STRENGTHENING PARTHERSHIPS FOR BUSHFIRE MANAGEMENT WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT

APPLICATION INFORMATION

1. What is the Strengthening Partnerships for Bushfire Management with Local Government project?...........................................................................................................................................................

2. Who can apply?.........................................................................................................................................

3. Who cannot apply?....................................................................................................................................

4. What might be funded?.............................................................................................................................

4.1 Priorities for funding.............................................................................................................................

5. What will not be funded?..........................................................................................................................

6. What are the funding details?...................................................................................................................

7. What are the assessment criteria?...........................................................................................................

8. What are the funding conditions?............................................................................................................

8.1 Funding agreements.............................................................................................................................

8.2 Legislative and regulatory requirements............................................................................................

8.3 Tax implications....................................................................................................................................

8.4 Acknowledging the Victorian Government’s support........................................................................

8.5 Payments...............................................................................................................................................

8.6 Monitoring..............................................................................................................................................

8.7 Privacy...................................................................................................................................................

9. What is the application process?.............................................................................................................

10. Additional information.............................................................................................................................

11. What is the notification process?...........................................................................................................

12. Key dates..................................................................................................................................................

13. Checklist...................................................................................................................................................

Strengthening Partnerships for Bushfire Management with Local Government pg. 1

Contents

1. What is the Strengthening Partnerships for Bushfire Management with Local Government project?Safer Together is a Victorian Government program that supports communities, government, fire and land management agencies with other organisations to better connect and work together in a bushfire risk reduction context. A core priority of the Safer Together program is promoting increased collaboration with and between communities, Local Government Authorities and agencies, while keeping communities at the centre of decision making.

Based on the principle of shared responsibility, Safer Together recognises the essential role that Victoria’s Local Government Authorities play in supporting communities to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from bushfire and other emergencies. Funding for Safer Together has been provided until the 30th June 2021.

From August 2018 to July 2019, a Local Government pilot project was undertaken, focussing on strengthening key partnerships between communities, their Local Governments and land and fire management agencies. The aim of this project was to develop and implement a range of approaches designed to help reduce local bushfire risk. The next phase of this project, called ‘Strengthening Partnerships for Bushfire Management with Local Government’, will again provide support to Local Government through the provision of funding for a range of partnerships, collaboration, activities and relationships.

The project recognises that many communities and local governments already work together. This project creates an opportunity to support these already established relationships or to develop new relationships.

Project ObjectivesThe overarching vision of this project is to strengthen long term actions for bushfire management and support connections across the Local Government network. Objectives of this project include; the development of long-term strategic planning outcomes; the sharing

of information and activities, and the provision of support to increase internal capacity and community cohesion.

Local projects applying for funding need to adopt a community-centred approach to support bushfire and other hazard risk reduction. This approach allows for key stakeholders to determine the issue(s) that are being addressed while increasing local capacity and resources.

Working and collaborating with communities is key in bringing together diverse perspectives, knowledge, interests and priorities to address complex issues. Together, stakeholders then design and implement actions to reduce bushfire risk.

2. Who can apply?This program provides funds for activities that support local governments, community groups and agencies to work collaboratively to address bushfire risk throughout Victoria.

The following organisations can apply for funding:

Local Government Authorities working to reduce bushfire risk

3. Who cannot apply?The following organisations and individuals cannot apply for funding:

Individuals; Government agencies; Private sector businesses and agencies; Educational institutions; Not for profit organisations; Any other group not classified as a

Local Government Authority.

4. What might be funded?Funding is available for projects to be completed and acquitted by 30 May 2021 for up to $150,000 for the following types of activities:

Projects that support the employment of staff within Local Government offices in regional Victoria to address local risks or bushfire mitigation activities;

Projects that support strengthening engagement and partnerships between Local Government(s), community and

Strengthening Partnerships for Bushfire Management with Local Government pg. 2

agencies. The projects should include the sharing of information and expertise and thereby encourage partnerships, cooperation and learning;

Projects that will increase community understanding of and/or community decision making involvement with bushfire risk reduction activities and support community decision making for risk reduction strategies;

Projects that identify connections or supports links between emergency management and community-based approaches;

Projects that support the research, monitoring, evaluation and learning of the effectiveness of bushfire risk reduction activities and the impacts of these activities on communities, businesses and the environment.

4.1 Priorities for fundingThe following will be given priority:

Projects that encourage collaboration between a range of municipalities, especially municipalities who face environmental or resourcing challenges;

Projects that encourage the employment of a staff member to work within one or across several municipalities to address issued faced by communities;

Projects where the proposed partnership/s will work with vulnerable or high-risk communities to reduce their bushfire risk;

Projects must focus on strengthening partnerships and collaboration across community, Local Government, agencies and other key organisations in the spirit of shared responsibility;

This funding should be viewed as seed funding for ongoing activity or a demonstration projects;

Projects should be scalable and transferable to other locations;

Projects that show a clear long-term strategic intent that will extend beyond the life of the project funding.

