grant program is an open and competitive program assessed on eligibility and merit. The Department of Premier and Cabinet (the department) is delivering the program.

Not all applications will be successful. Only the most competitive will be offered funding. Some successful applications may only be offered part of the funding amount requested.

Applicants can strengthen their applications by responding carefully to all questions in the application form and providing strong evidence of both the need for their project and the project’s expected impact. High-scoring applications are likely to:

  • Answer all questions, providing data to strengthen the response.
  • Provide all the mandatory documents and the additional documents (only applications providing all the mandatory documents will be assessed).
  • Ensure the required Project Plan document clearly describes the activities for which funding is sought, confirms the selected contractor/s and timelines to do the work and that the Project Plan information matches all the attached mandatory quotes.
  • If available, provide a current or recent Threat Assessment for the project facility.
  • Show strong, regular usage of the project facility by community members and groups (using the mandatory Timetable of Facility Use document).

Funding uses

What the grant money can be used for

Eligible grant activities - what will be funded - include:

  • construction, trades and works to introduce new or upgrade existing physical security infrastructure at a Jewish community facility
  • pre-installation “security service” activities (up to $20,000 maximum) such as:
    • safety and risk assessments
    • design, architectural or planning-related works specifically related to security (excluding planning permit or building permit application fees or tribunal costs)
  • works on an existing Jewish community facility including:
  • physical security infrastructure upgrades – this might include, for example:
    • fencing and gates
    • access control locks, door and window upgrades
    • lighting and other indoor and outdoor security improvements
  • renovations and new installations – this might include, for example:
    • physical alterations or internal remodelling to improve safety and security
    • traffic barriers and bollards
    • blast walls
  • installation of new security systems including emergency communication systems, camera systems / CCTV, intrusion detection, sensor and perimeter alarm systems.
  • Contractors and suppliers should be based in Victoria.
  • Project management costs paid to a professional contractor (using up to 10 per cent of the total grant amount requested) – these require a quote from a professional contractor and cannot be from a volunteer, staff member or office bearer of the applicant organisation.

Organisations can apply for funding for both security service activities and physical security infrastructure activity types. If the funding request includes both activity types, the security service activities must be different to the physical security infrastructure activities to be undertaken. For example, the service activities must relate to a different area of the same facility, an entirely different location or a future stage of intended works for which design or planning activities are required.

All grant funded activities need to clearly confirm the selected contractor in the project plan and attach the quotes from those selected contractors.

Any fixed assets such as security cameras to be purchased and installed with the grant funding must also be clearly listed in the application form and project plan and are subject to the department’s approval. It is important to note that:

  • Assets must be entirely related to the security of the facility.
  • Acceptable assets are fixed, non-transferable and part of the fabric of the project.

What the grant money cannot be used for

Ineligible grant activities – what will not be funded – include:

  • projects that do not align with the objective of the JCSIP
  • the purchase/funding of:
    • cyber security services
    • security guard or similar services
    • ongoing subscriptions for security related services (software licences, monitoring services etc)
    • land, property and/or buildings
    • unfixed, mobile or transferable assets (such as desks, laptops, phones)
  • contingency costs for the project
  • planning permit and building permit application fees or tribunal costs
  • projects that have previously received funding from Multicultural Affairs or the department or the Commonwealth Government’s Securing Faith Based Places program; for example, if your organisation received funding within the last five years to buy and install a gate, you cannot apply for more funds to replace the gate
  • decorative or ornamental projects
  • projects for infrastructure, facilities or land that is privately owned and not accessible by community members (community infrastructure facilities must have public access – accommodation, for example, is not considered public access)
  • activities at education (pre-school / school), or health (including aged care) facilities
  • projects that are the responsibility of another ministerial portfolio
  • recurrent or ongoing costs of an existing organisation (such as rent and utilities)
  • staff salaries
  • maintenance (such as cleaning and gardening) or administration costs
  • funding that could have a negative impact on existing businesses and services.
  • inappropriate use of funds not matching the JCSIP objective or Victorian values.

If you’re not sure whether your project costs or activities are eligible, please email the Multicultural Affairs Programs and Grants Team multicultural.infrastructure@dpc.vic.gov.au before starting your application.

Possible project examples

You can also “test” possible projects by emailing a short description to multicultural.infrastructure@dffh.vic.gov.au

Who can apply

Eligibility

Only eligible applications will be considered for funding under this program. The following eligibility requirements apply to all applicant organisations and projects. Applications are limited to one application per organisation.

