$1.75M is available to assist Australian Disability Enterprises in moving towards supported employment and a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
About
An area of focus in 2012-2013 is the development of initiatives to build sector responsiveness and resilience as the sector heads along the path to realising the vision and moves towards a social enterprise model, and to prepare ADEs for a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The ADE Social Firm Transition Fund is a component within this focus area.
Funding for Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs) Social Firm Transition Fund is now available to enable them to adapt one of their business lines if they choose to move towards a social enterprise business model in 2012-2013. The funding will assist ADEs in moving towards the Australian Government’s Vision for supported employment and a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The goods or services that will be funded under the Social Firm Transition Fund include stock and equipment, professional and legal advice, infrastructure for IT and other systems, marketing and communication costs, research and development and staff training and recruitment.
The Australian Government helps to support people with disability, their families and carers,through the provision of income support payments and allowances (including Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment and Carer Allowance) and support services for people with disability and their carers.
The Services and Support for People with Disability Program provides support to people with disability, their families and carers, through grants and funding to organisations that deliver services for people with disability.
A social firm is a not-for-profit business which creates accessible employment for people facing barriers to work as a result of mental illness, disability or other disadvantage.
A social firm has a supportive work environment that:
- employs between 25% and 50% of employees with a disability
- pays all workers at award/ productivity-based rates
- provides the same work opportunities, rights and obligations to all employees
- generates the majority of its income through the commercial activity of the business
- has any modifications required for the employee in need of support built into the design of the workplace
Objectives
The main objective of the Social Firm Transition Fund is to provide supported employment and improve access to information, advocacy and services for people with disability so they can develop their capabilities and actively participate in community and economic life.
Disability and Carers aims to provide an adequate standard of living, improved capacity to participate economically and socially and manage life transitions for people with disability and/or mental illness and carers through payments, concessions, and support and care services.
The Services and Support for People with Disability program aims to provide access to improve access to information, advocacy and other services for people with disability so they can develop their capabilities and actively participate in community and economic life
The objectives of the ADE Social Firm Transition Fund are to assist ADEs in their transition to a social enterprise model and to build new business
Funding
Funding for the ADE Social Firm Transition Fund in 2012-13 is $1.75 million.
Eligible Applicants
Only ADE organisations which are funded by the Australian Government at the time of submitting an application are eligible to apply for funding for the ADE Social Firm Transition Fund.
Eligible Projects
The funding may be used for expenses directly related to the delivery of services. Expenses would include staff salaries and on-costs, and operating and administration expenses.
The goods or services that will be funded will be a contribution towards the costs of developing business lines (that are commercially viable and reflect what government and business want to buy) under a social enterprise model of operation including, but not limited to:
- Stock and equipment
- Professional and legal advice
- IT and other systems infrastructure or support
- Marketing and communication costs
- Research and development costs
- Staff training and recruitment
Timing
Applications for the Social Firm Transition Fund close Friday 15 March 2013 at 2pm AEST.
Expert Assistance
Writing a good quality grant application is a critical element in the application process. An application needs to be well thought through, written concisely, have clear objectives and purpose, and show clear links to the objectives of the grant guidelines.
The grant application must answer all questions, provide all required information and respond to the merit criteria. It should also reflect your organisation’s business strategy.
Writing a good application takes time and effort, and requires particular writing skills.
Bulletpoint are expert grant consultants and can assist with all aspects of grant preparation.
Call us on (03) 9005 6789 or email to discuss further.
We have significant experience in applying for grants. Typical areas where we can be of assistance include:
- Demonstrating the identified need;
- Highlighting the relevance to current government policies and priorities;
- Complete the Project Plan and Budget Projections;
- Identify Outcomes that are measurable;
- Detail the applicant organisation’s experience or expertise in undertaking the project/s;
- Calculating the value for money; and
- Demonstrating capacity to deliver quality outcomes
