Up to $10,000 is available from Community Ice Action Grants to support projects which will help tackle the drug ice in their local area.
Community Ice Action Grants (CIAG)
Community Ice Action Grants (CIAG) bring together community members, local service providers and businesses committed to preventing and reducing ice related harms in their communities.
In some locations, this investment will allow local community members to come together for the first time to develop local solutions. In other cases, it may allow local community groups to build on existing successful, locally-based responses to ice. The grant supports a range of activities including forums, production and development of communications, promotion of education opportunities and the evaluation of these initiatives and interventions.
Background
The Victorian Government delivered its Ice Action Plan on 5 March 2015. It was developed on the advice of the Premier’s Ice Action Taskforce and delivered within the first 100 days of the Government.
As part of the plan, the Government will provide $500,000 over four years to support grassroots Community Ice Action Groups in regional, rural and urban growth areas to address ice related concerns at the local level. Thirteen community groups received grants of up to $10,000 through the 2015 round.
Community Ice Action Grants 2016 is the second of four grant rounds for Community Ice Action Groups with funding available until 2018/19.
These grants are administered by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Funding
Grants of up to $10,000 are available to groups who identify a local need and who can undertake and evaluate evidence based solutions to address these. This funding is for 12 months. A total of $125,000 grant funding is available each year for four years.
Eligible Activities
Community Ice Action Grants 2016 will support a range of activities including forums, producing and developing communications and promoting education opportunities.
Examples of previously successful community projects include:
- workshops or forums where community and local health service providers come together to and discuss ice, practical strategies to help families and individuals and available sources of help in the community.
- a website including locally relevant information about ice issues and information on where to get help.
- an alcohol and drug free community activity such as a music festival.
- a peer leadership program for local youth about ice and safety and resilience.
- short film, art or photography competition for young people to think creatively about responding to ice issues.
- school holiday activities for young people to provide them with safe activities to prevent boredom and healthy lifestyle and ice safety education.
Eligible Applicants
Applications are sought from groups of community members who wish to take up this issue in their local regional, rural and urban growth communities. Grant applications will be accepted from community ice action groups who propose to undertake activities in the following local government areas:
| Alpine (S) Ararat (RC) Ballarat (C) Bass Coast (S) Baw Baw (S) Benalla (RC) Buloke (S) Campaspe (S) Cardinia (S) Casey (C) Central Goldfields (S) Colac Otway (S) Corangamite (S) East Gippsland (S) Gannawarra (S) Glenelg (S) Golden Plains (S) Greater Bendigo (C) | Greater Geelong (C) Greater Shepparton (C) Hepburn (S) Hindmarsh (S) Horsham (RC) Hume (C) Indigo (S) Latrobe (C) Loddon (S) Macedon Ranges (S) Mansfield (S) Melton (C) Mildura (RC) Mitchell (S) Moira (S) Moorabool (S) Mount Alexander (S) Moyne (S) | Murrindindi (S) Northern Grampians (S) Pyrenees (S) Queenscliffe (B) South Gippsland (S) Southern Grampians (S) Strathbogie (S) Surf Coast (S) Swan Hill (RC) Towong (S) Wangaratta (RC) Warrnambool (C) Wellington (S) West Wimmera (S) Whittlesea (C) Wodonga (C) Wyndham (C) Yarriambiack (S) |
Applications with a focus on people from particular communities, for example, people with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse background, Aboriginal people and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people are also encouraged.
In 2016, a minimum of 30% of grants will be awarded for projects focussing on Aboriginal populations that are delivered by (or can demonstrate strong partnerships with) Aboriginal community based organisations and communities.
Grants will be provided to incorporated, not-for-profit organisations and local councils only. Individuals will not be funded.
Timing
Applications close 15 June 2017.
More Information
Media Release
Thirteen community groups will receive grants from the Andrews Labor Government to fight against ice and drug addiction in communities across the state.
Minister for Mental Health Martin Foley was joined by Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards to announce the third round of Community Ice Action Grants, with the team at Sports Focus who are receiving funding to support local cricket clubs towards early detection of illicit drug use related issues and support players and families.
Bendigo Community Health Service, Sports Focus and the Victorian AIDS Council will also receive funding for programs in the Bendigo area – aimed at local cricket clubs, LGBTI communities and health and community services professionals, as well as the wider community.
The grants will engage and educate local communities across the state through initiatives such as workshops, forums, digital media content, and art projects.
Events like “Battle of the Bands” competitions, grassroots education programs for sporting teams, forums for Indigenous people and the creation of youth groups will enable community groups to reach those most at risk of dangerous drug use.
The grants are part of the third stage of the Labor Government’s $180 million Ice Action Plan.
More information about recipients can be found at www.ice.vic.gov.au
