Up to $100,000 is available from Community Harmony Program to support organisations in promoting social cohesion and harmony within communities.
Community Harmony Program
The Community Harmony Program is designed to enable Victorians to build social cohesion and community harmony through preventative initiatives that address the root causes of social disharmony and racial, ethnic and religious intolerance.
Background
The Community Harmony Grants Program is a competitive grants program administered by the Multicultural Affairs and Social Cohesion Division of the Department of Premier and Cabinet. The Program is underpinned by the
Victorian Values Statement that is the core of the new Multicultural Statement.
Building social cohesion and community harmony means the well-being of the Victorian community is supported to create a sense of belonging and trust for all Victorians. Supporting opportunities for Victorians to build relationships with one another, no matter what religion, ethnicity, skin colour, cultural identity, gender or sexuality a person identifies with, is core to the Victorian values that unify us.
Objectives
The Community Harmony Program objectives are to:
- Increase intercultural, inter-community and interreligious interaction, engagement and understanding.
- Support diverse groups, such as different cultural, religious and social groups, to develop relationships with one another and deliver initiatives that promote social cohesion and harmony.
- Support and work with communities to build their capacity and leadership to respond to emerging challenges to social cohesion.
- build the recognition that shared values and the foundations of common humanity transcend cultural and religious difference.
Funding
Grants of up to $100,000 per annum for one or two years.
Eligible Projects
The Community Harmony Grants Program is highly competitive, typically receiving a high volume of applications. The types of activities that could be considered include:
- initiatives that promote positive public narratives to increase the visibility, coverage, and portrayal of positive intercultural and interfaith relations;
- development and training programs to increase the capacity of leaders and members of diverse cultural and faith communities to promote intercultural and interfaith dialogue and engagement;
- intercultural sports, arts, and youth programs that engage participants from diverse backgrounds;
- educational programs that facilitate intercultural and interfaith dialogue in schools, organisations or youth groups to encourage trust and understanding between participants;
- intercultural and interfaith events/seminars/workshops that encourage intercultural and interfaith dialogue, awareness and/or understanding; and/or
- interfaith engagement initiative such as visits to various places of worship for faith leaders, students and members of the Victorian community to promote understanding and communication between communities.
- innovative approaches that respond to community challenges and align with Program objectives and funding priorities.
Priority will be given to applications that:
- display strong collaborative links between partner organisations;
- aim to involve a broad range of Victorians in activities, particularly with people who have not previously engaged with intercultural or interfaith activities;
- demonstrate a commitment to the Victorian Values Statement and the Whole of Government Multicultural Affairs Outcomes Framework;
- have a focus on women, young people, new and emerging communities, LGBTI groups or regional Victoria; and/or
- demonstrate in-kind support or other funding sources and/or funding partners.
Organisations with active multi-year funding under the 2016-17 Community Harmony Grants Program are eligible to apply for funding, however funding proposals must be for a different program of activities.
Eligible Applicants
To be funded under the Community Harmony Program organisations must:
- be incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) or the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 (Vic) and have a current Australian Business Number (ABN) that is not for a commercial entity or individual; or
- be a Local Government Authority.
If your organisation does not meet the above criteria you must nominate an eligible auspice to apply for a grant. Auspice organisations must meet the above criteria.
Types of organisations that may apply include:
- Community organisations;
- Culturally diverse community groups;
- Interfaith networks;
- Peak faith bodies; and
- Local Government Authorities (LGAs).
Note that LGAs will need to illustrate close collaboration and/or partnerships with relevant communities and/or organisations.
Timing
Applications close 12 June 2018.
Current Recipients
- Albury-Wodonga Ethnic Communities Council – $25,000
- All Nations Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia – $40,000
- AMAFHH Federation – $40,000
- Ararat Islamic Welfare Association (AIWA) – $5,300
- Australia Light Foundation Incorporated – $10,000
- Australian Red Cross Society Victoria – $50,000
- Bendigo Community Health Services – $24,843
- Cardinia Interfaith Network – $5,250
- CERES – $30,000
- City of Greater Bendigo – $65,000
- Cohealth Ltd – $75,000
- East African Women’s Foundation – $18,500
- Fitrah – $3,000
- Flag Inc. – $20,000
- Forum On Australia’s Islamic Relations – $24,800
- Grampians Pyrenees Primary Care Partnership – $30,000
- Incubate Foundation – $60,000
- Initiatives of Change – $60,000
- Islamic Museum of Australia – $34,613
- Jesuit Social Services – $30,000
- Jewish Christian Muslim Association of Australia – $50,000
- Kids’ Own Publishing – $25,000
- Living Learning Pakenham Inc. – $24,800
- Maribyrnong City Council – $15,000
- Melbourne Health – $2,000
- Melton City Council – $45,000
- Merri Health – $60,000
- Monash City Council – $50,000
- Nepalese Association of Victoria – $7,000
- Norlane Community Centre – $20,000
- Polish Community Care Services Incorporated – $24,000
- Sankat Mochan Samiti Inc – $12,745
- Shepparton Inter Faith Network – $12,000
- Temple Beth Israel – $15,000
- The Interfaith Centre of Melbourne – $24,890
- Uniting Church in Australia – $38,440
- Victoria Maori Wardens Inc. – $5,000
- Vietnamese Community in Australia/Vic Chapter Inc – $7,500
- Welcome to Australia Ltd. – $30,000
- Wellsprings for Women – $22,000
- Whitehorse Interfaith Network – $4,000
- Wingate Avenue Community Centre – $25,000
- Youth Activating Youth – $50,000
- Zionism Victoria – $20,000
