These grants support people in NSW with disability who need help to access NSW Government funded or provided services, whether or not they are NDIS participants.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: From $20,000 to $100,000
- Application opened: 24 July 2023
- Application closed: 30 August 2023, 5:00 pm
Program objective
The Disability Advocacy Futures Program 2023/24 Special Purposes and Projects; and Sector Development program aims to:
- support initiatives to assist people with disability in NSW to actively engage in their communities in a more informed and empowered way, for which alternative funding sources are not available, and
- drive quality improvement, collaboration and innovation among advocacy organisations, and to build stronger networks and learning opportunities.
The grant program has 3 key objectives:
- Increase available supports to assist people with disability in NSW to actively engage in their communities in a more informed and empowered way.
- Further develop the NSW disability advocacy sector through quality improvement, collaboration and innovation.
- Build stronger networks and learning opportunities for the NSW disability advocacy sector.
Grant applications must demonstrate how the proposed project will contribute to the development of the NSW disability advocacy sector and how the project will assist people with disability to actively engage in their communities by meeting at least one of the program objectives.
This program is administered by Department of Communities and Justice.
Eligibility
Overview
In NSW, approximately 17% of the population lives with disability. Of those approximately 1.35 million people, 11%, are eligible for services and supports under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
In December 2019, the NSW Ageing and Disability Commissioner recommended the establishment of the Disability Advocacy Futures Program (DAFP,) which commenced on 1 January 2022 and is funded until October 2024.
The DAFP focuses on all people with disability in NSW who need support to access NSW Government funded or provided services, whether or not they are NDIS participants. Where relevant, it also targets specific communities and disability types.
The DAFP currently funds 19 organisations to deliver advocacy services:
- Individual advocacy delivered by seven (7) providers (50% of DAFP funding)
- Systemic advocacy delivered by six (6) providers (25% of DAFP funding) and
- Representative advocacy delivered by nine (9) providers (15% of DAFP funding).
The remaining 10% of the DAFP funding is to be allocated to:
- Special Purposes and Projects (5% of DAFP funding)
- Sector Development functions (5% of DAFP funding).
Who can apply
- non-government, non-profit organisations with capacity to contract for services as outlined in the DAFP Grant Program Guidelines
Who can’t apply
- individuals or groups of individuals
- unincorporated organisations
- for-profit commercial organisations
- organisations that have outstanding acquittals with the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ)
What can’t you apply for
Organisations must use the grant funds, including any interest earned, for the purposes of the grant.
Items or activities that funding cannot be used for include, for example:
- any activity of a commercial nature that is for profit
- existing debt or budget deficits
- capital works, including building work
- permanent salaries/wages (costs for temporary tutors/instructors for your program or activity can be included)
- permanent equipment purchases, for example tables and computers
- business as usual costs or general operating expenses
- programs or activities that encourage gambling such as bingo, or the consumption of alcohol
- programs and activities coordinated by NSW Government Departments and Statutory Authorities
- the same project twice. For example, two different organisations cannot apply for funds for the same program or activity.
Most recent recipients
What your application needs to include
You can download the complete guidelines:
File
Disability Advocacy Futures Program Grant Guidelines (PDF 260KB)Read the frequently asked questions:
File
Disability Advocacy Futures Program FAQs (PDF 316.01KB)And download a sample application form to see all the sections that need to be addressed in the applications portal:
File
Disability Advocacy Futures Program application (PDF 122.93KB)All applications for grant funding are managed using the SmartyGrants portal.
Address the eligibility criteria
All applicants are required to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Non-government, non-profit organisations with capacity to contract for services as outlined in the DAFP Grant Program Guidelines.
The following are mandatory eligibility criteria:
- all applicants must have appropriate insurance (minimum of $10 million)
- all applicants must address the NSW National Redress Scheme sanctions (included in these guidelines)
- all applicants must adhere to NSW Government public health orders and advice in regard to COVID-19. Up-to-date information is available on the NSW Government COVID-19 website, and
- applications will not be accepted from organisations that have outstanding acquittals with DCJ.
Address the assessment criteria
Eligible organisations must meet the following assessment criteria to be considered for funding:
- demonstrated ability to meet the grant objectives and outcomes
- demonstrated capacity to deliver projects/activities for the target groups
- demonstrated value for money
- experience working with the target groups
- community links and engagement with relevant stakeholders (including government and non-government organisations) to deliver the proposed activities.
After the application is submitted
Applications will be reviewed by the eligibility team for eligibility and compliance with guidelines and eligible criteria.
They will then be subject to the assessment process which will include assessment by the Assessment Team and Assessment Panel.
The Minister or delegated DCJ officer will be the decision-maker.
Applicants will be formally notified on whether their application has been successful. It is an applicant’s responsibility to ensure all contact details are up to date.
Note for all applicants:
- Applicants must ensure that their contact details are up to date.
Applicants must not have any outstanding acquittals for any other funding program with DCJ.
Timeframes
The following table contains indicative dates and activities for the grant program.
| Date | Event/Action |
|---|---|
| 24 July 2023 | Grant applications open |
| 30 August 2023 | Grant applications close |
| September 2023 | Assessment of grant applications |
| September 2023 | Advice to all applicants |
| October 2023 | Public announcement by Minister |
| October 2023 | Grant Funding Agreements sent to successful applicants and payment is made |
| October 2023 | Grant program results published |
| 09 October 2023 | Projects commence |
| 04 October 2024 (if not earlier) | Projects end |
| 04 November 2024 (if not earlier) | Final Report and Financial Acquittal due to DCJ |