Up to $150,000 is available from Animal Welfare Fund Grants Program to support the improvement of companion animal welfare in the Victorian community.
Animal Welfare Fund Grants Program
The Animal Welfare Fund Grant Program was established under the Domestic Animals Act 1994 (DA Act) in 2011. The fund provides grants to not-for profit organisations to support the improvement of companion animal welfare in the Victorian community. These include animal shelters, organisations promoting responsible animal ownership education, community foster care networks, and groups that provide relief facilities and services during an emergency.
Round 8 of the program offers financial support to not-for-profit and community organisations who rehome pets or provide low cost veterinary services (see section 4.1 of the guidelines) in recognition of the excellent companion animal welfare services they deliver.
Objective
The objectives of the program are to:
- improve companion animal welfare
- improve responsible pet ownership
- provide better animal welfare services to companion animals and the community
Funding
Round 8 of the program offers:
- a total of $200,000 to not-for-profit organisations, shelters and foster carers to support the rehoming of dogs and cats
- a total of $450,000 to not-for-profit and community vet clinics to allow them to maintain and expand their services, and allow new low cost clinics to be set up in areas of need around Victoria.
The following competitive grants will be offered to deliver round eight funding:
- Grants for rehoming pets (small grants): up to $10,000 (GST free) to animal shelters and foster carers wishing to purchase equipment or upgrade or expand their services to benefit the welfare of cats and dogs. For delivery over 12 months.
- Grants for rehoming pets (large grants): up to $50,000 (GST free) to animal shelters and foster carers wishing to purchase equipment or upgrade or expand their services to benefit the welfare of cats and dogs. For delivery over 12 months.
- Grants for veterinary equipment, upgrades and expansions: up to $50,000 (GST free) to not-for-profit and community veterinary clinics wishing to purchase equipment, or upgrade or expand their facility or services to benefit the welfare of cats and dogs. For delivery over 12 months.
- Grants for the establishment of new, low cost veterinary clinics: providing up to $150,000 (GST free) to organisations and registered veterinary practitioners wishing to establish new, low cost veterinary clinics in areas of need in Victoria. For delivery over 24 months.
Eligible Projects
Eligible organisations wishing to invest in infrastructure, programs and activities that benefit the welfare of companion animals within Victoria will be considered for funding.
Consideration will be given to applications covering the following areas:
- Education programs on responsible ownership of animals, including consideration of ethics, sentience and duty of care.
- Improvement in the rates of reuniting companion animals to their owners and rehoming of companion animals.
- Services, systems or equipment which improve the efficiency and effectiveness of:
- foster care, or
- CFCNs, or
- community and not-for-profit veterinary clinics.
- Upgrade or extension of current shelter, foster care or low-cost veterinary clinic facilities to improve the welfare of companion animals.
- Establishment of new low cost veterinary clinics in areas of need around Victoria.
Eligible Applicants
Grant funding can be awarded to:
- animal shelters, CFCNs and foster carers looking to purchase equipment or upgrade or expand their services
- not-for-profit and community vet clinics looking to purchase equipment, maintain or expand their facility or services
- organisations looking to establish new low cost clinics in areas of need in Victoria.
Applicants must also:
- meet one or more of the following definitions as described in section 2 of the guidelines:
- Animal shelter
- CFCN
- Foster carer
- Community vet clinic
- Not-for-profit organisation
- Registered veterinary practitioner, and
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN).
Timing
Applications close 1 December 2019.
More Information
Current Recipients
Small Grant Recipients – Round 7 (2018–19)
| Organisation | Project title | Grant amount |
|---|---|---|
| Camperdown Dog Lovers | Lets Take a Paws | $5,229 |
| Wala Animal sanctuary | Helping Homeless Companion Animals | $10,000 |
Large Grant Recipients – Round 7 (2018–19)
| Organisation | Project title | Grant amount |
|---|---|---|
| Second Chance Animal Rescue | Community Animal Hospital surgery, clinic and recovery rooms fit out | $45,505 |
| Mount Alexander Animal Welfare | Enhancement of Kennels and Surrounds | $40,000 |
| 2nd Chance Cat Rescue | Shelter Sanctuary | $50,000 |
| The lost Dogs’ Home | Visual Kennel Barriers and Water/Feed Bowl Upgrade | $30,000 |
| Eastern Domestic violence Service (EDVOS) | Vets Against Violence | $20,424 |
| The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA Victoria) | Regional High Volume Desexing and Community Behaviour Change |
Small Grant Recipients – Round 6 (2018)
| Organisation | Project Title | Grant Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Squishies Flat Faced Animal Rescue Inc. | Increasing capacity and reducing costs for Flat Faced Animal Rescue | $8,000 |
| Horsham Dog Obedience Club Inc. | Education program for promoting responsible ownership through engagement with a behavioural expert | $2,450 |
| Geelong Animal Rescue GAR Limited | Project RESCUE FURR REAL | $4,711 |
| Pug Rescue & Adoption Victoria Inc. | Essential equipment and education program for CFCN foster carers | $10,000 |
| Pets of the Homeless Ltd | IT enhancement for pet foster care program | $10,000 |
| Victorian Brumby Association Inc. | Increase training facilities and add safety yard | $6,498 |
| Hear No Evil – Australian Deaf Dog Rescue | Desexing and education program | $10,000 |
| Sunraysia Animal Rehousing Group Inc (SARG) | Collaborate and connect | $9,500 |
| Purrs of Point Cook Inc. | Improving efficiency of rescue group | $4,500 |
| The Mark’s Ark Inc. | Adoption day equipment | $3,000 |
Large Grant Recipients – Round 6 (2018)
| Organisation | Project Title | Grant Amount |
| Mt Alexander Animal Welfare Inc. | New cattery facility to replace non-compliant housing | $50,000 |
| Stafford Rescue Victoria Inc. | SRV foster shelter facilities | $50,000 |
| Victorian Animal Aid | Feline isolation wards | $30,000 |
| Bendigo Animal Welfare and Community Services | Canine environmental enrichment and training facility | $50,000 |
Media Release
The Andrews Labor Government is encouraging animal shelters, foster carers, not-for-profit organisations and community vet clinics to apply for grants that will improve the welfare of animals across Victoria.
Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes today opened applications for round eight of the Animal Welfare Fund Grants Program, which will offer support to not-for-profit and community organisations who rehome pets or provide low-cost veterinary services to boost their important work looking after the state’s pets.
Two new categories are available for applicants – with grants of up to $150,000 available to support the establishment of new, low-cost veterinary clinics in areas of need, and up to $50,000 for not-for-profit and community veterinary clinics to purchase equipment upgrades or expand their facilities and services.
Small grants of up to $10,000 and large grants of up $50,000 will also still be available for animal shelters, foster carers and not-for-profits to buy new equipment and expand the care they provide to Victoria’s furry friends.
The grants can be used for a range of services – from reuniting and rehoming companion animals to improving foster care services, providing not-for-profit veterinary services and education programs on responsible ownership of animals.
The Animal Welfare Fund Grants Program commenced in 2012 in recognition of the outstanding services delivered across Victoria by not-for-profit organisations, and the significant role animals play in the lives of Victorians.
The fund is an important part of the Labor Government’s commitment to ensure volunteer organisations have the resources they need to assist and care for animals, wherever they are based – with $3 million in the Victorian Budget 2019/20 to boost the grants program.
Online applications for grant funding are now open and close Sunday 1 December. For more information and to apply, visit animalwelfare.vic.gov.au.
