Restoring Community War Memorials and Avenues of Honour Grant Program

We may prioritise funding for projects:

• based on how effective they are at:
  • conserving the significance of the memorial
  • improving visitor experience
  • increasing community knowledge of a community war memorial or avenue of honour
• that have limited or no other sources of funding. For example, organisations in receipt of revenue from electronic gaming may get a lower priority
• in regional and rural local government areas to ensure fair funding across:
  • regions
  • metropolitan Melbourne.

We will not fund applications for projects that:

• have already started
• start before 1 July 2026
• you submit:
  • with incomplete documentation
  • with misleading information
  • after the closing date.

Important considerations

If your project needs project management fees, you may include up to 10% of the total project cost in your application.

For applications for Stage 2 funding (see page 7), we recommend factoring a contingency amount of up to 10% into your project budget.

You must not exceed the maximum value of the grant ($30,000 excluding GST) if requesting these costs.

Success of previous applications is not indicative of future funding through the program.

Funding available

This grant supports activities in 2 stages:

• Stage 1 – Planning grants are up to $10,000 (excluding GST)
• Stage 2 – Implementation grants are up to $30,000 (excluding GST).

Recipients of a Stage 1 grant are not guaranteed to receive a Stage 2 grant.

Activity period

• Stage 1 projects should take place between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027.
• Stage 2 projects should take place between 1 July 2026 and 31 December 2027.

You cannot apply for funding if your project starts before 1 July 2026.

Stage 1 funds may be used for:

• site analysis
• preliminary research
• appointing a heritage contractor, consultant or arborist to undertake a heritage assessment or develop a management plan.

See Find a heritage consultant on the Heritage Consultant website

• concept designs
• required permits from local councils or Heritage Victoria
• trade assessments and quotations
• preparing and fully scoping proposed works and their impact on the significance of the memorial to be undertaken by a qualified heritage:
  • advisor
  • consultant
  • conservator
  • arborist.

Stage 2 funds may be used for:

• re-painting the brickwork or stone of a memorial
• repairing broken statues or plinths that form part of a memorial
• repairing barriers and fences that surround and protect a memorial
• rectifying sinking foundations or lifting paving around a memorial
• re-lettering and re-gilding honour boards and memorials
• treating rusted original memorial gates or fences
• installing additional plaques at the site of the existing memorial or additional names on the memorial or honour board (see ‘Plaques’)
• installing explanatory walls or interpretation panels
• restoring commemorative plaques that form part of an integral part of an avenue of honour
• providing seating, paving or lighting to allow better access to a commemorative site
• relocating a memorial to:
  • its original position
  • to a new position if the current location poses safety or heritage risks.

Please note:

• The department will assess all costs associated with your project.
• The department will not support any changes or increases after submitting your application.

What projects cannot be funded?

Projects the program cannot fund include:

• memorials for individuals other than Victoria Cross recipients
• works that detract from or harm the historical significance of the original memorial. For example, those with inappropriate signage
• restoring, preserving and displaying wartime heritage that is not an integral part of the war memorial or avenue of honour. Such as:
  • driveways
  • paving
  • walkways
• landscaping, gardening and beautification activities. Unless it represents a minor aspect of the project and is necessary as part of the works funded by this program. For example, funding may be for:
  • replacing plants removed due to restoration requirements
• salary costs of existing staff. Except for up to 10% of the total project value being used for project management costs
• equipment, like vehicles or computers (including software)
• buying land, new buildings or vehicles.

Also, the program does not support activities that:

• are within the responsibility of another state, federal, local government program. For example:
  • flag poles. See Saluting Their Service on the Department of Veterans’ Affairs website
  • restoration of war graves. See War Graves on the Department of Veterans’ Affairs website
• create new memorials, honour rolls or avenues of honour. The Victoria Remembers grant program funds this
• have already started or are completed
• are applications from individuals
• are private sector projects undertaken because of a Victorian government contract
• are outside of Victoria
• are on Defence land
• are on private land
• are on facilities that prohibit public access
• applications that do not include all required documents, including:
  • evidence of consent from the land and/or building owner
  • support and financial commitment from funding partners
  • recent quotes
  • required planning approvals

Please note:

• If you’re not sure if a cost is supported under the Restoring Community War Memorials and Avenues of Honour program. Contact the Office for Veterans before submitting your application (refer to ‘More information and help’).
• You may be offered a smaller funding amount than you applied for. We may ask for a revised project plan and budget.

Key dates and timelines

Applications open: 25 November 2025

• Read the program guidelines.
• Make sure you meet the eligibility criteria.
• Access our online grant resources.
• Seek an ‘Auspice arrangement’ if required (refer to ‘Auspice Arrangement’ section in the program guidelines).
• Start early to allow time to get necessary:
  • information
  • agreements
  • documents.
• Download a copy of your application to review and prepare your responses.
• Contact us if you have any questions:
  • Phone the grants information hotline: 1300 366 356
  • Email the Office for Veterans team: veteransgrants@dffh.vic.gov.au

Application period: 25 November 2025 – 3 February 2026

• Register or log in to the Grants Gateway.
• You must be authorised by the organisation to submit the application.
• Upload and submit all mandatory and supporting documents with your application.
• Submit the application by the due date and time.
• You will receive acknowledgement of submission via email.
• Note the application number for reference when contacting us about your application.

