Financial Counselling Funding Round 2024-25

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The Victorian Government is undertaking a $15 million funding round to increase support for Victorians experiencing housing related financial challenges.

Funding will help address the high demand for financial counselling driven by cost-of-living pressures, increased rents, and natural disasters. The funding round will provide an immediate funding boost increasing the availability of financial counselling to Victorians.

Not-for-profit community service organisations with significant experience in delivering financial counselling and related services are invited to submit expressions of interest to deliver integrated and innovative responses to help people experiencing financial hardship due to mortgage or renting stress.

About the funding round

The funding round is a 2-stage process that includes:

  • an expression of interest (EOI) process, where eligible respondents are invited to put forward proposals for initial assessment; and
  • a formal grant application process, where respondents with shortlisted proposals are invited to formally apply for a grant.

For more information on funding round requirements and conditions, including how to submit a response to the EOI, see the following documents:

You should read and consider all the documents thoroughly before submitting a response.

How much funding is available?

$15 million has been reserved for grants over 3 years, commencing in the 2024-25 financial year.

Who should respond?

Incorporated not-for-profit community service organisations that have significant experience in the delivery of services to community members in relation to financial counselling, information and advice, advocacy services and/or community education, can respond to the EOI.

Responses should not be made by:

  • for-profit organisations
  • state or federal government departments or agencies
  • local councils.

You can ask for further clarification before 16 August 2024 by email to vpf.grant.enquiries@dgs.vic.gov.au with reference “(Your organisation’s name) – Clarification Request”.

Briefing session information

Briefing sessions have concluded. The presentation referred to during these sessions is available above and the questions and answers discussed during these sessions can be found under Briefing sessions - Clarification questions.

Key dates for the expression of interest stage

Response submission period  19 July – 30 August 2024
End of clarification period
16 August 2024
Response closing time and date
4 pm, 30 August 2024
Response evaluation period
2 September - 4 October 2024
Respondents notified whether their response is shortlisted
11 October 2024

Grant application stage

After the expression of interest stage is completed, we will invite respondents whose proposals were shortlisted to apply for a grant.

All grant applications will be formally evaluated, with independent recommendations made to the Minister for Consumer Affairs by the Department of Government Services. The awarding of grants is at the sole discretion of the Minister.

The expected dates for the grant application stage are:

Issuing of invitations to apply for grants  11 October 2024
Grant application closing date
4 pm, 8 November 2024
Grant application evaluation period
November 2024
Ministerial decisions on applications
December 2024
Execution of funding agreements
January 2025

Briefing sessions - Clarification questions

To submit an expression of interest, do you use the response and certification form?

Yes.

In Schedule 2 (b), ‘An indicative budget for the entire Proposal on a GST exclusive basis’, are you seeking total salary forecast over the life of the funding or annual figure based on the first year?

The budget, including salary breakdown, is to be for the duration of the proposal, rather than a single financial year.

In Schedule 2 (c), ‘Have you applied for other Government (local, State or Commonwealth) funding for the Proposal?’ If Yes, explain which Government department or agency provides or may provide this funding and the name and purpose of the funding program/s’, clarify what this means?

This question is asking if for this specific proposal, funding has also been sought elsewhere.

In Schedule 2, can clarify the information you are seeking between (d), ‘Provide a Gantt chart detailing the major stages, and timing of the Proposal, including where applicable’ and (e), ‘Provide a supplementary table to the Gantt chart, setting out the key dates relevant to (b)’?

These items are seeking similar information, we have included the table at (e) to ensure that key dates are clear as this is not always the case in Gantt charts. The dates in the table should align with the dates in the Gantt chart.

In Schedule 2, does the four page limit mentioned after question (g) refer to the Risk Matrix?

The 4-page limit refers to the entirety of Schedule 2 (a) – (g).

In Schedule 3, financial capacity and accountability requirements, what should be provided if final reports are not available for 2023-24 financial years?

Where figures are not available for 2023-24 please provide clearly marked indicative results (if available) alongside the audited figures for both 2021-22 and 2022-23.

In Schedule 4, service delivery experience, can you clarify what information you are seeking regarding the ‘financial summary of services/program’?

This section is seeking a summary of the funding, including the source used to deliver the service/program, i.e., the service/program was funded by ABC to deliver XYZ.

Schedule 4, service delivery experience, a timetable of program delivery is requested. Can you explain how this is different to the Gantt chart?

The timetable summary is an overview of how long the program ran for, commencement and completion dates. Schedule 4 is not asking for timelines in regard to the funding proposal.

Schedule 4, can you explain the case study submission requirements?

Up to three case studies can be provided, each case study is to be completed using the provided table template and within the table. The word limit for each case study is 300 words.

What is the fundable period? Will funding wrap up 30 June 2026 or 2027?

30 June 2027.

Is the aim to spend the three years of funding broadly over the fundable period, or will funding be provided upfront to get the money out sooner in a time of crisis?

Under the funding round $15 million dollars has been allocated across 2024-25 to 2026-26. Specific funding allocations will be decided subject to the proposals received. Agencies do not have to seek funding for the full period to be considered.

Is the $3 million cap for the entire proposal, or per financial year?

The $3 million cap applies to the full fundable period (2024-25 to 2026-27) per agency.

If partnering with another agency, is the funding cap still $3 million or $6 million combined?

The proposal limit is $3 million.

Can you provide guidance on how service demand and/or funding amounts should be segmented across Victoria?

CAV has not prescribed service delivery locations or service areas, agencies should detail why services are needed in specific areas if relevant, and provide evidence to support this.

If a proposal was successful, what service delivery expectations are there on client numbers? And how will this be assessed?

CAV is not prescribing client targets. Response assessment criteria is set out in Section 4 of the Expression of Interest document, and this includes a consideration of the broader benefits that the proposal may bring to a client.

Can you elaborate on the innovation requirement, does this include the use of technology considering brokerage funding is not encouraged?

The focus of the funding round is on increasing service availability and this may include the use of technology as an alternative means to engage clients or deliver services.