Request for Applications: Multicultural Media Grants Program (Australia)

The Multicultural Media Grants (MMG) Program supports multicultural media outlets to:

• Increase resourcing
• Build capacity within the organisation

The program also supports multicultural media organisations to:

• Foster a greater sense of belonging and connection in multicultural communities.
• Make people feel connected and supported.

Objectives

• It has 2 objectives to support multicultural media organisations to:
  • Improve the quality of services, coverage or capacity to extend audience reach to multicultural communities.
  • Equip multicultural staff, volunteers, and young adults in the community with the skills and experience needed to thrive in media careers by:
    • Offering tailored training opportunities
    • Fostering growth
    • Improving employability

Funding Information

• An organisation can apply for funding up to $25,000 (excluding GST). Organisations can only submit one application. If they receive more than one application, the first submitted application is assessed.

Eligible Expenses

• Equipment
  • Eligible equipment could include (but is not limited to):
    • Office equipment
    • Webcasting or audio streaming equipment
    • Satellite, portable recorders and camera equipment
    • Video editing suites
    • Sound and software programs
    • Computers and computer hardware
    • Digital radio studio equipment
    • Blogging, vlogging and podcast equipment
    • Production equipment
    • Upgrading websites
    • Printers, microphones and headphones
• Training production and publication costs (including printing):
  • Job-specific training to build capacity for staff and volunteers to make sure they are well equipped to continue supporting multicultural communities.
  • Improving young adult (18–25yrs) capabilities though on-the-job learning and training.
  • Project management costs to support training and development.

Ineligible Expenses

• This program does not support funding for:
  • Already purchased equipment
  • Supplementing the recurrent or ongoing costs of an organisation. For example: – staff wages – rent – utilities
  • Advertising costs
  • Projects supporting political activities
  • Cash prizes or commercial gifts
  • Establishment and ongoing maintenance of websites
  • Equipment already funded by another grants program administered by Multicultural Affairs.
  • Cash payments to community members
  • Donations to other organisations
• This program also does not support activities that:
  • Already receive funds from another Victorian Government department or local government for the same project.
  • Are within the responsibility of the federal government, another state, or local government.
  • Have already started or are complete. This includes any activities undertaken before the notification of the application outcome.
  • Are private sector projects undertaken through a Victorian Government contract.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible for this program, organisations must deliver:
  • Print
  • Radio
  • Television
  • Online media
• Be a multilingual or multicultural media organisation with the core business purpose of the organisation to produce media content.
• Provide evidence of registration with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) or similar, and registered in Victoria on the Australian Business Register.
• Operate in Victoria.
• Have been operating as a multicultural media organisation as of 1 April 2024.
• Have a current Australian Business Number (ABN) registered in Victoria.
• Have no overdue final reports from previous Social Policy and Intergovernmental Relations Group funded grants, including from Multicultural Affairs.
  • Be one of the following entity types:
    • Not-for-profit entity – organisations that provide services to the community and do not operate to make a profit for its members (or shareholders, if applicable).
    • Social enterprise – organisations that operate to intentionally drive social change with a defined social purpose, and that derive most of its income from trade and reinvest profits to further its mission – company incorporated – a company incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001.
    • Incorporated associations – incorporated under state legislation. Commonly have ‘Association’ or ‘Incorporated’ or ‘Inc.’ in their legal name.
    • Incorporated cooperatives – also incorporated under state legislation. Commonly have ‘Cooperative’ in their legal name.
    • Australian public/private company – an entity that has a separate legal existence from its owners. Companies may be for-profit or not-for-profit.

Ineligibility Criteria

• The following organisations are not eligible to apply for funding under this program:
  • Unincorporated associations (unless applying with an eligible auspice).
  • State and federal government departments and agencies.
  • Individuals and sole traders (may be eligible with an auspice).
  • Public companies limited by shares (unless the foundational document can prove not-for-profit status).
  • Commercial enterprises.
  • Local government authorities (LGAs), including LGA-managed, operated, administered and regulated trusts. They can act as an auspice for an unincorporated community group.
  • Registered public and private primary and secondary schools, preschools, TAFE institutes and universities (excluding community language schools that are eligible). They can act as an auspice for an unincorporated community group.
  • Organisations that have failed to comply with the terms and conditions of previously awarded grants.
  • Groups whose projects are the responsibility of another Victorian Government department.
  • Hospitals and health service organisations.

For more information, visit Victorian Governmen.