Applications close: 5:00pm, 3 February 2026

• We do not consider late or incomplete applications.
• We assess your application within 2 months of the closing date.

Eligibility overview

To be eligible to apply for funding, applicants must make sure:

• they an eligible organisation (refer to the ‘Organisation eligibility’ section in the program guidelines)
• your organisation does not have outstanding reports from previous or current grants funded by the department
• you are seeking funding for an eligible activity (refer to the ‘Project eligibility’ section).

For more information, refer to the program guidelines.

All applications to the Restoring Community War Memorial and Avenue of Honor Grant program undergo the following assessment process:

• Eligibility assessment – all applications undergo an eligibility assessment against the eligibility criteria. The eligibility assessment determines whether the application should proceed to the merit assessment stage.
• Merit assessment – eligible applications are assessed against the assessment criteria and heritage principles, based on responses you provide on the application form.
• Assessment panel – all applications are reviewed by a panel based on responses you provide on the application form.
• Ministerial approval – the Minister for Veterans makes the final decision based on the recommendations from the assessment panel.
• Application outcome – all applicants are notified of the outcome of their application by email.

All decisions are final. This includes decisions about any aspect of the:

• funding application
• eligibility or assessment process, including:
  • any decision to offer or award a grant under the Restoring Community War Memorial and Avenues of Honor Grant Program
  • any decision to withdraw the offer or cancel the grant funding agreement.

For more information, refer to the program guidelines.

All applicants receive written notification of the outcome of their application.

If you are successful, we tell you about any specific conditions attached to the grant. We publish details about your project, including its name, description and grant amount, on this webpage.

If you are unsuccessful, you can ask us for feedback about your application.

Funding agreements

If successful, you must enter a legally binding Victorian Common Funding Agreement (VCFA) with the department. You must enter into this agreement by the milestone date set in the Activity Deliverables and Payments Table of your VCFA. If you do not accept the agreement during this time, the grant may be withdrawn.

The VCFA outlines:

• the grant’s terms and conditions, including use of funds
• key deliverables and due dates
• reporting requirements.

If you need to request a variation to the VCFA or ask for a reporting extension, email the Office for Veterans at veteransgrants@dffh.vic.gov.au.

Payment of grant funds and reporting requirements

If you are successful in receiving funding, your organisation needs to submit a final report and financial acquittal. You may also need to provide progress reports for complex or high-value projects.

We make milestone payments via electronic funds transfer (EFT) once you meet deliverables, in line with the VCFA.

You must use all funds during the activity period, as outlined in the VCFA. You must return any unspent funds to the department.

Goods and services tax (GST)

• GST is paid if the grant is funding a good or service, and if the recipient organisation is registered for GST.
• GST is not paid if the recipient organisation is not registered for GST.
• GST is not paid if the recipient organisation is a government entity. For example, school, local council.
• GST is not paid if the grant is not funding a good and/or service.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) considers grants and sponsorships as taxable income. The ATO can help with information on tax, including GST. Call 13 28 66 or visit the ATO website.

Funding acknowledgement

Successful applicants must acknowledge that funding for the project came from the Victorian Government.

The VCFA sets out guidelines around promotion. These include a requirement that all activities must acknowledge support from Victorian Government. You must include the appropriate Victorian Government logo on any activity related to the project, including:

• publications and websites
• media releases and promotional materials
• project hardware
• formal event invitations.

You must formally invite the Victorian Government to attend any official events related to the project. For example, a project launch or exhibition.

We will send you Acknowledgement and Publicity Guidelines that outline your requirements if your project is funded.

More information about this can be found on the Acknowledgement requirements for veterans grant recipients webpage.

Legal responsibilities

If you apply for a grant, you must make sure the project activity follows relevant:

• legislation
• regulations
• by-laws
• codes.

It must also meet the requirements of any of the following authorities:

• Australian Government
• state
• territory
• local.

It is your responsibility to know the laws and protocols that regulate your work.

To learn more about the Restoring Community and War Memorial Grant program, or for help with your application or grant reporting, you can:

Contact us

• Phone the Grants information hotline on 1300 366 356.
• Email the Office for Veterans veteransgrants@dffh.vic.gov.au with your query.

If you need an interpreter: Please email the Office for Veterans team veteransgrants@dffh.vic.gov.au to request a call back, advising us of your preferred language.

If you are d/Deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech/communication difficulty please:

1. contact us through your preferred National Relay Service (NRS) call channel.
2. provide the NRS with our phone number (1300 366 356).

For more information, visit the About the National Relay Service.

Access online grant resources

Visit the Applying and reporting veterans grants website for resources on:

• how to write a grant application
• how to access the department’s Grants Gateway
• common grants words and terms
• in-kind contributions
• auspice arrangements and how to know if you need one
• how to apply guide - Stages 1 and 2 RCWMAH

Subscribe to our newsletter

For updates on upcoming grant rounds, subscribe to the Veterans Grants email newsletter.