To be eligible for the program, your application must:

  • meet the organisation eligibility criteria
  • have no outstanding reports for projects funded by Multicultural Affairs
  • include only eligible grant activities that align with the JCSIP objective
  • not be the responsibility of another ministerial portfolio
  • submit all mandatory documents

Only eligible applications will move to the merit assessment stage.

Organisations which have been offered or have received funding through the Commonwealth Government’s Securing Faith-Based Places program may apply to JCSIP but only for different project activities.

Assessment process

Assessment process

  • Stage 1. Eligibility assessment

    The department reviews all applications and attached documents to decide on eligibility.

  • Stage 2. Merit-based assessment

    The department assesses eligible applications against the assessment criteria, based on responses provided in the application form and the attached documents.

  • Stage 3. Assessment panel

    A panel reviews the department’s application recommendations. The panel includes representatives from the Multicultural Affairs portfolio, the Victorian Multicultural Commission and subject matter experts from across the Victorian Public Service.

  • Stage 4. Ministerial approval

    The Minister for Multicultural Affairs makes the final decision based on the recommendations following the assessment panel.

  • Stage 5. Application outcome

    The department notifies all organisations in writing, whether their grant application is successful or not.

    All decisions by the department or the Minister for Multicultural Affairs are final. This includes decisions on any aspect of the funding application, eligibility and assessment process and:

    • any decision to offer or award a grant under this program
    • any decision to withdraw the offer or cancel the grant funding agreement.

Merit-based assessment

The assessment criteria and weightings are explained below.

Submitting your application

Applications open on 9 May 2024

Submit your application by completing the online application form. Applications are limited to one application per organisation.

Read these program guidelines carefully and:

  • make sure your organisation and project meet the eligibility criteria before you start an application
  • attend the information session (refer to the Jewish Community Security Infrastructure Program webpage for details)
  • if you have any questions about your project or the application process, email the Multicultural Affairs Programs and Grants Team multicultural.infrastructure@dpc.vic.gov.au or phone 1300 112 755.

Submitting your application

Complete the online application form on the Jewish Community Security Infrastructure Program website. You must answer all the questions. Incomplete applications will not be eligible.

Submit all the mandatory documents. If you do not include all the mandatory documents, your application will be ineligible and will not be assessed.

Applications close at 3:00 pm on 18 July 2024.

The Grants Portal, where applications are made, closes electronically at 3pm and so all applications must be completed with all attachments already uploaded before 3pm.

Late applications cannot be accepted.

You will be notified of the outcome of your application once all applications have been assessed. This is scheduled for September 2024 but subject to change.


Successful grant recipients

If your application is successful, project details (project name, description and successful grant amount) will be published on the Jewish Community Security Infrastructure Program website.

Funding agreements

If successful, you must enter a Victorian Common Funding Agreement (VCFA) with the department within a specified timeframe. If a funding offer is not accepted during this period, it may be withdrawn. The VCFA outlines:

  • the grant’s terms and conditions, including use of funds
  • key milestones, deliverables and due dates
  • that all funded activities must be completed by or earlier than the date specified in the VCFA
  • reporting requirements – organisations will need to submit all grant reports (progress and final reports), including photographs and a financial acquittal, with final invoices and evidence that these invoices have been paid. Department staff may also visit the sites of funded projects.

Funding conditions

Successful organisations will be paid based on completing project milestones and deliverables, as outlined in the VCFA. Payments will not be approved and processed until all requirements are completed to the department’s satisfaction.

A note about GST

If your organisation is registered for GST, you will be paid GST on top of the amount awarded.

If your organisation is not registered for GST, you will receive just the grant amount awarded. GST will not be added on top.

Acknowledging the Victorian Government’s support

Successful organisations need to acknowledge the Victorian Government’s support of your project. Promotional guidelines form part of the VCFA. They include the requirement that all activities acknowledge Victorian Government support through logo presentation on any activity-related:

  • publications
  • media releases
  • social media
  • promotional material.

Do you need more information or help?

Information sessions

To support organisations with the application process there will be an information session delivered as a webinar.

Webinar details, including date and time, are available on the Jewish Community Security Infrastructure Program webpage.

Contacting the Multicultural Affairs Programs and Grants Team

For more information, questions on your application, or to check if you have any outstanding reports, email the Multicultural Affairs Programs and Grants Team multicultural.infrastructure@dpc.vic.gov.au or phone 1300 112 755 during business hours.

Glossary

Terms and definitions/ guidance