Equipment and training grants

Important information

• Name: Equipment and Training Grants
• Status: Closed
• Frequency: Annually
• Amount: $100 - $1,000 (there is a limit of 1 application per group)

• Previously successful applicants

What are Equipment and Training Grants?

Equipment and Training Grants are designed to help community groups:

• support and develop volunteers and group members
• buy equipment so they can operate successfully
• diversify their programs and ensure they are inclusive and accessible

Who can apply for an Equipment and Training Grant?

To apply for this grant, your group must: 

• be a registered (incorporated) not-for-profit club or community groups or have an auspice arrangement with an incorporated group who agree to receive and manage the funds
• be based (meet or hold activities) in Casey or provide services to the Casey community 
• have public liability insurance of a minimum $10 million 
• be able to demonstrate significant support in the community for your organisation 
• create an itemised budget, detailing how you will spend the funds 
• submit your application and documentation online 
• have acquitted any previous grants you have received from us

Who cannot apply for an Equipment and Training Grant?

• Individuals
• Government agencies at local, state or federal level
• Businesses
• Political parties or groups
• Schools and Council managed kindergartens

What we can fund

Examples of what you could use this grant funding for include: 

• Training for group members and volunteers – first aid, coaching and leadership training, sustainability, diversity and inclusivity training.
• Purchase of essential equipment needed for services or programs – sporting equipment, audio-visual equipment, cooking equipment, equipment that will allow those of all abilities to participate in a program.

What we cannot fund

We cannot accept applications for: 

• equipment that won’t be stored in Casey
• consumables such as printer cartridges, paper and stationary items
• fundraising purposes, prizes/trophies, gifts, awards or donations 
• capital works items (permanent structures fixed to the ground or building)
• ongoing operational costs such as utilities (electricity, gas and water, internet), room/rent hall hire fees,  staff wages, or insurance
• programs that only advocate religion or faith
• reimbursement for funds already spent
• restaurant bills, alcohol and petrol costs.

How are successful grants decided?

Your application will be assessed by a panel including community representatives on how well it meets one or more of the following criteria.

The equipment or training:

• is essential to the delivery and/ or success of the activity, program or group
• will help increase safety/ participation opportunities in its programs and activities into the future
• will be well used and enhance inclusivity and accessibility.

Please note: 

• priority will be given to equipment that can be retained and used over an extended period of time   
• priority will be given to computer equipment such as laptops or iPads that support participation of group members, rather than for use by committee members for administration.

If your application is successful

• We will notify you by email
• In the email, we will include the Information for Equipment and Training Grant Recipients document which will outline the conditions for your grant
• You will need to review our Council Grants Policy and adhere to the conditions as outlined
• If you have any outstanding payments to Council, you will need to clear these before we can pay the grant
• If you have any outstanding Casey grant acquittals, these need to be finalised before we can pay the grant funds.

Variations to grant applications

If a project cannot go ahead as planned, or you wish to change your successful grant application, you will be asked to complete an Application Variation Request form.  This form must be submitted before the proposed change.  Council grant officers under delegation will assess then approve or decline this request based on how closely the alternative training program or equipment purchase aligns to the priorities and grant criteria, the justification for the change, and items contained in the revised budget. Applicants will be notified if their variation request has been approved.

Auspice organisations

If your group is not incorporated yet, you will need an organisation that is incorporated to receive and hold the funding for you. This organisation is called an ‘auspice’ and it is responsible for ensuring that funds are spent in accordance with the application and any special conditions Council may require. Before you apply you will need to find an organisation that is prepared to do that for you as we will ask for their details. If your application is successful, you will need to sign a simple agreement with the auspice organisation to confirm the responsibilities of each organisation. As soon as you provide a copy of this to Council’s Grants Officers, we will send the payment to the auspice organisation for your organisation to use

Acquitting the grant - tell us how your grant was used

After you have completed your project, you must tell us how you spent the grant money and what the outcomes of the project were. This is known as an acquittal process. You must complete the acquittal form online within 60 days of spending the money or by the 30 June 2024, whichever is earliest.

Find out more about the acquittal process.

Timeline

How do I apply? (now closed)

Applications must be submitted online and must include additional information as specified.  

Contact Council 

Grants Officers are available to answer questions about how to apply, the grant criteria and can provide support to applicants who require additional assistance with their application. They can be contacted on via either:

• 9705 5200 
• [email protected]

Please contact us as early as possible if you do require additional assistance to ensure you get your application in on time.