What is Community Languages Multicultural Grants?
The Community Languages Multicultural Grants is a program that will support the administration of community language schools through the provision of funding based on student enrolment numbers to help cover school operating costs.
Background
The Community Languages Multicultural Grants Program (the Program) is being provided by the Department of Home Affairs and is part of Program 2.1 Multicultural and Citizenship Program, within Outcome 2.
- Outcome 2: Support a prosperous and inclusive society, and advance Australia’s economic interests through effective management of the visa, multicultural and citizenship programs and provision of refugee and humanitarian assistance.
- Program 2.1: Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship: To support a prosperous and inclusive society through the promotion, delivery and effective management of the Australian multicultural and citizenship programs.
The Program will run over 2 years from 2019-20 to 2020-21 and will help implement the Government’s multicultural statement, Multicultural Australia: United, Strong, Successful.
Objectives
The Community Language Multicultural Grants aims to:
- Support the maintenance, development and acquisition of languages other than English.
- Connect young Australians to the languages and cultures of their community.
- Enhance cross-cultural awareness and respect for cultural diversity.
The intended outcome of the grant opportunity is to contribute to an integrated and cohesive multicultural Australia where children and young people are able to consolidate their grasp and understanding of languages other than English in an atmosphere, which values education, diversity and mutual respect. Community languages schools contribute towards a stronger Australia by investing in the development of Australia’s future workforce to help them compete in an increasingly multilingual global market.
Program Stream
The Community Languages Multicultural Grants Program will comprise two discrete streams:
- Stream One: Per-capita funding
- Stream Two: Project funding
Funding
The Australian Government has announced a total of $10 million (GST exclusive) over 2 years from 2019-20 to 2020-21 for the Community Languages Multicultural Grants Program (including both streams).
Eligible community languages schools will receive one payment each year of the program. The first payment will occur shortly after the execution of the grant agreement. The second payment will occur in Term 1 of 2021.
2019-20 Payments:
- Base payment of $1,500; plus
- Payment per student enrolled in the school as at 30 November 2019. The funding amount provided per student will be calculated based on the total funds available for Stream One in 2019-20 minus the base payments made to all schools deemed eligible under the program, divided by the total number of student enrolments across all funded organisations.
- The 2019-20 payment will be capped at a maximum of $30,000 per school, per financial year
2020-21 Payment:
- Base payment of $1,500; plus
- Payment per student enrolled in the school as at 30 November 2019. The funding amount provided per student will be calculated based on the total funds available for Stream One in 2020-21 minus the base payments made to all schools deemed eligible under the program, divided by the total number of student enrolments across all funded organisations.
- The 2020-21 payment will be capped at a maximum of $30,000 per school, per financial year.
- Payment amounts may be varied if enrolment numbers change by more than 30 percent from your application or drop below the required minimum enrolment number of 10 students prior to the second payment in Term 1 of 2021. Should this occur you must contact the Community Grants Hub.
Only one grant will be provided to each legal entity as defined in Section 4.1 of these guidelines. Schools that have multiple campuses should submit one application and will be expected to distribute funding to campuses within their organisation. Evidence of student enrolment numbers may be requested to support your application.
Eligible Projects
To be eligible your grant activities must directly relate to the objectives of the grant opportunity as detailed in Section 2 of the guidelines.
You can only spend the grant on eligible expenditure you have incurred on eligible grant activities.
Eligible expenditure items are:
- meeting the cost of wages or allowances provided to individuals teaching language classes
- teaching materials and resources (for example textbooks and workbooks)
- stationery and photocopying
- buying educational equipment or technology (for example language specific software, whiteboards, tablets and laptop computers)
- expenses associated with school administration including insurance and Working with Children checks
- professional development courses or activities for individuals teaching language classes.
Not all expenditure on your grant activity may be eligible for grant funding. You must incur the expenditure on your grant activities between the start date and end date for your grant activity for it to be eligible.
Eligible Applicants
To be eligible you must be a not-for-profit community language school that is legally registered in Australia.
You must be one of the following legal entities to apply:
- Company
- Cooperative
- Indigenous Corporation
- Incorporated Association
- Statutory Entity
- Trustee on behalf of a Trust
As a not-for-profit organisation, you may be asked to demonstrate your not-for-profit status through one of the following:
- State or Territory incorporated association registration number or certificate of incorporation, e.g. clubs and other associations.
- Current Australian Charities and Not for profits Commission’s (ACNC) registration, e.g. for organisations registered as a charity.
You must also have the following requirements in place before you apply for this grant opportunity:
- An Australian Business Number (ABN).
- An account with an Australian financial institution.
To be considered eligible for funding under the Community Languages Multicultural Grants Program, community languages schools must:
- teach a community language that is used by members of cultural/linguistic groups in Australia
- have been in operation for at least 12 months prior to the commencement of the grant activity
- be open to enrolments for school-aged students (Australian citizens or permanent residents) from Kindergarten to Year 12, regardless of linguistic background or proficiency
- have a minimum enrolment of 10 school-aged students. The minimum of 10 students per legal entity applies (not 10 students per campus)
- have a minimum average attendance rate of 70 per cent over the school year
- provide language tuition for at least 35 weeks of the year.
Timing
Applications close 17 February 2020.
