What is the Dame Roma Mitchell Grants?
The Dame Roma Mitchell Grants is a program that provides opportunities for children and young people who are – or have been – under the guardianship of the Chief Executive or Minister for Child Protection in South Australia for at least one full year.
Background
The South Australian Government and South Australian Council for Social Services established the Dame Roma Mitchell Trust Fund (DRMTF) for Children and Young People to make grants available to children and young people who are, or have been, under the guardianship of the Chief Executive (under the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017) or under the guardianship of the Minister for Child Protection (under the Children’s Protection Act 1993) or previous equivalent in South Australia for at least one full year. Grants are also available under certain circumstances, to those who have lived in the long-term care of relatives under family care agreements.
Objectives
Grants are provided to:
- achieve personal goals
- contribute to health and wellbeing
- provide developmental opportunities.
Funding
There is no set limit on how much funding you can apply for. However, the funds available for grants are limited. All eligible applications will be considered but there are generally more requests for funds than available funding.
The Board aims to provide:
- consideration of an individual’s circumstances
- consistent contributions towards commonly funded items
Eligible Projects
Dame Roma Mitchell Grants are available in the following categories:
Achieving personal goals
These grants provide a range of social, recreational and self-development opportunities. Previous grants have been awarded for:
- musical instruments
- attendance at workshops
- art materials
- sporting equipment.
Health and wellbeing
Grants have been awarded to support independence, identity and health such as:
- driving lessons
- essential basic furniture and household items
- counselling
- health services or equipment not covered by existing government funding.
Developmental opportunities
Grants can support young people to re-engage in learning or earning to successfully achieve educational or vocational outcomes. Previous grants have provided:
- pre-vocational courses
- computers and software to assist with study and gaining employment
- textbooks
- business expenses
- study opportunities, workshops and conferences
- tools for apprenticeships.
Eligible Applicants
You are eligible to apply if
- you are, or have been, under the guardianship of the Chief Executive (under the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017) or under the guardianship of the Minister for Child Protection (under the Children’s Protection Act 1993) or previous equivalent in South Australia) for at least one full year; or
alternatively, you may be eligible, if you are a child/young person from a remote Aboriginal community who is/was placed in the long-term care of relatives under family care agreements, financially supported on a regular basis by the Department for Child Protection (or a previous equivalent) for a combined total of at least one year; - and you are under 30 years of age, at the closing date of the funding round.
Timing
Applications close 18 March 2022.
