Who can apply for this grant?
To be eligible for this program, the Business Community or local government authority must:
- be a local government authority or an organisation that represents a specific cohort of Victorian businesses or businesses in a defined geographic area
- be based in Victoria or be the Victorian chapter of a national organisation
- be a not-for-profit organisation
- hold a current Australian Business Number (ABN)
- be registered with the responsible federal or state regulator1.
Unincorporated organisations and organisations with an ABN registered after 1 January 2021 will be required to have an auspice organisation enter into the grant agreement on their behalf.
Recipients of grants under the Business Chambers and Trader Groups program in round one or round two are eligible to apply.
Grant amount
Up to 200 grants of $15,000 are available.
How the program works
Eligible Business Communities will nominate representatives to attend free training of 10 hours over four weeks. Representatives will be coached to design a community-led mental wellbeing project plan that meets the program objectives.
Business Communities will submit the community-led mental wellbeing project plan for implementation. A grant of $15,000 to deliver the project will be paid when the plan is accepted by the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions.
Business communities will progress through the program as follows:
- Step 1: Apply and agree to nominate up to two representatives
- Step 2: At least one representative attends a free training course – 10 hours over four weeks
- Step 3: Submit a mental wellbeing project plan
- Step 4: Deliver the community-led mental wellbeing project between April and June 2022
- Step 5: Join the Community of Practice and showcase mental wellbeing projects
- Step 6: Submit a final report on the mental wellbeing project by 31 August 2022
Please refer to the program guidelines for a full explanation of these steps and the application process.
How the grants must be used
Grant funds must be used to undertake activities that align with program objectives.
Examples of eligible projects include:
- supporting and encouraging local business collaboration activities or programs
- engaging small businesses to co-design programs to improve mental wellbeing, including promotional activities
- activities that will start, build on or extend work in the small Business Community to promote mental wellbeing of small businesses
- setting up mental wellbeing focus working groups
- helping to improve small business workplace mental wellbeing, resilience and recovery in a COVID environment.
Grant funding may be used to deliver projects other than these examples, including for outsourced services.
What activities would not be considered for a grant?
The following activities will not be considered for grant funding:
- service provision of psychosocial treatments and business mentoring such as those offered by the Victorian Government, including the Partners in Wellbeing Helpline (including wellbeing coaches, financial counselling and business advice)
- retrospective support for projects that have already commenced delivery or have been completed prior to receiving funding approval, including equipment purchased, contracts entered, or construction started
- large scale digital infrastructure projects
- projects requiring ongoing funding from the Victorian Government
- ongoing operating costs or salary subsidies, except where a salary subsidy provides direct project delivery, management, or administration
- costs to meet regulatory requirements
- purchase of vehicles, land, or buildings.
Key dates
Applications close at 11:59pm on Friday 11 March 2022.
Participation in the training course (10 hours over four weeks) will take place between April – May 2022.
Projects should be delivered between April and June 2022.
How to apply
Please read all the information on this page, including program guidelines and frequently asked questions (FAQs) before submitting your application.
Business Communities must nominate up to two representatives to attend free training of 10 hours over four weeks when they apply.
More information
For further assistance, please contact call the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15.
See Business grants and support for information on other support and resources.
Program guidelines
Mental Wellbeing of Business Communities Grant Program guidelines (PDF 557.75 KB)
Mental Wellbeing of Business Communities Grant Program guidelines (DOCX 235.12 KB)
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
1Not required for local government authorities.
Responsible regulators are Consumer Affairs Victoria for incorporated associations, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) for charities and not-for-profits or the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) for public companies limited by guarantee.