5. What will not be funded?The Strengthening Local Government Partnerships program will not fund the following activities:

The purchase of land or capital assets;

Routine or ongoing maintenance activities;

Where duplicate services are in operation or planned for in a targeted community;

Core business as usual activities;

Recurrent operating costs, for example rent and utility costs, and/or activities establishing expectations of ongoing funding;

Activities located outside the State of Victoria.

6. What are the funding details?The total funding available is $1.4 million for projects to be completed and acquitted by 30 May 2021.

Grants of up to $150,000 are available to successful applicants.

Applicants who contribute to the cost of the project, be it financial or in-kind, will be viewed favourably.

7. What are the assessment criteria?

Applications will be checked for eligibility. Eligible applications will then be assessed using the criteria listed below.

Projects must support Local Governments to strengthen collaboration and partnerships with communities and agencies in the spirit of shared responsibility;

Projects must show long term strategic intent to reduce bushfire risk across Victoria;

Projects must support communities to manage their own bushfire risk.

Strengthening Partnerships for Bushfire Management with Local Government pg. 3

8. What are the funding conditions?

8.1 Funding agreementsSuccessful applicants must enter into a funding agreement with DELWP. The Victorian Common Funding Agreement is used for funding agreements with not for profit organisations and Local Government Authorities. It is recommended that applicants review the terms and conditions before applying. Information about the Victorian Common Funding Agreement is available on https://providers.dhhs.vic.gov.au/victorian-common-funding-agreement

8.2 Legislative and regulatory requirementsIn delivering the activity grant recipients are required to comply with all relevant Commonwealth and state/territory legislations and regulations, including but not limited to:

The Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth)

The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic)

Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004

8.3 Tax implicationsApplicants should consult the Australian Taxation Office or seek professional advice on any taxation implications that may arise from this grant funding.

Successful applicants without an ABN will need to provide a completed Australian Taxation Office form ‘Statement by a Supplier” so that no withholding tax is required from the grant payment.

8.4 Acknowledging the Victorian Government’s supportSuccessful applicants are expected to acknowledge the Safer Together Program through Victorian Government’s support. Successful applicants must liaise with the departmental program area to coordinate any public events or announcements related to the project. Please advise the Program Management Office on Safer.Together@delwp.vic.gov.au if you require acknowledgement guidelines.

8.5 PaymentsPayments will be made as long as:

the funding agreement has been signed by both parties;

grant recipients provide reports as required, or otherwise demonstrate that the activity is progressing as expected;

other terms and conditions of funding continue to be met.

8.6 MonitoringGrant recipients are required to comply with project monitoring and reporting requirements of the project. This may include regular progress reports, site inspections, completion reports and acquittal documentation.

8.7 PrivacyAny personal information about you or a third party in your application will be collected by the department for the purposes of administering your grant application and informing Members of Parliament of successful applications. Personal information may also be disclosed to external experts, such as members of assessment panels, or other Government Departments for assessment, reporting, advice, comment or for discussions regarding alternative or collaborative grant funding opportunities. If you intend to include personal information about third parties in your application, please ensure that they are aware of the contents of this privacy statement.

Any personal information about you or a third party in your correspondence will be collected, held, managed, used, disclosed or transferred in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 and other applicable laws.

DELWP is committed to protecting the privacy of personal information. You can find the DELWP Privacy Policy online at www.delwp.vic.gov.au/privacy.

Requests for access to information about you held by DELWP should be sent to the Manager Privacy, P.O. Box 500 East Melbourne 8002 or contact by phone on 9637 8697.

Strengthening Partnerships for Bushfire Management with Local Government pg. 4

9. What is the application process?Applications are submitted online using the Grants Online portal.

To apply, go to the grant program web page https://delwp1.force.com/publicform?id= a0h4P00001cx200 (please note applications will be open from the 20th November). Click on the ‘Apply online’ button. To return to a saved draft application, click on the ‘Access Saved Application’ button.

Attaching required documentsSupporting documents must be in an acceptable file type, such as Word, Excel, PDF, or JPEG. The maximum file size for each file is 5MB.

You will receive an application number when you submit an application online. Please quote this number in all communications with the department relating to your application.

If you have documents to submit that cannot be attached to your online application, you can email them to safer.together@delwp.vic.gov.au quoting your application number. Attach all documents to one email, zipping the files if required.

Make sure your application is submitted by 4pm on 20 December 2019.

Note: No hard copy applications will be accepted. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered.

10.Additional informationAdditional information is available from the Community First Program Manager, Rebecca Walker via email to r.walker@cfa.vic.gov.au

11. What is the notification process?Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing after the assessment process is complete. All decisions are final and are not subject to further review. Unsuccessful applicants can ask for feedback on their application.

12.Key dates

Applications to council open

20 November 2019

Applications to council close

20 December 2019

Councils notified By mid February 2020

Funds distributed to Council

From mid February 2020

Activities commence From mid February 2020

Activities completed and acquittal reports submitted

30 May 2021

13.ChecklistHave you:

read these guidelines carefully?

checked if you are, or your organisation is, eligible for this grant funding?

checked if your activity is eligible for this grant funding?

checked that you would be able to comply with all relevant laws and regulations in delivery of your activity?

prepared the appropriate supporting documents?

Strengthening Partnerships for Bushfire Management with Local Government pg. 5

Safertogether.vic.gov.au